Growing Together

As this year draws to a close, I find myself reflecting not so much on what was accomplished, but on how we grew — and who we grew alongside.

Growth, in its truest sense, rarely happens in isolation.

Even when the work is deeply personal, it is shaped, mirrored, and strengthened through relationship.

Over the years - and especially this past one - I’ve witnessed again and again how much becomes possible when we allow ourselves to be met, supported, and genuinely seen.

Living in Bali has immersed me in a deeply intercultural way of life — one that constantly highlights our differences in language, ritual, and worldview, while also revealing how profoundly similar our human needs truly are.

Across cultures and throughout history, people have understood something that modern life often forgets: identity and presence are relational.

We do not come fully alive alone.

We come alive in contact presence are relational.

We do not come fully alive alone. We come alive in contact.

There is an ancient exchange from Southern Africa that beautifully captures this truth:

Sawubona — Sikhona.

I see you.

I am here to be seen.

In Nguni cultures, Sawubona is not a casual greeting.

It is an acknowledgment of the whole person — their presence, dignity, history, and humanity.

To say I see you is to offer full attention.

The response, Sikhona — I am here to be seen— arises because one has been truly recognized. Presence is not claimed, it is evoked.

This understanding is echoed across many wisdom traditions.

In Japan, the concept of ibasho refers to a place - or relationship - where one feels safe to exist as they are.

In Māori culture, whakawhanaungatanga speaks to the process of becoming oneself through relationship and shared humanity.

In the Jewish tradition, hineni — here I am — is not a statement of location, but of availability and presence when called into relationship.

Modern psychology confirms what these traditions have long known.

Attachment theory, interpersonal neurobiology, and relational psychology all point to the same conclusion: we regulate, heal, and develop through being seen and met by others. When we are witnessed without judgment or urgency, the nervous system settles. Defensive patterns soften.

New possibilities emerge.

To be seen — without being analyzed, advised, or fixed — is often the moment something inside us exhales.

It is where shame loosens its grip, where clarity begins to form, where movement becomes possible again.

And to respond Sikhona— I am here — is to arrive more fully in one’s own life, grounded in recognition rather than performance.

In a culture that prioritizes independence, speed, and self-sufficiency, this kind of relational presence can feel almost radical.

Yet it is deeply human.

We are not meant to carry our becoming alone.

As we enter the closing days of the year, this feels like a meaningful place to pause.

Not to evaluate ourselves, but to acknowledge what has been witnessed, held, and grown — together.

My wish for you as the year turns is simple and sincere: May you feel seen — not for who you perform, but for who you are.May you allow yourself to arrive — without rushing or self-correction.May you carry forward what has mattered — and gently release what no longer needs to come with you.

Sawubona.

Sikhona.

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If you feel a quiet readiness to deepen, integrate, and grow in connection rather than in isolation I will be offering a new cycle of Soulful Activation Retreats for Women , in 2026.

These retreats are intentionally small and carefully held spaces, designed for women who are navigating transitions, listening for what wants to emerge next, and ready to meet themselves with honesty, embodiment, and support.

They are not about fixing or escaping life — but about returning to yourself with clarity, depth, and grounded presence, and then bringing that back into your relationships, work, and daily life.

📌 To receive more information or explore whether a retreat is aligned for you, I invite you to book a free Discovery Call — a calm, no-obligation conversation to sense together what you are looking for and what would truly support you at this stage.

 

👉 Book your free Discovery Call here: