This week, we are stepping back to take a closer look.
At a gathering last Thursday to celebrate 10 Years of Green Drinks, it became clear that we have come a long way and we have a long way to go.
We heard about trees and transport, waste and water, fish and families, diversions and diversity, pollution and plant-based diets, glass and goals in talks by Merrin Pearse, Paul Zimmerman, Andy Cornish, Fern Ngai, Bobsy Gaia, Gavin Coates, Bess Hepworth and Fiona Donnelly with a special video appearance from co-founder Jaqui Dixon. All presentations (including mine) are available for your viewing pleasure in the HK Green Drinks group.
As our need for connection evolves over time, the evening served as a perfect reminder of my own purpose — nurturing positive energy in Hong Kong.
Community is in my DNA. Growing up in the middle of nowhere, we provided basic emergency services to each other. I remember when I was young and all of the local farmers pulled their combines out of the fields and risked a whole year’s income during the precious few days of harvest to take my bachelor uncle’s crops off. A neighbour had noticed him stopped as he drove past on the way home for lunch and seen that the swather was still running in the same place when he returned an hour later. The fabric of his new coveralls had caught in the drive shaft and trapped him there. I still recall him cursing those new coveralls, usually content to wear his grease-stained, ragged old favourites. A leg was lost (below the knee) but a life was saved that day because someone was paying attention. I remember the compassion and the communion among the women who showed up at our house with heaps of home-cooked, home-grown food and stayed around the clock to feed the crews until the job was done.
It was a life where we looked out for each other all the time. The next house was a mile away, 2 one-room schoolhouses held 30 students for grades 1-6 a couple of miles across the lake, high school was 16 miles west and the city was 16 miles north. We organized all of our own social events in the local school that doubled as the community hall for picnics, dances and talent shows. Every birth, wedding and holiday was celebrated pot luck in the church basement with local entertainment from few girls singing Country Roads accompanied by yours truly on the piano. The tractor was pulled out regularly to pull a someone out of the ditch and no one would ever consider driving past a stopped car on a remote highway at -40C. There were no strangers.
While my existence today doesn’t reflect the same kind of life-and-death situations, I recognize how much of my life force is fueled by sharing a purpose with passionate, intelligent, thoughtful, caring people. Surrounded by criticism and problems and gloom and doom, I find it essential to surround myself with friends who are also determined to make a positive difference in our world.
Finding our people in Hong Kong is a key to happiness. As part of my contribution to the celebration last week, I shared my (still relevant) vision for Hong Kong from 2003 and compiled a guide to HK Conscious Communities with a few tips to grow your own.
Doing good to feel good is an easy shortcut to balance when living a life in the fast lane.
Having taken the time to step back and look at the bigger picture, see familiar faces, share fresh ideas and make new friends, I feel rejuvenated and more supported than ever. The next step is my annual Natural Holiday Guide (see last year) … coming shortly.
Where do you go to find perspective?
Naturally,
Founder & Publisher
www.heartbeat.com.hk
natural life in the fast lane
Everything is connected.
Listen to your own heartbeat.
“Everything we hear is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.” Marcus Aurelius
Say hello to our new members
dragonfly – Educational holistic well-being centre established offering individual sessions and classes > details
AcquaVibe – Water filtration system using natural pressure without electricity > details
Wendy Lam – Integrative manual therapist, craniosacral therapist and physiotherapist > details
More >> Members | Directory | Features | Listings | Guides | Join
Events in our community this week
Print | Details | Submit Event | Featured Events
21 (6:30-9:30pm) Release Neck and Shoulder Tension | Tian Yan Nei Gong Centre | details
22 (6-9pm) Nutrition, Exercise and Children’s Brain Health | Kalli Marketing Consultancy | details
22 (6:30-7:30pm) Increase your Energy | Culture of Consciousness | details
23 (6-9pm) Raw Chocolate Evening | Food Linkers | details
23 (7-9pm) Chai and Chat | Little Alchemy | details
23-24 (7:30-19:30pm) Crystal Chakra Healing | Thee Spiritual Source | details
23 (7:30-9:45pm) Meet your Angels | The Sanctuary | details
23-25 Team Coaching Foundation Program | Transcend International Group | details
24 (6:30-8pm) Challenges and Choices in Times of Uncertainty | Raja Yoga Meditation Centre | details
24 (7-10pm) Mother’s Choice Fundraising Dinner | Eloquence HK | details
24 (7-8:30pm) Reboot and Rebalance | Red Doors Studio | details
24-26 Smart Mobility in Smart City | Expo HK | details
25 (1-2pm) Women Entrepreneur Gathering | Little Alchemy | details
25-27 Clockenflap | details
25-27 Share Inner Love Pop-Up | Luxarity | details
26 (11am-2pm) Shamanic Skills | Thee Spiritual Source | details
26 (5:30pm) Spectrum of Life Yoga Teacher Training | Gecko Yoga | details
26 & 27 Walk for Nature | WWF Hong Kong | details
27 (8:45-11:30am) Hike and Yoga | The Yoga Room | details
28-10 Dec Global Leaders Programme | Global Institute for Tomorrow | details
Coming up
Dec 2 Community Caroling
Dec 3 Plasmatic
Dec 3-4 Treasure Island 20th Anniversary Luau
Dec 10 Fish for Trash
Dec 10 Ark Eden’s 10th Anniversary Party
Dec 10-11 Southside Urban Retreat
Dec 17 The Great Big Clothing Drive
Join as a personal member for fresh content and connections … naturally.
Fresh directory updates
Here are some of our new and updated listings on the directory …
Animals Asia Foundation – Hong Kong-based charity dedicated to ending cruelty and restoring respect for all animals > details
Green Drinks – Networking for anyone interested in environmental and social issues, sustainable development and CSR > details
Fair Trade Hong Kong – Promoting fair trade to alleviate poverty, reduce inequality and contribute to a sustainable future > details
Sea Shepherd Global – Defending, conserve and protect marine species and habitats > details
Plastic-free Seas – Changing in the way we view and use plastics in society today > details
More >> Members | Directory | Features | Listings | Guides | Join
Fresh content and local connections for everyday choices since 2001 … naturally
Hong Kong’s only natural network connects individuals, businesses and organizations, shares fresh content and authentic connections for clean, green, healthy living products, services and programs. With everything from acupuncture to zero-waste solutions, our members have everything you’re looking for — even when you’re not sure what you’re looking for — chemical-free health and beauty, lifestyle services, whole food, sustainable fashion, eco-style, green gadgets and more … naturally.
Photo by Kinzie
