Reflecting on the importance of helping out - my volunteering experience

As Lunar New Year begins, I wanted to reflect on my wonderful experience last year voluteering with the Refugee Union in Hong Kong. I was privileged enough to be able to perform with my band twice for two different audiences, the first for underprivileged children in Hong Kong and the second at a local church for domestic helpers.

I performed the same songs for both audiences, yet they felt like different experiences; playing for the children showed me the power of joy and the rejuvenating feeling that comes from watching others smile as we play. Their energy was infectious. Performing for the domestic helpers highlighted a deeper meaning behind what it meant to play for them. Many of them had been in the midst of their own struggles so I am praying that relief and resolution continues to come for those in need.

This experience taught me that while music is a universal language and a humbling privilege, it speaks to different people in different ways. For the children, it was a spark of joy. For the helpers, it was a source of comfort and solace.  It wasn't possible to know each and every one of their stories, but the music united and brough them together even for just a short-lived moment. I am so grateful to have been a small part of their day, and to have been reminded that the true gift of music lies not in the performance itself, but in the connection it creates.

Happy Lunar New Year!