Consider this your official Happy Buddha love note đź’Ś.
Once a month, we share inspiration from our Happy Buddha Retreats crew — exploring themes of yoga, life, and joy. This edition comes from Yara, our radiant resident chef. At just 24, she brings soulful wisdom and nourishing energy to everything she does. Read on to discover her journey.
It’s been nearly five years since I first arrived at Happy Buddha Retreats, and reflecting on that journey fills me with so much gratitude 🥰
I was just 19 — feeling overwhelmed and confused by all the expectations around me. You know the kind: find a career, study the “right” degree, get a full-time job… all to feel like you’re measuring up.
But something about being here — surrounded by beautiful, curious people from all walks of life — sparked something in me. I began asking myself: What do I actually enjoy doing? What would it feel like to follow a path that feels like mine?
From Confusion to the Kitchen
Cooking was nowhere near the first job I took on at the retreat… but when I eventually found myself in the kitchen, something clicked 💫
What began as a practical task turned into something much deeper. Cooking became a mindfulness practice — a way to honour the ingredients, to express creativity, to offer nourishment with intention.
Every dish became a meditation in presence and a joyful exploration of flow. Each meal I prepared taught me how to show up more fully — not just in the kitchen, but in life.
Trusting the Unmapped Path
Now, as I near the end of my studies in Nutritional Medicine, I can see the thread that runs through it all.
This path wasn’t planned, and it definitely didn’t follow a rulebook… but it’s brought me more fulfillment than I could have imagined.
I often think back to the choices that didn’t make logical sense at the time — but felt right — and smile. Those were the moments that guided me here.
Your Turn
So I’ll leave you with this gentle question:
💛 If you followed your heart right now… where would it guide you?
With love and light,
~ Yara đź’›
About Yara
Yara is Happy Buddha’s resident chef and radiant soul, known for creating meals that nourish both body and spirit.
Currently studying Nutritional Medicine, she’s passionate about the healing power of food and the joy of learning new things — from baking bread to slack-lining!
When she’s not in the kitchen, you might find her teaching yoga behind the secret bookcase.
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