AN ORDINARY HUMBLE MAN - with an OPEN HEART

Thank you Justine & Michael 💚

Take a moment to think about what you are afraid of. What is consuming your thoughts, holding you back?

Fear keeps us in our comfort zones, which are, in truth, the least safe place in which to live. So rather than fear change, let's embrace it. Let's look at all of the things that aren't working in our lives and consider the changes that would transform them. And then, one by one, start to make those changes - to dive into the sea of possibility it creates.

Of course, it doesn’t mean that we should completely eradicate the feeling of fear, because it does serve a purpose in our lives. It’s all about finding the golden middle, embracing fear as part of our life and as an emotion that can help avoid dangers, while at the same time fighting the ‘unnecessary’ fear that impacts one’s life in a negative way.

If you can't dive in, that's okay. Tip toe, baby step, crawl if you have to. Just keep moving forward, into what is already becoming your new and beautiful world. It's in your power. You just have to begin.

Filmed in Singapore.

All of our films are made possible through the generous support of our patrons.

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Who is Reflections of Life? We are Justine and Michael (previously known as Green Renaissance). We use our passion for filmmaking and our love of storytelling, to remind our audience of one simple truth – that we are all human. The more that we understand and believe in this interconnectedness, the more we will treat ourselves, one another, and planet earth with a greater sense of compassion.

Filming - by Michael Raimondo
Editing - by Justine du Toit
Sound mix - by Tamryn Breakey

This video was produced in collaboration with The Everyday People, an online publication that shares inspiring stories of those living in Singapore. It is part of their ongoing video series "A Singapore Story".

Deep Dive - by Master Minded
You and Me - by Beneath the Mountain
Plant Your Fields - by We Dream of Eden
Silence Becomes Her - by Dear Gravity
Lifelines - by Nobou
Gone - by Beneath the Mountain
Plead Pause - by Dear Gravity

A huge thank you to these guys, who gave so generously of their to time to help with translations, enabling us to provide subtitles in the following languages:
Bulgarian - by Polina Stoyanova
Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) - by Shun-Ying Lu
Dutch - by Karla Greven
English - by Justine du Toit
French - by Amélie Macoin
Georgian - by Qeti Giorgadze
German - by Tanja Pütz
Greek - by Vicky Polychroni
Hindi - by Parul Sharma
Hungarian - by Zorka Evetovics
Indonesian - by Ary Nuansa
Italian - by Grazia Gironella
Macedonian - by Lidija Pusevska Markovska
Malay - by Arman Shah
Persian - by Mona Zadsham
Polish - by Anna Konieczna
Portuguese - by Sibylle Steinpass and Lucivani Valvassori
Romanian - by Anca Zaharia
Russian - by Assiya Marzhanova
Slovak - by Zuzana Beratsova
Slovenian - by Jasmina Kovačič
Spanish - by Emanuel Mori
Vietnamese - by Thi Le

[ReflectionsofLife]

A huge thank you to these guys, who gave so generously of their to time to help with translations, enabling us to provide subtitles in the following languages:
Bulgarian - by Polina Stoyanova
Chinese (Traditional and Simplified) - by Shun-Ying Lu
Dutch - by Karla Greven
English - by Justine du Toit
French - by Amélie Macoin
Georgian - by Qeti Giorgadze
German - by Tanja Pütz
Greek - by Vicky Polychroni
Hindi - by Parul Sharma
Hungarian - by Zorka Evetovics
Indonesian - by Ary Nuansa
Italian - by Grazia Gironella
Macedonian - by Lidija Pusevska Markovska
Persian - by Mona Zadsham
Polish - by Anna Konieczna
Portuguese - by Sibylle Steinpass and Lucivani Valvassori
Romanian - by Anca Zaharia
Russian - by Assiya Marzhanova
Slovak - by Zuzana Beratsova
Slovenian - by Jasmina Kovačič
Spanish - by Emanuel Mori
Vietnamese - by Thi Le

[kman]

My daughter went to school to be a lawyer. She felt so empty. She decided she wanted to help children. She didn’t want to play the rat race game. She became a teacher and her whole existence became worthwhile. She saw herself through the children and became the best teacher there could be! She fights for them. Her life is dedicated to helping less fortunate children. Her heart is of Gods and her strength is unmeasurable. I always knew she’d do great things. This is the way we are supposed to be. Showing love.

This man is so wise. I pray he helps anyone he comes in contact with. ❤

[mariaelenarodriguez]

“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose”. Thank you!

[denise]

“We must let go of the life we have planned, so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.” Joseph Campbell

[susanc]

What a positive man, he shines from the inside out. Thank you for sharing his story!

[ManuelaChristina]

He is absolutely right 😊 connect with nature, connect with yourself and be truly yourself and share this with no fear ❤

[Woolgatherer_R]

So alive and beautiful! Thanks to the GR team for this amazing share. And, Mr. Chong, you aren't alone. Never will be. You have created a circuit of light and it's reaching all of us. We are all one.

[randomvintagefilm]

So sad how we always compare ourselves to others. There will always be someone smarter, richer or better looking. Who cares! There are billions of people in the world. We can't all be the best. This short life is a gift, just try to be happy!

[daisyfieldparrks]

If Green Renaissance was a planet, what a wonderful world this would be. So many people on this channel that are trying to find themselves, connect, and do what God put them on this earth to do for a time. I always learn something from the people that are bold enough to share. Children will humble you and teach you have faith and have no fear! It has been said for eons, "find what you love and you'll never work again;" sounds like this man has found his happiness. Many more happy days sir.

[kailashbedi]

“I want to be the planter of good seeds.”
Indeed … a “pure heart”.
It was simply wonderful listening to this gentleman.❤

[lindaclifton]

We are disconnected from Nature. We must reconnect if we want to save our planet and us! You are a beautiful being and we need more like you! Your heart is pure! ❤️ Thank You Mr. Chong

[andreahennrich]

He is my hero too. I dream about being a bee keeper with a lavender field. I'll do that. Thank you so much, sir! Thank you too, GR!

[soilofk]

What a beautiful soul in this human!!! "I'm emotional. I shed tears. I'm weak in the eyes of people who think that men don't cry" Sir, you are def a HERO!!!!

[rabukan]

Another beautiful video with an enlightening message about the power of self worth. After many years, John knows well who he is; he radiates self-empowerment - the value of living ones life on his/her own terms. Thank you for the lesson.

[rebeccaskibicki]

OH MY WORD...Such a beautiful soul this man has. Of all the videos I have seen through the years that I have been on this channel, this one left me with a smile and tears in my eyes. It touched me so deeply of what he spoke and taught. Great Job!I'm going to watch it again and again, I know there is still so much to learn from this video. Thank you for finding this gem in a world of darkenss.

[thewriterstuff]

What a joyful human being. Great way to start my day. ❤

[DV-dtsq]

Thank you so much ❤❤❤. He is right, we are more and more disconnected from nature and that is dangerous. With that disconnection it is easier to harm nature and people. We need to reconnect. For a moment it reminded me of a great film by Fritz Lang - Metropolis.

[antjefriderici]

Herzens Dank für diesen wunderschönen Beitrag, dieser wundervollen Seele. Berührend und Inspirierend .🌀🙏

[olgayaleo]

mr john chong, you are MY hero!!💛 as a retired educator who has always cherished nature (and deplores contemporary people's addiction to technology), i couldn't agree more with you! and to think, feel, and believe as you do, you have ALWAYS been someone - and extraordinary. as someone who was never encouraged to follow my dreams (which, yes, made me afraid at times), when i found the courage and did (and continue to do), i felt as if i could soar, regardless of what others said and thought of me. bravo and three cheers to a true hero with integrity!!

[robertashaffer]

Kind, caring, authentic, a lovely man with an important.message 🙏