Growing up, I have never been exceptionally strong and healthy. From what I remember I was often seeing the doctor and taking medicine. I didn't like P.E. lessons either because I was considered weak and not fit...
But I have always been curious and loved learning. I had good grades in school. And since entering into the workforce around 1990, I had got what other people thought was a good and glamourous job.
Like many in the big city, I had confused being ‘busy” with being “worthy”. I held senior positions in international fashion companies for many years. Working my way up and staying there meant my work life could get quite overwhelming and I would lose my balance until my body communicated to me by effecting "dis-ease". A few times my body had to cry very loud until I got the message. I found that over the years I became more gravitated to learning about staying well and would try many different wellness modalities, including yoga, Chi Gong, meditation, aromatherapy, acupuncture, massage, vegetarianism and so on.
Every time I suffered from a "health crisis" I would slow down briefly and soon it would be a lesson forgotton as I fell back into my habitual routines.
The real breakthrough came when I was "forced" to listen to my body's "emergency call": my chronic asthmatic cough was getting out of control and I was also having signs of depression. I knew I would not be fit to function for another demanding fashion season, with its long haul travels, working across time zones and pressing deadlines... I decided to take a three-month "sabbatical".
Three months of slowing down and travelling in Europe and New York (this time leisurely and not for business) brought real clarity to me. Even though I had no idea what the future held, it was clear that it was NOT going back to my old life. I turned down a lucrative offer to go back to the fashion industry at the end of the intended “sabbatical”, after a brochure from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition and I "found each other" at a Manhattan health food store. I became the school's first native Hong Kong student.
Very soon I realized all that I had been learning and practising as "hobbies" came together for me. I was immersed in an inspiring and supportive environment among like-minded people and experienced personal transformation in all levels like never before. In the process I also facilitated and witnessed amazing transformation in others and realized the powerful healing and transformative powers in each and every one of us, and how crucial COMMUNITY support and synergy was.
I love New York. But Hong Kong is my home. Years before I made that decisive move in New York, I had wished some people would somehow bring messages of balance and wellness to the workplace in Hong Kong. I had wished people would have better work-life balance, and would be working smarter and not harder. (I had not heard about coaching then). I had wished more people learn the simple things they could do to stay well without taking unnecessary drugs or suffering from compromised health... I had secretly set the intention that I would "someday" educate and heal people, when I had enough knowledge/money/connections/courage..., but I thought it would be too late to do anything in "this" life time.
Indeed I would have settled for following my heart in my "next life"...
I am glad eventually I didn't wait, and plunged into the unknown in this life time...
I am living my dream life in this life time! A real wellness movement is POSSIBLE in Hong Kong, in my own life time, starting from ME following my passion and calling...
They say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger... I have learnt that the muscle of stepping out of the comfort zone, of acting in spite of fear, is like any muscle in our body - it works better with more use. Every day and every moment offers new opportunity for practising renewel and re-creation. I know I will never be free of fear, but I notice that the grip of fear over me gets weaker and weaker everytime I embrace new challenges in life. With regular reflection and awareness practice, I am committed to staying in the trust that I have access to everything I need to handle every situation in life, and that in the grand design of things, everything and every situation is perfect.
Life is truly a gift to me. Thank you for letting me share this gift with you. And I thank you for considering sharing yours with me.
