My Journey.
In 2023, I embarked on a journey to explore the life after my doggie was left. I feel grateful for this journey, it guided me to reconnect with nature and recall my true passions. I would like to share my stories on this journey with you.
01: Study in Alicante and encounter an ancient family
I traveled alone to a little city in Spain, called Alicante to study sound healer. This is my first time to visit Europe. The study center is located very far away, but this is a stunning town surrounded by nature. I had a 2-week intensive full-day course, I lived in this center and made some friends. Although my living room does not have an air-conditioner in hot summer and cold drinks not available, this place have calming scenes, nice people, music and an ancient family - a Centipede big family is also living here.
Why do I know this? Because I had found 2 huge centipede friends on my shoulder and under the pillow 2 days in a row when I am sleeping … I am freaked out and wake up from sleep. When I look back, I was surprised that I could be brave enough to face my fear and have endurance after leaving the home town. I miss this wonderful place and the people family concerts at night. Finally, I lost my weight and I am not a Coke fan anymore. Sometimes we can grow from fear and challenges.
Jul 2023
02: Walked on the Camino de Santiago (The way of St. James)!
I traveled to a small town, called Sarria. I do not have religion, but I took a Camino walk, a 6 full-day walk to Santiago. I met some friends during the walk and with little yellow flowers along the road ("Little Flower" is my doggie's nickname, we usually use little yellow flowers as her symbol). When I arrived at the church and attended the pilgrim mass, I cried. I suddenly became aware that same date last year my doggie passed away.
I believe that everything happens for a reason. This journey was started after she passed away. The bracelet I wore during the walk represents her, in the past, she usually guide me to explore this world, but this time I want to bring "her" to explore the world. I took 2 months to plan this walk and finally, I did this.
Aug 2023
03: Arrived the End of the World, restarting from 0.0km
The next day, I went to Finisterre (The End of the World) and Death Coast. Finisterre is the "final" destination of Camino de Santiago in the tradition. When I saw the sign of 0.0km, For me, it meant the end but also restarting my life. I smile and am grateful that I can be here.
A lot of friends asked why I took this walk, the reason is I got touched 3 times by reading the pilgrims' stories. For the third time, when I saw the sign of a 0.0km photo in a story, I was crying. So I decided to go and explore.
Aug 2023
04: A valuable and unforgettable lesson - Love and Inclusion
I had a sad and unforgettable memory when I traveled to Doha. When I greet a Camel in a big shelter, she tries her best to come to my side but she can't, her face looks sorrowful and helpless. And then I was shocked when I saw her legs were locked together by a thick chain. I'm not sure when can she walk freely… maybe just when she goes regular parade, but is it a free walk? I imagine if she's my doggie, how sad she will be. In the past, I would not keep the photo, but this time I asked myself to be brave and not delete this photo because I want to remind myself, that love and inclusion are very important in our society.
Aug 2023
05: I filled up my schedule by courses ... one after another
When I came back to Hong Kong, I didn't stop myself from exploring, I attended the psychology course - Science and Art of Happiness, to learn more about enduring happiness. I also attended different wellness courses in local and Taiwan.
I am grateful that I met some new friends in the courses and deeply understand that having enduring happiness is very simple, all of these simple things are always with us in our daily lives, we just need some methods and then practices to help us discover.
Jul 2023 - Oct 2023
06: Mindfulness is the key
When my doggie had a chronic disease in 2020, this was my first time to become a caregiver and face the death of a loved one when I grew up. I started to read the books written by Thich Nhat Hanh to practice mindfulness during that critical period, I experienced the calmness and cherish every moment with my doggie. Since then I have kept practicing mindfulness every day, it helps me to recover from suffering.
In October 2023, I joined a retreat from Plum Village to focus on practicing mindfulness. This is my first time joining a retreat and had a very unique experience. Therefore, I wrote an article to share my experience - Read the article.
Oct 2023
07: Learn from nature and be healed by nature
One of the wellness courses I've applied to is the Forest Therapy Guide course from ANFT (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy in United States). In the past, my doggie was my informal forest therapy guide, she was born in nature and loves nature, she shows me how she learns from nature.
Therefore, I applied to this course, in this half-year course, I learned to be a guide but at the same time, I had a chance to explore, learn from nature, and be healed by nature. I am grateful that I can benefit from nature - My therapist in my life.
Sep 2023 - Mar 2024
08: The true happiness
After completing the course Science and Art of Happiness, I decided to study the full certificate - another course about happiness with research & analysis support. Lots of people may be aware that practicing mindfulness and gratitude can increase our happiness, self-love and minimize our stress. Furthermore, I am impressed by the research result that practicing loving-kindness meditation not only reduces outgroup bias but also reduces our personal distress.
I was also impressed by the power of connecting to each other with love can release the natural hormone - Oxytocin. Due to COVID-19, our lifestyle has changed in the past few years. This is a meaningful finding, love is very powerful, and that is the root of happiness, just a simple connection, we can spread our love to all beings, I deeply believe that this is our true happiness.
Feb - May 2024
09: Connect to the community
I decided to apply some volunteer work to experience what I've learned in the course. I went to a nursing home, secondary school, and farm to support the event organized by NGOs. I met some elderly, students and families, I had a chance to listen to their stories and talk to them. I love to see their smiling face, I cherish the time with them, and I am full of energy even after the event. I can validate the research result - true happiness. This experience recalled one of my memories in my career path again.
A long long time ago, I adopted Peanut Candy when she was 3.5 months old. In the past 17 years, she guided me to explore this world from a different angle. Later, I became a dog volunteer and inspired me to develop a start-up called VElove in 2016 to promote a sustainable lifestyle - The interconnection between the environment, humans, and the animal. Running a start-up is not easy for me, but I've learned a lot and met a lot of friends with the same beliefs from different organizations, schools, and media. I deeply enjoy the moment I can share my findings and beliefs with the public.
Apr - May 2024
10: Walk for peace, Kumano Kodo - Another pilgrim route
I walked on another pilgrim route in Asia - Kumano Kodo. I planned this walk last year when I was in Santiago because this is a dual pilgrim route with the Camino de Santiago. Although they have relation, the walk experience is different. I am moved when I walk on the route, embraced by nature and read the stories behind each checkpoint. The stories are about connection with nature, and cherishing Mother Earth. I think I came at the right time because they are celebrating their 20th anniversary of the World Heritage registration and the theme is "World of Peace" - A wish for peace between humans and nature.
After completing the dual pilgrim route, I received some souvenirs, one of the souvenirs has a calligraphy "Time", representing the transition from the past to the present and into the future, which keeps flowing and changing. We have to cherish and live the current "Time" to move forward.
Jun 2024
11: My third Camino Walk - Gratitude and greet my new beginning
Sometimes a break can guide us to live in the moment and then we can see things clearly.
I walked on the Camino de Santiago again in gratitude for all the experiences in this journey. The arrival date is the same as last year because I want to show my doggie how she has changed my life. I won't forget what she's inspired me and I will keep her love alive.
I greet my new beginning in a pilgrim mass because I believe I've found the most important message in this journey - Always remember my true passion.
Jul - Aug 2024
12: Express my love to all beings
Thank you for this journey. I deeply believe that it happens for a reason.
I should listen to my heart, I have a diverse career background whether I have worked in digital experience criteria to support digital transformation in companies or focused on sustainable design strategy to run a start-up. All these experiences are helping me to grow. While I volunteering at different organisations, I learned that some digital experience skills can be adapted to support sustainability initiatives.
Therefore, I would like to share what I've learned to express my love for all beings. I created a space on Medium and Facebook page - Walk for Peace to write something related to sustainability and the interconnection between people, animals and the environment, I wish I could keep my doggie's love alive to bring love, joy and peace to all beings in my next career.
Sep 2024 - Now
Thank you for taking the time to read
If you have any feedback or questions about my journey, please feel free to contact me by email at [email protected] .
I wish you enjoy your life and let's support our planet together with love.
Catherine Leung.
Getting Connected @ [email protected]
