“I haven’t laughed so hard in years…. It was captivating.” After a standing ovation, last year’s sold-out audience raved over the first StorySLAM to come to the Sugden Theatre. Ten local storytellers each gave spellbinding performances. On Monday, April 3rd, 2017, at 7pm the oral tradition of storytelling returns to Sugden Theatre in Naples, Florida, with “The …Read More
Author: Dr. Joel Ying, MD
Physician-Educator-Storyteller. Integrating the power of story into medicine, healing sessions, workshops, speaking and performance.
Finger Pointing at the Moon
“It’s like a finger pointing a way to the moon. Don’t concentrate on the finger or you will miss all that heavenly glory.” ― Bruce Lee In the movie “Enter the Dragon” (1973), Bruce Lee encounters a young student walking around the temple. They begin to spar, practicing their martial arts training. After sparing, Bruce …Read More
The Power in Vocal Communities
Last summer, I spent a week with my friend Ysaye Barnwell in her annual workshop “Building a Vocal Community” at the Omega Institute. In this workshop singers and non-singers (like I used to be) learn to sing in the oral tradition. (No music to read. No words to read. We learn by listening and repeating.) …Read More
Lessons From Geese
This wisdom from the animal kingdom describes how we can come into greater Presence with each other. What does it mean when someone is there for you? How can we come into deeper relationship with each other? These inspiring observations from the lives of geese demonstrate effective teamwork, community, and leadership. According to one source, “Lessons …Read More
This is Water – David Foster Wallace
There are these two young fish swimming along, and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, “Morning, boys, how’s the water?” And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, “What …Read More
Full Voice – Five Elements of Vocal Presence
Are your unconscious vocal habits keeping you from your full potential? When I first started public speaking, my voice was hidden behind the podium and trapped in my throat. I had no volume and a singing cadence that would put you to sleep. Someone who is now a dear friend (through no fault of her …Read More
Eat Your Greens
Eat your greens! Yuck! It’s pond scum. It’s dark blue-green spiral-shaped algae, harvested from lakes in warm climates, and a nutrient-dense superfood! Yuck! It’s pond scum. It’s good for you. It’s spirulina. Yuck! When I was growing up, one of my cousins (who shall remain nameless, but you know who you are!) … she …Read More
3 Simple Steps to Balance
What is balance? You know it when you are there. You find center. Inner peace. But you also know when you are not there. If you are like me, it might feel like: Mind racing out of control. I’m running and not getting anywhere. Anxious. Confused. Sense of unhappiness. Everything seems to be falling apart …Read More
Wedding Toast – Hector & Lisa
Given on their Wedding Day (November 19th, 2016), this toast is posted here with permission from the couple. I am honored to have been part of such a beautiful and special day. Love is a connection of authenticity and presence. I share with you how they inspire me in video and text below. A Wedding …Read More
To Bless the Space Between Us
“It would be lovely if we could rediscover our power to bless one another. I believe each of us can bless… Whenever you give a blessing, a blessing returns to enfold you.”–John O’Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings A blessing begins with an invocation. When you invoke the divine mystery …Read More