Consider this your official Happy Buddha love note 💌.
Once a month, we share inspiration from our Happy Buddha Retreats crew — exploring themes of yoga, life, and joy. This edition comes from the Alli ~ our bookkeeper and quiet powerhouse behind the scenes.
My name is Allison — mostly known as Alli the bookkeeper.
The one into all the numbers.
The procedure pusher.
The budget basher.
The spreadsheet queen.
All the “boring” and unglamorous (though crucial!) sides of running a business. A heavy left-brain role 🧠
But the child version of me? She was nothing like that 💃
You’d find her dancing around, singing in the shower, making up games to get through chores, playing make-believe, drawing, creating things out of “rubbish.” Long before I knew the words yoga, wellbeing or mindfulness, I instinctively moved into shapes that felt good and stayed there for what felt like forever. It was a freedom I didn’t realise I’d lose. A time before devices, when the only notifications were the brightly coloured post-it notes stuck all over my mirror. Looking back, in a time where I thought I knew nothing — I somehow knew exactly what was good for my body and soul.
As I stepped into adulthood and a professional, finance-y self, I balanced life well for many years. I’d proudly say I worked hard so I could play hard — and for a long time, I truly did.
But as the years rolled on, the pressure to uphold expectations and carry everyone else’s needs grew heavier. Nothing was really for me anymore.
In 2018, I opened my own bookkeeping business hoping for flexibility and freedom — imagining I could “play whenever I wanted.” But time slipped into weeks, then months, then years. My business was successful, but I suddenly found myself even more deeply woven into everyone else’s issues. Their needs felt paid for… mine didn’t rank. Play sank lower and lower on the list. My mental load was heavy. I was exhausted. And I missed the little girl who gave herself movement, creativity and time.
I knew something had to change. I wanted to rebalance the scales, to carve out moments just for me — but I’d neglected myself for so long that trying something new felt nerve-wracking. I could come up with a million excuses not to.
Working with Happy Buddha, gave me gentle reminders. I saw people choosing themselves daily — a yoga class here, a weekend retreat there. And that inspired me to try my own small things… a yoga class, a pottery class, dragging out the dusty sewing machine, a few creative home projects. They were few and far between, but they were steps in the right direction.
Then the idea of retreating in India came up.
A 12-day retreat to Southern India with Happy Buddha. I love travel — but India? With a group? I’d been working for Happy Buddha, but I didn’t really know them. The doubts crept in fast.
But somewhere deep in my bones, I knew I needed to do this. So I put my ‘big-girl pants on’… and booked it.
Best decision of 2025 🙌
India was a paradox ~ intensity and indescribable peace. Stillness among hustle. A visual representation of the dream: my two worlds living in harmony. The Happy Buddha team were down-to-earth, the group was wonderful, and all my fears seemed so silly once I arrived.
I came home a little less fearful of trying new things, with a renewed sense that I need to keep creating space for myself. To tap into the right side of my brain and make every cell in my body happier. I haven’t worked it all out. I still struggle with giving myself time — guilt-free and generously. But it’s on the to-do list now… at the top, and as important as everything else.
I hope you find the right balance for you too.
And I hope you remember, deep down, what you needed before life took over.
With love,
~ Alli ✨
PS. Alli is pictured here soaking in all the good vibes of our 2025 South India Retreat 🥰 You too can us for the January 2026 retreat. Find out more here.
About Allison
Alli is the steady, detail-loving bookkeeper behind Happy Buddha ~ lovingly wrangling numbers, systems and all the quiet bits that keep things flowing. But outside the spreadsheets? She’s a creative soul who loves world travel, off-road camping adventures, DIY home renos, and time with her big Maltese family.
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