Member-only story
How Wellness Shaped Me
A journey of being better
Skepticism
The year was 2013, I was in my first foray into tourism but at a very corporate role. I wanted to introduce more experiences to my clients, we were bringing them in by the busloads and having the same products that our competitors had wasn’t cutting it, I wanted better.
Even the words that I used for the experiences, “products” was so corporate it took away the human aspect of it. All I looked at was finding something a market wanted, getting the best possible price and maximising profit for the company. In the event that the market wanted nothing, I was finding ways for the markets to want it. Whether it be marine safaris off the coast of Kalpitiya or milking cows in Digana, I broke things somewhat beautiful to mere numbers on a spreadsheet and words on a brochure.
I was very interested in pushing medical tourism to various international markets. I had discussions with hospitals who were able to do many tests and treatments within your hotel room. Whilst searching for more like-minded suppliers I came across the energy healing alternative medicine known as Reiki. I spoke with a man on the phone who said he was interested in showcasing what he knew to my clients aka, tourists. I did some light reading on Reiki and saw that it was something different to market to our clients, but first, I wanted to see it for myself.
The Reiki Master showed up to my very corporate office. I gathered an audience of my peers in our stiff shirts and tight dresses to watch this man in flowing linen perform. Most of the people in the room were there out of curiosity, many were present to be classic sceptics. I felt that my guest felt more of the latter when he spoke to us. He asked for a volunteer of whom he wanted to perform a session. My colleague, shoes off, spread himself on the board room table whilst this man walked around him, pushing a palm here, a touch there. I was having second thoughts about this, this wasn’t a product that I can sell to my clients! All I could think of was the complaints without even giving the guy a chance. I could feel the eyes roll in some of my…
