Hello members!

It is the end of the year again. Have you figured out what it is you will look forward to in the coming 2010? Any new resolutions? Are you excited to move forward or are you dreading it? At the end of it all, remember that the journey would be a better one if you make every moment precious as if life could be taken away from you any moment. We have had quite a few prominent deaths in 2009 to reflect upon, we can’t ignore and persist life amongst empty but distracting noise. Don’t get too familiar with procrastination.

I’d like to share a few things about new year resolutions. It is important to make them. Like promises, resolutions are not made to be broken (despite popular jokes about inevitable failure). Those who actually succeed in resolving themselves are often quieter than those who habitually fail. So no need to talk about it, action speaks louder than words. If you are focused on some serious personal goals, you would find no room for idle speech. Observation is more important. Listening skills are imperative. Speech unless profound can be done away.

Life’s successes cannot be resolved overnight without commitment and dedication. If you plan on getting drunk in a rowdy party while you make your resolutions, chances are your mind will not believe you. Don’t be making empty resolutions year after year – perhaps most of us has been there before. Take it seriously. Set aside some time in a quiet space to write down those new plans and be as specific as possible – what you want to achieve, what is the given time-line and how you will implement every growth. This is your life, if you can’t be fully accountable for your own plans, no one else can improve it any further. In every resolution, even if we do not conclude it by the end of the year, every effort counts. If there is even a 15% growth – you are already mining your hidden potentials. Give yourself a benchmark.

Lastly, you do not need to wait till year end to make resolutions. Make positive changes every day, so your life is on a constant rise towards improvement and greater awareness. Always start humbly so that you may accumulate your merits for larger issues that need resolving. Start by correcting your thoughts, before you attempt to change your physical patterns. Make instant changes mentally first, followed by your actions. Own your resolutions and life decisions. Build up mental control.

A quick summary of the upcoming year for Helping Angels. As the Thursday Tutoring Program in Malaysia takes a break during this school holiday period, we have foreign events to look forward to abroad as 2010 begins.

January 5th, 2010 evening – Helping Angels will be meeting in Taipei to talk about creating a music education program for children of single mothers, and possibly a one-off environmental project. There are lots of things to iron out in order to make something sustainable out of the volunteers’ joint efforts – so your thoughts and/or physical participation is greatly encouraged. You can find more information on the event page.

January 16th, 2010 – The Gratitude Letters Q1 2010 event will take place in Hong Kong. We are still open to offers for the best venue (somewhere central to the local transportation system) – a boardroom would do or just a room with tables and chairs for 10 pax. A small group of Helping Angels volunteers will gather on that Saturday afternoon to respond to more than 100 letters to Xuan Yuan Education Fund Association, handwritten by the children from the rural villages of China. Delightful letter stationery greatly appreciated.
Background of this joint project :
Xuan Yuan Education Fund Association has been responsible for building many schools in rural China. As their association’s administration consist of only a few staff to manage the fund – the children’s letters are rarely read or responded to. Helping Angels has offered to lend a hand after a comprehensive meeting with the administrator during an October event this year. In this upcoming first event, we have a pile of over 100 letters to respond to so if you are in Hong Kong, your physical participation is most welcome. We hope to sustain this project over 4 such events a year. So if you miss this one on Jan 16th, the next one would only be in April.

February – Helping Angels is hoping to meet with Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) to see how we can help to improve their adoption rates. There is also talk about a program to arrange for foreign adoption. Please keep yourself tuned in for our first event in Singapore. We will likely start by visiting their canine shelter – anybody can join this walking tour to learn their cause. Children are welcomed.

Lastly, as many of the members are in Malaysia, I’d like to invite you to join us on our 3rd year of the Thursday Tutoring Program. We ended our 2nd year by attending the Dance Style 4th Anniversary Show – a concert held by a local Japanese youth dance school community.
In 2010, do make it a point to visit us on a Thursday! Even if it is only just once, see what the dedicated team of leaders has built out of nothing. Give them a pat on their backs if you will. I can only be thankful for the continuing succession of dedicated angels involved that we have managed through 27 months of highs and lows – growing together. Nothing would have come of this tutoring, if none of us stuck through it and willingly applied our joint efforts plus practical skills to pull this off. May this project be just the stepping stone to the personal success of every single volunteer who passes through it. We have had members visiting us from all over the world!! 加油! I am personally filled with pride from every friendship found through this connection.

Wherever you may be.. We are inviting photographers, writers, artists, musicians to contribute time and efforts to serve in committee. Of course if you are someone who is looking to sharpen your management skills, do step up and ask for some leadership responsibility. Here in Helping Angels, the talented are allowed to be talented. You only need to dedicate a few hours a week of selfless kindness to see good result in your personal life. It is really humbling work but it comes highly recommended to make this a resolution. Aspire to be a Helping Angel today.

PS – Try to observe your RSVP habits with the event invitations. If you aren’t attending an event, don’t misrepresent your attendance – synchronize it by clicking on Not Attending. It is okay to Not Attend any of the events, but not okay to RSVP attendance without physical commitment. Thank you for taking serious note here.

Love & Aspiration For All.

Yours, P