💚 Veggie World Expo 💚

上週五很榮幸代表我就職的公益營養學組織NutritionFacts.org到上海的國際植物基博覽會分享，和觀眾分享全食物蔬食對健康的益處。

一開始我先邀請在場觀眾進行「check-in」的過程，找一個他們不認識的人，自我介紹，然後分享為何自己關注健康。接著我分享了我個人關注健康的原因：從小到大，家中有太多長輩因為慢性病而過世。從乳癌、淋巴癌、胰臟癌、心臟病、中風到腎臟病......雖然我幫不了他們，但現在我卻可以幫助其他人的家庭不要經受我家人經受的痛苦。接著，我介紹了我們組織，播放了葛雷格醫師的兩個影片，最後再教大家使用「每日12清單」將健康的食物包括到每日的飲食當中。

這次的活動對我來說有幾個亮點：
1) 有五位我的好朋友來支持我，雖然其中三位聽不懂中文，根本不知道我在講什麼。❤️
2) 有些觀眾告訴我，這是他們第一次發現自己的飲食有多麼不健康，接下來也想要做出改變。💪
3) 許多人跟我說他們很喜歡這樣互動性的分享模式，而不是講者在台上單方面講話。事實上，我自己以前是經營個人成長學校、主持工作坊出身的，非常在意互動性這件事情，個人也完全受不了那種ppt充滿文字、台上滔滔不絕、台下是誰在聽都無所謂的活動。所以放心，不管我主持什麼分享會或活動，都會是高互動性的。😉
4) 最後這個反饋實在讓我哭笑不得......有個女生很驚訝也很感動跟我說「哇，你的中文好好呀！」 🤨😓😂

我很感激能有機會做有意義的工作，為自己和他人的福祉做出貢獻。同時，在全球還疫情蔓延、許多人還困在家裡的情況下，能夠有這樣的活動、享受人與人之間面對面的連結，是多麼得來不易的機會。有時候我確實會對人性、對世界失望，但類似這樣的感動瞬間，是提醒我繼續走下去的動力。🌱

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Last Friday I had the honor of presenting on behalf of NutritionFacts.org at Veggie World Shanghai, sharing about the health benefits of a whole food plant-based diet. During check-in, participants were invited to find a partner they didn’t already know, introduce themselves, and share why the topic of health is important for them. Then I shared my personal reason for caring about the topic - I’ve lost too many family members to chronic diseases. Breast cancer, pancreatic cancer, lung cancer, lymphoma, stroke, heart disease, kidney disease...you name it. Growing up, I couldn’t really help my grandma, uncles and aunts while they suffered. But now I can help others and their loved ones to not go through what I’ve been through. Later, I introduced our organization, played two of Dr. Greger's videos, and invited everyone to practice using his Daily Dozen checklist to incorporate more healthy foods into their diet.

There were a few highlights for me: 1) Five friends of mine came to support me, even though three of them wouldn’t really understand what I was talking about. ❤️ 2) Some participants told me that it was the first time they realized how unhealthy their diet has been, and they’d like to change that. 💪 3) Many people told me they appreciated the interactive process, that it was more than just a presentation where the audience sits and listens. Well, I’m a host/facilitator who personally can’t stand presentations with busy ppt slides...so whatever I host is always going to be participatory! 😉 4) And here comes the best comment...”Wow, your Chinese is sooo good!” Not sure how to respond to that. Thanks...? 🤨😓😂

I’m very grateful for the opportunity to do meaningful work, contribute to the well-being of others and myself, and enjoy human connection, especially during a global pandemic where so many are still isolated at home. Sometimes I do lose hope in humanity and the state of the world. But it’s moments like this that touch my heart and remind me to keep going. 🌱
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Love you Andrea, Dawn, Lily, Mariana and Narayan ❤️