Hi Reader,

There’s a particular kind of silence that hangs in the air when life prepares to teach your child a lesson you never signed up for. It was a rainy Friday afternoon when I walked to Central Pier in Hong Kong to collect my six-year-old son, Marcus, from summer camp. Rain slicked the pier boards like nature’s own tears, kids huddled under soggy jackets—and my heart felt like a lump of lead in my chest (that heavy, sinking feeling when dread settles deep in your bones). Jack, our red-eared slider turtle, Marcus’s first pet and four-year companion, had died suddenly that morning.

I’d rehearsed the words all walk long: How do you tell a child his world has quietly cracked? And the aftermath?

As I watched him bury his first pet under the Stone Wall tree in the neighborhood park – the same spot where he’d dug earthworms and slugs for Jack – I questioned everything I thought I knew about grief.

As a parent, a holistic health coach, and a fellow flawed human being, I’m constantly learning. Here’s what this tender moment taught me:

1. Grief speaks in its own time​
   When he asked "why?" then immediately chattered about camp adventures, I learned: His pause wasn’t denial – it was his mind creating space to land.
2. Rituals heal when words fail​
   Letting him choose Jack’s burial spot (where their story began) showed me: Actions anchor emotions we can’t yet name.
3. Tears are communal, not performative​
   Crying with him (but keeping my sorrow secondary) reminded me: Our role isn’t to lead the grief – but to witness it.
4. Simple truths > comforting fictions​
   Saying "His body stopped working" instead of "he’s sleeping" felt scary… but clarity builds trust, even when it aches.
5. Honoring life means naming death​
   Whispering "Loss will happen again" as he shook in my arms? Hardest gift I’ve ever given – but avoidance steals resilience.
6. Presence is the only salve​
   Biting back "Let’s get another turtle!" taught me: Healing lives in the feeling, not the fixing.

This journey humbled me. There’s no handbook for moments when a child’s world cracks open. We just show up, hold the space, and trust the heart’s wisdom.

If this resonates with you, I've shared the full story on the Mind Body Sage Blog.

When A Turtle Taught Us Grief Here are the tears, the rain-soaked goodbye, and Marcus’s quiet wisdom. It’s a raw, personal reflection on how small losses prepare us for life’s bigger heartbreaks. Read the Full Story

If you remember your child's first loss or your own, I'd love to know:

• How did you guide your child through their first loss? How did your parents guide you through your first loss?
• What worked (or didn’t)?
• What did grief teach you as a parent?

Share your stories in the comments on the blog or simply hit reply—l'd love to hear your wisdom for these tender journeys.

I've touched on the concept of primary food and secondary food before. In short, secondary food is what’s on our plate. Primary food is everything that’s not on our plate, such as healthy relationships, regular physical activity, a fulfilling career, and a spiritual practice. It can fill our souls and satisfy our hunger for life. When primary food is balanced and satiating, our lives feed us, making what we eat secondary.

In an effort to explore what really feeds us, I'm adding at least two sections on this newsletter starting now. Food for Thought are snippets of information and messages from my readings, notes sorting, journals, or deep conversations with people that's worth pondering. It's food for our mind and spirit, so to speak. Food for Taste are recipes made with the intention to nourish our body, mood as well as our mind. To live fully, it all starts with what's at the end of our fork.

Now, let's get into it.

Food for Thought

When I came across this piece of wisdom, I finally understood why I write in the first place.

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This echos why we humans create, whether it's in a form of writing, painting, singing, dancing, or cooking. It's because our soul craves growth. It’s not about being good at creativity; it’s about creativity being good for us.

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I recently read Kevin Kelly's book on Excellent Advice for Living. If you ask me what's the best advice I got from the book, this one stood out to me the most because it's thought-provoking:

I remember I frowned reading it. My initial thought – what if you don't have a spouse? This is about marriage. It's saying a strong marriage where love between spouses is visible and tangible provides security and stability for children and an atmosphere in which they can thrive.

Well, when marriage is never or no longer in the picture for single-parent families, I believe a twist to better articulate it could be: The best thing you can do for your children is to love yourself.

Food for Taste

Here are three easy and delicious recipes for your tastebuds starting with a classic sauce that makes your gut happy. Happy gut = happier mind!

That's a wrap for today. Thanks so much for reading! If you have anyone else in mind that you think would enjoy this newsletter, please kindly forward this email to them.

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As always, if you have any comments, thoughts, or want to discuss furthur with me on anything I've mentioned in this email, just hit reply. I'd love to hear from you.

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Have a fabulous week. Until next time...

With gratitude for the messy, beautiful journey we call life,

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For all Health & Nutrition coaching enquiries, pop me an email or book your free initial consultation. There’s zero pressure, just a genuine conversation about your health.