I turned 36 last Friday (3/14). This year is also my year in the Chinese horoscope-Year of the Rat. People say that when it’s your year, you can expect big things and huge shifts in your life. I would say that the biggest shift so far has been a more focused channeling of my creative energy into helping promote peace. I feel an increased level of unrest across the world. It feels like a pot on the brink of boiling over. Thinking about the challenges the world faces wracks my brain with thinking “How can I help? What is my part in all of this?”. Looking over the Gandhi quote “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” - I aspire to bring focus and purpose to each step of my creative path. Today is the first day of Spring and there is new life everywhere poking up out of the ground - even here.

We’re keeping busy here at the House of Yong - in the process of planning a number of events in conjunction with the summer release of my first solo CD and the launch of the Kailin Yong Peace Project. Believing strongly in cooperative spirit and joint creativity, I am looking forward to playing with many good friends and like-minded souls this year. Stay tuned for more information on the upcoming Crestone BACA Wildlife Refuge benefits this Spring and Peace Project jams this fall. As you can imagine, causes like these take a lot of creative energy, volunteer effort and teamwork. If any of you have ideas for helping out as part of the team or helping sponsor these events - please let us know!

Peace, Love and a Joyous Spring to all of you!

Kailin