Written on March 29th:

This is Putu. He is one of the employees at the guesthouse at which I stayed in Pemuteran.

After I returned from my experience with the Balinese family on the beach, I sat and talked to Putu. His response to my awe over the hospitality I had just received was kind: “It is the energy you put out, Annette.” We have similar thoughts on the power of loving energy.

I talked to Putu about his life. His twentieth birthday was the same day as the Galungan Festival. He spent his days during childhood helping local fishermen remove fish from their nets. For his assistance, he received a bucket or two of fish. His mother would wake up at four AM the next morning to sell the fish at the market. This is how Putu had enough money to go to school. He now gives most of the money he makes to his mother. “Mothers,” he said, “are the world’s greatest gift.”

Putu was genuinely inspiring to me. At the risk of sounding totally cliche, he had me in tears with his story. He is so young, but so determined, so perceptive, and so sincerely kind. We shared a beautiful hug as I left the hotel, and told each other to continue spreading the love.

I want to take a blog moment to thank all of the mothers in my life. I have an amazing mother, Paula, who continues to teach me compassion, strength, and humility. I also have a global team of mothers in my life who have helped me grow and learn, mothers in Spain, Chile, San Diego, Berkeley, Miami, even Bali. I am so thankful for the women in my life, who continue to show me wisdom and grace.

So is Putu.