Dreams Do Come True

Mind & Spirit : NST Life & Times 30/11/2010

http://www.nst.com.my/nst/articles/MIND_SPIRIT_Dreamsdocometrue/Article

BY CHIM LI YEN

What is it you really want in life? Do you have a dream? Many of us have cast aside our dreams in the rush toward adulthood and the taking on of life’s myriad responsibilities. Dreams are discarded because they are deemed to be impractical as compared with earning a living.

However, it is possible to follow your dreams and have the things you need in life. You do not have to sacrifice your dreams in order to live your life. You can see your dreams turn from a whimsical thought to reality with a little planning and the determination to see it through.

Su-Ann Wong, owner of restaurant Palate Palette in Jalan Mesui, KL was born a dreamer. Trained in Design at the one of the world’s leading creative university, Goldsmiths’ College in London, she was taught to break all boundaries in thinking. Everyone was encouraged to think outside the box so brilliantly original ideas are being churned out all the time.

Since her university days, Su-Ann has always dreamt about having her own café so she kept her dream alive by sketching her ideas in her notebook each time she is inspired by her travels and life experiences. In 2006, Su-Ann had a gut feeling that it is the right time to bring her sketches to life so she left her job as a designer to start up Palate Palette.

“Although the past four years has been tough because it is a new business for me. I had experienced many unplanned encounters – both positive and negative. Every step is a learning process which includes permanent eyebags and acute bouts of heart palpitations. I have gained a lot of knowledge yet I know I have much more to learn.

The most gratifying thing is when people walk up to me to tell me how much they appreciate the space and that is enough to keep me going for a few more days.Everything in Palate Palette – from the food to the furniture and décor seeks to delight the visitor. Every piece of furniture is carefully handpicked and uniquely designed to celebrate our individuality,” says Su-Ann.

Unconstrained, quirky works of art decorate the walls, floors and the ceilings of the restaurant. Look out for the chair with wings and the toilet doors with all the different types of latches you can imagine.

The food is a reflection of their creativity as the every plate that comes out from the kitchen is a work of art. The menu is peppered with interesting morsels like chicken lollipops, asparagyu (ribeye wrapped asparagus with garlic teriyaki sauce), minimalist burger (juicy hand-chopped burger with no buns or greens) and more.

“Palate Palette started out as a restaurant and bar but it has evolved to a creative hub for artists of all kinds. We organise different events like bazaars, music gigs and movie screenings here so it has a life of its own. It is sometimes a shopping mall, at times a cinema and even a club. We want everyone to have a good time and feel at home here. Just be yourself,” Su-Ann explains. Check out www.palatepalette.com for more details.
Su-Ann’s next project with another five friends from various backgrounds is a creative green initiative called ‘Recycolution’. Their aim is to optimise waste materials by adding a creative edge to it so we can experience a greener Malaysia.

“Trash has amazing potential which can be harnessed through upcycling. Upcycling is a process of converting waste materials into new materials or products of higher commercial value. For example, a chipped glass can be upcycled by sawing off the chipped part and sanding it down so it forms a vase. Or we can melt it into a bowl and add some colour to it to make it look pretty. Anything can be upcycled if we infuse some imagination into it,” says Su-Ann.

Salaam Wanita is an organisation which uses upcycling to assist low-income mothers support their families from their homes. They produce ‘Eco-Baskets’ which are intricate gift baskets and storage containers woven from tight rolls of old, donated magazines.
 
‘Recycolution’ would act as a mediator between various parties to conceive a win-win-win situation. They will work with factories and warehouses to obtain the waste materials which would otherwise land up in landfills. A source of income for communities like single mothers, prisoners and the disabled is provided as they will be trained to make interesting objects out of waste materials. Consumers are able to purchase items which are environmentally friendly and help specific communities at the same time.

Besides that, ‘Recycolution’ plans to create awareness through education by working with various organisations, the government, private corporations and of course, in schools. Look out for this exciting project which kick-starts in 2011.

Now, it is time for you to define your dreams. You can start out by assessing where you are in life and how far away you are from reaching your dream. Write it down on paper and break down the process into a series of achievable steps. Organise that information into a timeline so it looks more manageable.

Follow your plan and watch your dream unfold before your very own eyes! Miracles do happen!

The writer is co-founder of The Violet Flame Holistic Shop and Therapy Centre in Bangsar. Check out www.thevioletflame.com.my for details.