Teddy Roosevelt said, Believe you can and you are half way there. Eight years ago my dream was to share gongs with the world. As the first dedicated gong studio in Asia I broke new ground and wrote the rule book. Twenty eight years of management consulting, a dose of horse sense, saying 'yes', continual learning and partnering with the like minded has led me 8 years later to receive recognition for our brand.
From the outset Makin Ma, Designer and Brand Guardian and I were 100% aligned on look and feel of all customer touch points including our attention to detail - think blankets :)
The naysayers often advised me to quit. But The greatest pleasure in life is doing what people said you could not do. Walter Bagehot. No one said it would be easy as every worthwhile accomplishment, big or little, has its stages of drudgery and triumph; a beginning, a struggle and a victory. M. Ghandi The key as Yogi Bhajan said is to keep up and you will be kept up. Success is about consistency. Greatness will come. Dwayne Johnson
Friday Red Doors was recognised by the HK Design Association as Best Brand for Sustainability in Alternative Health. Thank you to my children, students, clients, Hobbits, band, teachers, volunteers and friends for their fathomless support.
Remember to celebrate the milestones as you prepare for the road ahead. Nelson Mandela. We put on the Ritz last week, hosted Don the week before and now are sharing our success by sending a check to the Turkish Consul General for HK$35,000 representing our profits from the Concert for Humanity on March 12 to support relief efforts.
Where next? Special needs children, health carers, sacred sound performances, teaching overseas .... is a big blue ocean.
Helena Rubenstein says Hard work keeps the wrinkles out of the mind and spirit. I say... Go well, be well, get gonged.
Mysterium memories
A full house attended our interpretation of Scirabin's ‘mysterium’ on Sunday. Over 200 souls made the trek to Tai Tam which added to the illusion of journeying to the back of beyond. Descending from the sunny afternoon into the magical ambience of the black box theatre the audience was met with fully masked performers who captivated with sound, voice and instruments interspersed with shruti songs of revelation led by Maestro Don Conreaux.
It takes a village to raise a child, it takes a community to host a tremendum. Sincere thanks to HKIS and Hillary Sandeen who as my alumni coordinator and visionary supporter was able to secure our stunning venue. Thanks to the team at HKIS for their behind the scenes support - Oscar, Ricky and Matthew; our sound and lighting team Jack, Harry, Joseph, Terrance and Dylan; photographer Tiffany; One Love band members Nazar and Kaze and Marty; interpretative dancer Rye and all of the recent advanced gong training students. Heartfelt thanks to Don for his inspired teachings and leadership and to Yaelle for her sharing, caring and presence.
The students have returned home, Don and Yaelle are safely in LA. The studio is unpacked. Last Sunday seems but a wisp of a memory. We don't remember days, we remember moments. Cesare Pervase and the best thing about memories is making them. anon
Life brings tears, smiles and memories. The tears dry, the smiles fade, but the memories last forever. Malik Faisal. Until we meet again keep the memories intact, for they will re-create in your heart each cherished moment. Hans W. Thomasz
Sat nam.
Infinite Love
This weekend the studio is pleased to present our first large live event in three years. The ‘mysterium’ was first conceived by Russian composer Alexander Scriabin at the turn of the last century. Here everyone participates in a multisensory journey involving sacred sound, voice, movement, lights and scent interwoven into a transformative experience.
We are honoured to have pre-eminent Gong Master Don Conreaux to share his fifty years experience in leading these events around the world. Also joining us are advanced students from Europe and Asia. Our theme is infinite love. Our goal is memory. Only a few seats left. So book now.
Heartfelt
The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched – they must be felt with the heart. Helen Keller
Last week a friend gifted me a lovely cross stitch pillow. Not made of felt or in the shape of a heart it never-the-less touched my heart knowing the amount her time and effort to make it.
Heartfelt wishes are genuine and delivered sincerely. When words are both true and kind, they can change the world. Buddha. Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. Leo Buscaglia This week I invite you to speak, write and think from the heart.
Radiating love
Once we were particles of light, now we are light particles radiating love. Rumi By radiating love you will light the world.
I believe What the world needs now is love sweet love. After all, Love conquers all. Publius Vergilius
Being loved and being loving is a win win proposition. Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage. Lao Tzu...Unconditional love ... is just there. Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
So how do you radiate love? Begin by fostering self love.
Become conscious of your thoughts.
Make your intention clear.
Be the feeling.
Let go of the outcome and activate patience.
Practice Gratitude.
You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. Dr. Seuss
Now You See It
Life can be a wondrous, sparkling comet trail that we leave in our wake for others to marvel at. Stewart Stafford
First identified in March 2, 2022, comet C/2022 E3 was closest to earth yesterday morning before dawn. Its last sighting was 50,000 years ago and we will need to wait that long to see this great comet again with the naked eye.
Comets originate in the outer reaches of the universe in the Oort Cloud or the Kuiper Belt. These ‘dirty snowballs’ consist of primarily of frozen ammonia, methane or water, and contain only small amounts of rocky material that circle the sun in large elliptical orbits. Ancients believed comets signified good or bad omens. For instance the star the Magi followed to Bethlehem was a said to be a comet.
Few people we meet during our lives orbit our hearts like Halley’s Comet, crossing into our universe only once, or if we are lucky, twice. Jamie Ford. Jim Morrison saw himself as a huge fiery comet…. Everyone stops, points up and gasps ‘Oh look at that!’ Then – whoosh, I’m gone. And they will never see anything like it ever again.
As with C/2022 we will never see anything like it in our lifetimes. This week take a lesson from the comet, be unforgettable. Create your own space – a space that would be left bare in your absence. Nesta Jojoe Erskine
My name is Martha and I am an AFOL.
Sixty four years ago Godtfred Christiansen applied for a patent for interlockable toy bricks that his father had invented. Today 7 Lego sets are sold every second around the world. Not only enjoyed by children, adult fans of Lego (AFOL) now number 40,000+.
My infatuation began during the lockdown last CNY. First the lion dance set then for next ten nights I was assembling facades, Nian Shao, firecracker strings and market stalls. Thank goodness Lego does not do every Chinese holiday….yet.
Numerous articles describe the use of Lego ‘to disconnect from the mania of the day’.
Lauren B.Bird writes that 86% of stressed adults claim play helps them unwind. Assembling is a mindful and calming activity requiring full concentration. Hand-eye coordination helps to reduce uncontrollable thinking, and decrease anxiety. Completing projects promotes self esteem and a Lego 2018 Play Well report shows a clear link between regular play and happier, healthier families. Isn’t it time to unlock your inner child?
We don't stop playing because we grow old; we grow old because we stop playing.George Bernard Shaw.
Follow the rabbit
In the song White Rabbit ‘the dormouse said - Feed your head’. Grace Slick meant follow your curiosity. We keep moving forward, opening new doors, and doing new things, because we're curious and curiosity keeps leading us down new paths. Walt Disney If you are lucky enough to spy a white rabbit you will experience blessings of many kinds. It implies closing doors and new chapters in your life. If you do not see a rabbit “The best thing … is to learn something. That's the only thing that never fails. You may grow old and trembling in your anatomies, you may lie awake at night listening to the disorder of your veins, you may miss your only love, you may see the world about you devastated by evil lunatics, or know your honour trampled in the sewers of baser minds. There is only one thing for it then — to learn.” T.H. White
This week follow those hunches and coincidences and be open to possibilities.
Kung Hei Fat Choy
Timing is everything
‘Patient’ means to be able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious, or, someone receiving medical treatment. I think this nicely sums up humanity over the last two years.
Laura E. Richards published The Patient Cat in 1881. (read here) Basically a cat finds eggs in a nest and waits for a bigger meal. Sometimes While we stop to think, we often miss our opportunity. Pubilius Syrus.
Timing is everything so Stop worrying about missed opportunities and start looking for new ones. I.M. Pei As Michael Jordan says, I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed. So Don't live in regret, for if you do, you will miss even more. Charbel Tadros. Just do it.
New Year
I played last night on Deep Water Bay beach. The nearly full moon cast long shadows as the waves crept ever closer to my toes. The juxtaposition of light and dark is particularly relevant as we move into 2023. As a universal year number, 7 implies developing reflective spiritual practices such as regular meditation (or gong). Going within, listening to our intuition and allowing it to guide our actions while simultaneously reaching out to help others. This leads to a life of choice, contentment and community.
As Steve Jobs said, the journey is the reward and to follow your heart and your intuition. They already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary