Part Four begins in 2011 when I attended the Awakening the Dreamer, Changing the Dream (ATD) Symposium developed by the Pachamama Alliance. On a snowy day in January, I walked into my town’s Unitarian Universalist Church for the three-hour presentation. The purpose of the ATD Symposium is to “bring forth an environmentally sustainable, spiritually fulfilling, socially just human presence on our planet.” I was deeply moved by the Symposium and wanted to take it to China. Over the following nine years, I accomplished this goal. Then Covid 19 intervened and changed our world.
Off flew more emails. Merrin and Doria both agreed, and before I knew it, we were at (Doria’s Business School of Entrepreneurs) BSE event in a fancy hotel on the outskirts of Shenzhen. We walked into the venue to find controlled chaos. Doria had agreed to see us on the night the entrepreneurs were presenting a mock company plan that had to be environmentally responsible as well as profitable. The spacious hall held people vying for attention and asking for votes to win the prestigious best-of-show prize money. (p. 233)At the end of the Symposium, Huang Ming moved out of his front row seat and headed towards me. I opened my arms wide, all smiles about our successful presentation. Into my arms he flew, giving me a huge bear hug. The audience, his employees, clapped wildly as we stood side by side, two arms around each other and our free arms held up as if flying. (p. 237)We stood on the stage with the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium logo on the screen. (p. 238)One day after an ATD Symposium ceremony where participants were given colorful bracelets made in South America, participants formed a circle for a photo to show off their new treasure. I climbed under the sea of hands to peek up at the camera. (p. 256)We finished this ATD Facilitator Training around a table with items each of us brought as tokens of our intentions during the training. We have time to say how we are feeling and receive a bracelet. (p. 256)I walked into the mob of hugging students and started to hug some of them. Of course, this started a hugging session between me and the kids. One of my favorite photos comes from this “Symposium,” where I am surrounded by smiling kids who are flashing the peace sign. (p. 258)Sully and Wendy have fun during a facilitator training exercise. (p. 261)My yearly return to Hua Dao Eco-Village always felt like returning home. Whatever the activities, it was inspiring to be together, working for positive change with the ATD China team. (p. 264)Up Sully sprang from his chair and started dancing the Twist. I joined in along with Wendy. When more kids and adults joined us, we spontaneously formed a conga line weaving through the room, around the ceramic tree, ending with joyous laughter. (p. 271)I spent the fall months planning my trip with Sandy to India in January 2020. While in India, we heard about a virus and something about China, but we were enjoying our trip so didn’t think much more about it. It was March before the world realized it was in the middle of a pandemic. (p. 272)
My life's passion: China, Her People, and Her Philosophies 