In 2011, that was my rock bottom. I was trying really hard to find out what I’ve done the next few years but I faced major obstacles. Everything was kind of blurry. What I remembered is I jumped from job to job, unable to feel settled in any of them. My life changed in 2014, when I started working for one of the most talented creatives in Hong Kong.

The minute I entered the florist studio which was nestled in a quaint street in a hip neighbourhood in Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.The scent of the beautiful flowers were alluring, absorbing me, inviting me to explore more. Decorative accessories such as figurines, vintage books were carefully put among pots of plants, flowers. I knew that I wanted to work there. The more time I spent working with the creative team, surrounding myself daily with beautiful flowers, creating interior design while facing all kind of obstacles (size, budget, availability, shipping issues) the more at home I feel. And I discovered a missing puzzle of myself. My creativity bloomed. My eyes were opened.

Meanwhile, I was still living at home. I longed to move out, be independent, free to do whatever I want. But as you might know, Hong Kong property price was extremely high. As someone who’s never been able to hold down a job, even renting a decent room is purely mission impossible. My parents were caring, but at times they were overprotective, and I just needed some space of my own to breathe. I did not experience that kind of freedom even in my room. Sometimes that leads to conflict, especially after my commute from work to home (crowded underground!) and I just felt the urge to burst out. To avoid conflicts or simply to feel freer, I sometimes just wandered on the street after work instead of resting in my bedroom, which was supposed to be a sanctuary.

In 2015 we decided to renovate our home. We rented somewhere else and I absolutely loved where we rented. The palette is neutral, although some might think it’s clinical. But my bed was right next to the window where I can hear the birds sing in the morning. I was able to sleep well with the blackout curtain. The open plan was spacious with a tiled floor that always cools my fiery spirits. Interestingly I ended up spending more time with my parents, and it was at the living room that I opened up more about myself.

Although I’d love to take a more active role in the overall design of my home, my job and other personal matters consumed all my energies. However, we had an interior designer in who came up with the most suited and cost effective storage solutions. I chose a few furniture in the common areas and my bedrooms, some materials, etc. I wouldn’t say i love the overall design as I haven’t used the design process and it wasn’t my creativity behind. Yes, I would have changed a lot more, but compared to before, the interiors at our home underwent a drastic transformation.

The transformation did not only happen at the physical home, the way I connect, live and experience transform as well. Sitting at my vintage desk with a office chair, I was able to journal, connecting with people around the world. Sleeping on a customised wooden bed, I felt much more supported and safe. I love the norte monde coffee table I chose for the living room. The texture and subtle pattern always inspires conversation - and it’s here where we would just have tea or coffee together, slowly shedding our masks and exchanging ideas. Of course there are still heated conversations and occasional fights between my parents and I, but it no longer resulted in huge bangs at the bedroom door or my rushing out of main door.

I signed up for a retreat when I knew I needed a longer break from my day to day life, and afterwards I arrived at Museflower, which I’ll share with you soon

And slowly, I started to feel more engaged in my life. I feel more inspired to learn, to research on different lessons, and slowly embarked on a new journey. After 1 year of the renovations, I settled in my home, wrote an email to Museflower Retreat, and that’s when my recovery took on another level.

I’m not advocating you to spend resources on a internationally renowned international designer, nor interior design is the single way to cure mental illness. There are many mental illnesses, patients respond to the symptoms and treatments differently. What I want to suggest is to switch things in your home, and see if it can offer you a new perspective, to see if surrounding yourself with a soul-led environment could bring positivity and inspiration to you. It helped me a great deal, and I saw that a well-designed home filled with items that connect with people’s soul also helped people to handle the illness in a positive manner.

With the mental awareness week still going on, I’d like to invite you to learn more about mental illness, and how it can impact someone’s lives. At the same time, I’d like us to collectively pray for more kindness, support to each other during challenging times. It really does go a long way.