The Playground of Possibilities

A Project By Kay Ross
This Project will only be funded if USD 2,500 is pledged by Saturday, 25 November 2017 23:59 HKT.
121% Complete
goal USD 2,500
amount raised USD 3,048
backers 68

Overview

Imagine. What would be possible for you if you let go of your old, limiting thoughts and beliefs and stories about yourself and the world? And what if you chose more useful ones?

I’m Kay Ross in Hong Kong, and I’ve created a hand-made prototype deck of my “The Playground of Possibilities” card deck, with 52 questions for you to ask yourself so that you transform those old thoughts, beliefs and stories, take inspired action, and thrive.

Now, I’m asking for your help - I aim to raise US$2,500 (about HK$19,500) to get the deck printed. And 5% of the proceeds will go to KELY Support Group here in Hong Kong.

Hi, I’m Kay Ross in Hong Kong, and I’m your Head Tour Guide in The Playground of Possibilities.

KayRoss380x340.png

UPDATE (cue fireworks and a brass band):

Hooray! Thanks to the success of the crowdfunding campaign, the decks have been printed, and they’re beautiful. Thank you to everyone who supported the campaign.

And don’t worry, even though the campaign is officially over, you can still order a deck of cards (or several decks, or even a deck plus a Skype call with me) via this crowdfunding page.

..............................................

With this crowdfunding campaign, I’m asking you to pledge funds to help me get an initial print run of my “The Playground of Possibilities” card deck printed.

The deck is a tool for you to use to transform and heal your old, limiting, unresourceful thoughts, beliefs and stories about yourself and the world, and take inspired action.

It has 52 thought-provoking (and action-provoking!) questions for you to ask yourself, and every question starts with “What would be possible for me if I...”.

I’ve created a hand-made prototype deck and used it in many gatherings with friends, and in public workshops. People love the questions, and they've been asking me when they can buy the printed deck.

My target is US$2,500 (that’s about HK$19,500). With that, I’ll order an initial print run of 1,000 decks – and of course if the demand is there and this campaign raises a lot more than US$2,500, I’ll order a bigger print run.

In return for supporting this campaign and placing your pre-order, you’ll be among the first people to get a card deck (or even several decks to give to your friends or sell to your clients), a thank you on The Playground of Possibilities website, a one-on-one conversation with me via Skype, a meal or even a workshop in Hong Kong with me and some of your friends, a nice warm fuzzy feeling… – check out the rewards.

AND you’ll also be sending me belated birthday wishes, because I turned 60 (yes, honestly, 60!) on September 23.

Dwell in possibility.
~ Emily Dickinson

Supporting a worthy cause

When you support this campaign, you’ll also be supporting a fabulous organisation here in Hong Kong, because I’ll be donating 5% of the funds raised to KELY Support Group.

It's a non-government-funded organisation that runs peer support, mentorship and leadership development programs for young people aged 14-24, from Chinese-speaking, ethnic-minority and English-speaking backgrounds.

KaySkyKELYcircusworkshop780x423.png

Life is either a daring adventure,
or nothing.

~ Helen Keller

So what is The Playground of Possibilities?

It’s LIFE! YOUR life. The Universe is constantly offering you an unlimited array of choices, opportunities, adventures, challenges… and YOU get to pick the ones you want, take action, and accept responsibility for your choices.

And those choices are driven by your thoughts, beliefs and stories about yourself and the world.

So when you use the cards, you get to:

  • examine and transform your old, limiting thoughts, beliefs and stories about yourself and the world,
  • play “What if?” and improvise new, more resourceful, more joyful ways of being,
  • listen to the wisdom of your body and boost your vibration,
  • tap into the benevolent abundance of the Universe,
  • take bold, inspired action,
  • play with supportive friends, and
  • approach life with more love, joy, trust, compassion, integrity, forgiveness, resilience, gratitude, courage, responsibility, serenity, mindfulness, playfulness…

Every moment of our existence
holds an infinite number of possibilities.

~ Dr. Wayne Dyer

About the card deck

 

Changedmystorieslovedmyself780x423.png

Every card in the deck features a colourful drawing of me, on a swing, in The Playground of Possibilities (I drew it myself!). On the other side of each card is a question for you to ask yourself, starting with “What would be possible for me if I…”.

For example, what would be possible for me if…
I loved myself?
I let go of all my excuses?
I gave myself permission to have fun?
I was grateful for everything I already have / do / am?
I chose to see things differently?

And there’s even a Joker card that invites you to come up with your own question.

The printed deck will come in a flip-top box, and will include one card with some tips about how to use the deck (more info will be on the website). Each deck will weigh only about 175g – easy to carry with you wherever you go.

My prototype cards measure 12.7cm x 9cm (5” x 3.5”), but I’ve found that they’re a bit too big to shuffle comfortably, so the final cards will be a bit smaller: 12cm x 7cm (4.75” x 2.75”). Also, the drawing might be slightly different than in my prototype deck.

Here's a short video about how to use your deck:

And here’s what some people have said about the cards:

“The questions that you post in the Playground of Possibilities keep me positive, productive and purposeful.”

“I love the sound of your new project. Fantastic questions! Very powerful. I’d love to use your cards with my clients. They would love them. So would many of my colleagues.”

“This is brilliant! Just what I need! Thanks Kay!”

“I have been listening to my body’s messages as per the card I picked from the Playground of Possibilities. I am learning a huge amount about myself and learning a great lesson for life.”

“This is such a great project and I really look forward to seeing the fruitful results. Your cards are amazing – thought-provoking and transformational. They will help many people.”

And the most common comment I hear when someone picks a card is: “Oh, that’s the perfect question for me right now!”

Life forms around our beliefs and expectations... it is nothing but a story.
~ Pam Grout

Who is the deck for?

The deck is for you (and people like you) if:

  • you’re already familiar with and interested in personal/spiritual development and healing
  • you like books, card decks, workshops, webinars, coaching, bodywork etc. about personal/spiritual development and healing
  • you’re committed to doing the work – and play – of examining and transforming your old, limiting, unresourceful thoughts, beliefs, stories and behaviours
  • you’re willing to accept responsibility for your life
  • you sometimes catch yourself slipping back into your old bad habits and self-critical thoughts
  • you’re a coach, healer, therapist, bodyworker or trainer looking for a simple tool to use with your clients – individually or in groups – so they heal and thrive

And the deck is NOT for you if:

  • you’re a “Negative Nelly” who blames everyone and everything else for the state of your life
  • you automatically say “Yes, but you have to be realistic” to every suggestion
  • you’re not willing to do the work – and play – of examining and transforming your old, limiting, unresourceful thoughts, beliefs, stories and behaviours
  • you have no interest in the spiritual dimension of life
  • you expect a magic quick-fix pill for all your problems
  • you’re looking for a fortune-telling deck

It’s only a thought,
and a thought can be changed.

~ Louise Hay

About me

Kaytoddleradult780x423.png

I was born in Scotland, grew up in Australia, and have lived in Hong Kong for 24 years. My three passions are:

  • Healing – I’m passionate about personal/spiritual development and healing, and I’m a bodyworker/healer (I trained in a methodology called Body Harmony)
  • Performing – I’m an actor and an improv performer, so I approach life with an improviser’s “Yes, and” mindset
  • Marketing – I’m an editor, copywriter and marketing consultant

The common thread in all that is Storytelling – the stories we tell ourselves and others, about ourselves and the world.

I was inspired to create the card deck when, one day in August 2013, the phrase “The Playground of Possibilities” popped into my head. I immediately sat down to write a list of “What would be possible for me if…” questions. And I keep thinking of new questions every day.

The concept was born out of my passion for personal/spiritual development and healing, and my many years of reading books about that, attending workshops, training and practising as a bodyworker/healer, listening to webinars, having private sessions with coaches and healers, studying and performing improv…

And that passion was born out of my quest to deal with and heal from an abuse-filled childhood and all the limiting thoughts, beliefs and stories that I learned (or maybe chose?) from that. It’s an ongoing journey that sometimes delights me and sometimes pisses me off!

And now, doing this crowdfunding campaign is a way for me to experiment with living as if life is a Playground of Possibilities – every day, I’m invited to trust, play, forgive, choose love over fear, improvise, connect, learn, grow, and tell myself new stories about what’s possible for me. I confess, I don’t always succeed – that’s why I need the cards myself!

I wish I could show you,
when you are lonely or in darkness,
the astonishing light of your own being.

~ Hafiz

Why I'm asking for your help

I've been thinking of this idea of producing a card deck for four years now, and it feels like the ideas are demanding to be expressed through me! Lots of people have been asking me when the deck will be available, and I don't want to delay any longer. No more excuses!

Kayaskforhelp780x423.png

So with your support, when I reach my target of US$2,500, the funds raised will cover:

- design and printing of 1,000 card decks

- a donation of 5% of the total amount raised, to go to KELY Support Group in Hong Hong

- PayPal fees

- Next Chapter fees for hosting this campaign

And even if you don’t want a card deck, I’d love you to support the campaign as a way of saying “Happy 60th Birthday, Kay!”

So please choose your reward and click the “Fund Now” button. You can come back later and chose another reward if you want.

Life must be lived as play.
~ Plato

The team

I’m Kay Ross, Your Head Tour Guide in The Playground of Possibilities.

Helping me to bring the card deck into existence are:
Nicole Denholder and Janice Hewitt at Next Chapter
Elise Phillipson – wise crowdfunding coach and patient graphic-design tutor
Stephen Barnes and Chris Owen at Video Cha Cha
Sky Siu, Rosanna Yim, Kinki Chung and everyone at KELY Support Group
Kevin Fung and the team at Expression Power printers in Hong Kong
And my cheer squad of family members, friends and followers around the world – I love and appreciate you all!

Once you make a decision,
the universe conspires to make it happen.

~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

The rewards

Yes, even though the campaign is officially over and I successfully reached the target (hooray!), you can still order a reward (a deck of the cards, or several decks, or even a deck plus a Skype call with me).

Feel free to choose more than one reward!

Note: All the prices for the rewards and shipping are in US dollars, and you can contribute more than the listed price of a reward if you want – just type in your chosen amount.

Curious about the concept of crowdfunding and how the Next Chapter platform works? See the FAQ page

Congratulate - US$5 or More

Congratulatereward780x280.png

Pledge US$5 or more (you choose the amount) to support the campaign and wish me a happy 60th birthday. I promise you my eternal gratitude, and free hugs whenever I see you. I’ll also acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website. No card deck included; no shipping cost. (Choose another reward below if you’d like to order one or more decks, or have a Skype call with me.)

Estimated delivery date: As soon as you make your pledge!

Number available: Unlimited

Experiment - US$10 or More

Experimentreward780x380.png

A downloadable, printable, black-and-white PDF with 20 “What would be possible for me if I…?” questions for you to ask yourself. Pledge more than US$10 if you want! Also I’ll acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website. No card deck included; no shipping costs.

Estimated delivery date: December 2017

Number available: ALL GONE

Jump - US$18 or More

Jumpreward780x280.png

Earlybird special – jump in quick and get 1 deck @ 10% off the normal price if you pre-order in the first two weeks of the campaign. Pledge more than US$18 if you want! Deadline: 23:59 on Monday October 23, 2017 (Hong Kong time). Also I’ll acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website. Free postage within Hong Kong.

Estimated delivery date: February 2018

Number available: ALL GONE

Transform - US$20 or More

Transformreward780x280.png

Your very own Playground of Possibilities card deck, to carry with you and use anytime, anywhere. Pledge more than US$20 if you want! Also I’ll acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website. Free postage within Hong Kong. If you’d like to order extra decks as gifts for your friends, or to use with clients in your coaching/healing/therapy work, see the rewards below: “Energise” (3 decks), “Dream” (5 decks) and “Inspire” (10 decks).  

Estimated delivery date: February 2018

Number available: Unlimited

Connect - US$50 or More

Connectreward780x280.png

One deck plus a 30-minute, one-on-one Skype call with me at a mutually agreed time, after you receive your deck. I’ll show you how to use your deck and answer your questions. Pledge more than US$50 if you want! Also I’ll acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website. Free postage within Hong Kong.

Estimated delivery date: February 2018

Number available: 20

Energise - US$60 or More

Energisereward780x280.png

3 decks – one for you, and 2 to give to friends. Pledge more than US$60 if you want! Also I’ll acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website. If you’d like to order just 1 deck, or a bundle of 5 or 10 decks, see the “Transform”, “Dream” or “Inspire” rewards. Free postage within Hong Kong.

Estimated delivery date: February 2018

Number available: Unlimited

Dream - US$100 or More

Dreamreward780x280.png

5 decks – one for you and 4 to share with your friends, family, clients, colleagues... Pledge more than US$100 if you want! Also I’ll acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website. If you’d like to order just 1 deck, or a bundle of 3 or 10 decks, see the “Transform”, “Energise” or “Inspire” rewards. Free postage within Hong Kong.

Estimated delivery date: February 2018

Number available: Unlimited

Inspire - US$200 or More

Inspirereward780x280.png

10 decks – one for you and 9 to share with anyone you know who’d enjoy and benefit from them. Pledge more than US$200 if you want! Also I’ll acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website. If you’d like to order just 1 deck, or a bundle of 3 or 5 decks, see the “Transform”, “Energise” or “Dream” rewards. Free postage within Hong Kong.

Estimated delivery date: February 2018

Number available: Unlimited

Celebrate - US$250 or More

Celebratereward780x280.png

One lunch or dinner (drinks, airfares and accommodation not included) with me for you and up to 2 of your friends, at a mutually agreed time and venue in Hong Kong. Each participant will receive one deck in a silk bag, and will have the chance to pick a card, discuss it with me and ask questions about how to use the deck. Pledge more than US$250 if you want! Also I’ll acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website.

Estimate delivery date: February 2018

Number available: ALL GONE

Play - US$500 or More

Playreward780x280.png

One live, private, 1.5-hour workshop led by me, for you and up to 5 of your friends or colleagues, at a mutually agreed time and venue in Hong Kong (airfares and accommodation not included). We’ll use the cards, do some meditative processes, and play some fun, co-operative games about improvising new ways of thinking and being. Each participant will receive one deck in a silk bag. Pledge more than US$500 if you want! Also I’ll acknowledge you on Facebook and the “Thanks” page of The Playground of Possibilities website.

Estimated delivery date: February 2018

Number available: ALL GONE

Imagine a new story for your life
and start living it.

~ Paulo Coelho

Project timeline

October 10, 2017
Crowdfunding campaign goes live at 00:01 on Tuesday October 10 (Hong Kong time)

October 23, 2017
Deadline for the “Jump” earlybird reward: 23:59 on Monday October 23, 2017 (Hong Kong time)

November 23, 2017
Crowdfunding campaign ends at 23:59 on Thursday November 23 (Hong Kong time)

December 2017
I'll email the “Experiment” reward: a downloadable, printable, black-and-white PDF with 20 “What would be possible for me if I…?” questions.

December 2017 - January 2018
Design and printing of an initial print run of 1,000 decks

February-March 2018
Delivery of rewards: hard-copy decks, Skype calls, lunch or dinner with me in Hong Kong, and/or a live workshop with me in Hong Kong

The risks and challenges

There’s a risk that if you use the cards, you’ll let go of your old stories, step into a new you, and experience things that you never thought were possible for you! That might feel a bit scary. Legal blah blah disclaimer.

There’s a risk that designing, printing and/or shipping the card decks will take longer than I expected. If that happens, I’ll let you know immediately.

And there’s a possibility that LOTS of people will want to order a deck, and that this campaign will raise more than US$2,500. If that happens, I might need to order a bigger print run, which might delay delivery.

The challenge is that Next Chapter is an “all-or-nothing” crowdfunding platform. That means this project will be funded only if I reach my goal of US$2,500 by 23:59 on Thursday November 23, 2017 (Hong Kong time). If I don’t reach the goal, I won’t receive any funds, and your pledged funds will be reimbursed.

Believe you can and you’re halfway there.
Theodore Roosevelt

Please spread the word

Would you do me (and KELY Support Group) a favour? If you like this campaign, the card deck and the concept of The Playground of Possibilities, would you please spread the word about this campaign to your friends and followers around the world?

That will help me to reach my target, get the deck printed and make a positive difference for lots of people. Thanks!

And if you’d like to receive occasional ePostcards from The Playground of Possibilities, please opt in to my mailing list. No spam, I promise!

There is a force in the Universe, which,
if we permit it, will flow through us
and produce miraculous results.

~ Mahatma Gandhi

Contact me

Email me

Tweet me nice

The Playground of Possibilities website

The Playground of Possibilities on Twitter
Hashtag: #possible

The Playground of Possibilities on Facebook 

Posted by Kay Ross
November 22, 2017 12:11
6 years ago

Yay, happy dance!

My crowdFUNding campaign for my card deck has reached its target of US$2,500, with three days still to go in the campaign. Thank you and a million hugs to everyone who has pledged their support.

And if you've been meaning to order a deck of the cards, or make a contribution as a late birthday gift to me, but you haven't got around to it yet, don't worry, it's not too late - you can still do that.

Thank you to Nicole, Janice and everyone at Next Chapter for your support and encouragement throughout my whole process of planning, creating, managing and promoting my crowdfunding campaign.

Love - Kay

Posted by Kay Ross
November 14, 2017 06:11
6 years ago

Nicole Denholder at Next Chapter has been teaching me how to do Facebook Live videos - thanks Nicole!

Together, we did a Facebook Live video on November 2, in which I explained how I came up with the concept of "The Playground of Possibilities” 

And I've just created a Facebook Live video of me in my home office, with an update about progress with the campaign - I've reached 72% of the target, yay!

Now, with 10 days to go in the campaign, I still need your help - would you please support the campaign and spread the word to your friends, family, followers, community and tribe around the world?

Thank you.

Posted by Kay Ross
November 8, 2017 03:11
6 years ago

I had a delightful Facebook Live conversation with Nicole Denholder, the founder and CEO of Next Chapter, last week.

We chatted about how I came up with the concept of "The Playground of Possibilities", my card deck and my crowdfunding campaign.

Enjoy!

 

Posted by Kay Ross
October 13, 2017 12:10
6 years ago

If you're in Hong Kong on Saturday October 28, drop by and say hello to me at the Hong Kong Holistic Fair.

It will run from 11am to 7pm in the 6/F Exhibition Hall, Sheung Wan Civic Centre, 345 Queen’s Road Central, Sheung Wan. Entry is free.

The Fair will feature all sorts of practitioners and vendors in the fields of self-help, health and wellbeing. Plus talks, music, good food, serendipitous encounters...

I'll be there to offer people a no-cost experience of picking a question from my prototype card deck, and I'll have my laptop with me to show them my crowdFUNding campaign page on the Next Chapter site. In the afternoon I'll also be giving a short talk onstage about my concept of The Playground of Possibilities (I don't know what time yet).

I'll also be doing a lucky draw, where you could win a ticket to my "Life is a Playground of Possibilities" public workshop in Hong Kong on November 4.

I hope to see you at the Fair!

Love - Kay

“See life as an adventurous game
and play the game
without worrying about the outcome.”
~ Sri Sri Ravi Shankar

Posted by Kay Ross
October 12, 2017 11:10
6 years ago

If you like the idea of my "The Playground of Possibilities" card deck, I think you'd enjoy a live workshop with me in Hong Kong on Saturday November 4, 3.15pm-5.45pm at a lovely yoga/dance studio in Sheung Wan.

The workshop is called "Life is a Playground of Possibilities". With a group of like-minded people, you'll have the opportunity to:
• examine and transform your limiting thoughts, beliefs and stories about yourself and the world,
• listen to the wisdom of your body,
• pay attention to the offers from the Universe,
• play some co-operative improvisation games, to experiment with new, more resourceful, more joyful ways of thinking and being,
• use my prototype card deck

 I hope to see you there!

Love - Kay

“Life must be lived as play.”
~ Plato

Posted by Kay Ross
October 12, 2017 11:10
6 years ago

Wow! I'm grateful and delighted that my campaign has got off to such a strong start! On Day 1, October 10, I reached nearly 25% of my total target.

Thank you to everyone who has pledged their support.
 

The big question is whether you are going to be able to say a hearty YES to your adventure.
~ Joseph Campbell

Congratulate

USD 5

Pledge US$5 or more (you choose the amount!) to support the campaign and KELY Support Group, and wish me a happy 60th birthday. No card deck included; no shipping cost.

Est.Delivery on 28 November, 2017

Unlimited amount

Backers: 18

Transform

USD 20

Your very own Playground of Possibilities card deck, to carry with you and use anytime, anywhere. Free postage within Hong Kong. Pledge more than US$20 if you want!

Est.Delivery on 10 February, 2018

Unlimited amount

Backers: 27

Connect

USD 50

One deck plus a 30-minute, one-on-one Skype call with me at a mutually agreed time, after you receive your deck. I’ll show you how to use your deck and answer your questions. Free postage of your deck within Hong Kong. Pledge more than US$50 if you want!

 

Est.Delivery on 28 February, 2018

Quantity 16

Backers: 4

Energise

USD 60

3 decks – one for you, and 2 to give to friends. Free postage (3 decks all in one parcel) within Hong Kong. Pledge more than US$60 if you want!

Est.Delivery on 10 February, 2018

Unlimited amount

Backers: 7

Dream

USD 100

5 decks – one for you and 4 to share with your friends, family, clients, colleagues... Free postage (5 decks all in one parcel) in Hong Kong. Pledge more than US$100 if you want!

Est.Delivery on 10 February, 2018

Unlimited amount

Backers: 2

Inspire

USD 200

10 decks – one for you and 9 to share with anyone you know who’d enjoy and benefit from them. Ideal if you're a coach, healer or therapist. Free postage (10 decks all in one parcel) in Hong Kong. Pledge more than US$200 if you want!

Est.Delivery on 10 February, 2018

Unlimited amount

Backers: 2

Experiment

USD 10

A downloadable, printable, black-and-white PDF with 20 “What would be possible for me if I…?” questions for you to ask yourself. No card deck included; no shipping cost. Pledge more than US$10 if you want!

Est.Delivery on 15 December, 2017

All gone

Backers: 6

fund now

Jump

USD 18

Earlybird special – jump in quick and get 1 deck @ 10% off the normal price if you pre-order by 23:59 on Monday October 23 (HK time). Free postage within Hong Kong. Pledge more than US$18 if you want!

Est.Delivery on 8 February, 2018

All gone

Backers: 2

fund now

Celebrate

USD 250

One lunch or dinner with me in Hong Kong (drinks/airfares/accommodation not included), for you and up to 2 of your friends. Each person gets a card deck in a silk bag when we meet. No shipping cost. Pledge more than US$250 if you want!

Est.Delivery on 23 March, 2018

All gone

Backers: 0

fund now

Play

USD 500

One live, private, 1.5-hour workshop led by me, for you and up to 5 guests, in Hong Kong (airfares/accommodation not included). Each participant will receive one deck in a silk bag when we meet. No shipping cost. Pledge more than US$500 if you want!

Est.Delivery on 24 March, 2018

All gone

Backers: 0

fund now