Pure Joy Naturopathy

I’ve been thinking about how grief and gratitude can sometimes sit surprisingly close together.

During Obon this year, I created a small space to remember my beloved Milky Boy.

But while remembering the life that had gone, I found myself noticing the lives that are here now.

After Milky passed away, Princess and Sachi became part of our family.

They haven’t replaced him. They have their own personalities, their own relationships with us and their own place in our lives.

Yet every now and then, something creates a little thread back to Milky.

Recently we discovered that Sachi loves pawpaw.

“Look! He’s like Milky Boy. Milky loved pawpaw too.”

Such a tiny moment.

But it reminded me that remembering what we have lost can sometimes deepen our appreciation for what we still have.

Perhaps this is part of IKIGAI too.

Not necessarily one grand purpose, but the relationships, memories, culture and small everyday moments that quietly make life feel meaningful.

I explored this more in my latest reflection, **An Eggplant Horse for Milky**.

https://www.purejoynaturopathy.com.au/blog/obon-memory-ikigai-eggplant-horse-milky

**The person behind the pathology results**

One of my continuing learnings as a naturopath is the importance of looking beyond pathology results alone.

Recently, while revisiting a professional education presentation by Dr Gary Deed on navigating diabetes assessment, I was reminded of something fundamental: history and examination remain an important part of understanding the clinical picture, with investigations there to assist.

This really resonates with how I practise as a naturopath.

Of course, I want to see your pathology results.

But I also want to know:

How are you sleeping?

How is your energy?

What has changed in your body?

How are you eating day to day?

How much stress are you carrying?

What is your family history?

And, particularly for women in midlife, what has been changing through perimenopause or menopause?

A pathology result gives us valuable information, but it is one part of a much bigger human story.

🌿 Sometimes good healthcare begins not with another test, but with listening.

A few days before Obon this year, I went to my local market and bought an eggplant.

But this particular eggplant wasn’t for dinner.

It was for Milky Boy. 🐾

In Japan, Obon is a time for remembering and welcoming the spirits of loved ones who have passed.

Milky passed away on 15 August 2023, right in the middle of Obon.

This year, living many kilometres away from Japan, I felt drawn to reconnect with this tradition in my own way.

I made a little eggplant horse for Milky and placed it with his photograph, ashes, fur and paw print during Obon.

Such a simple little ritual, yet it made me reflect on so much more — grief, gratitude, culture, belonging and the quiet ways our relationships continue even when someone is no longer physically beside us.

I’ve shared this little story in my latest blog:

**An Eggplant Horse for Milky: Obon, Memory and the Quiet Ways We Stay Connected**

Perhaps traditions don’t always need to be practised perfectly.

Sometimes they simply give us a way to remember, reconnect and appreciate what matters to us now. 🌿

https://www.purejoynaturopathy.com.au/blog

On Saturday, I tried Mossman Market for the first time; and I really enjoyed the experience.

What stayed with me most was not simply being at a new market, but the authentic conversations I shared with people throughout the morning.

We spoke openly about menopause, the struggles women can experience during this stage of life, and the importance of paying attention to our health and wellbeing. There was no need to make the conversations polished or perfect. They were simply real, human conversations; and those are the connections I value most.

I was also impressed by how aware and interested people were in their own wellbeing. There was a genuine openness and curiosity within the community, which made Mossman feel like a lovely place for Pure Joy Naturopathy to visit.

Thank you to everyone who stopped, shared a little of their story or simply came over for a chat. 🌿

Last Friday evening, I attended the WOW Cairns Festival for *In Conversation with Quentin Bryce and Juliet Rieden*.

I had just finished listening to Juliet’s authorised biography of Quentin Bryce as an audiobook, so it felt very special to hear them speak together in person.

I find Quentin incredibly inspiring. She carries such classic elegance and sophistication, yet beneath that is tremendous strength, conviction and a lifelong passion for fairness; particularly for women and Indigenous communities.

Listening to the stories of her life and the contributions she has made over so many years reminded me that strength does not always have to be loud. It can also be expressed through grace, persistence and quietly continuing to stand for what matters.

A very inspiring Friday evening. 🌿

Sometimes I think nature understands midlife better than we do.

Nothing blooms endlessly.
There are seasons of flowering, shedding, resting, and renewal.

Perhaps we are not meant to resist these inner seasons either.

One of the themes that keeps appearing in health research is the impact of highly processed foods.

Not because we need to eat perfectly.

And not because food should become another source of stress.

But because the body responds differently to nourishment than it does to constant convenience.

Small changes matter.

More whole foods.
More meals prepared at home.
More ingredients our grandparents would recognise.

Health is rarely built through extremes.

More often, it grows through simple daily choices repeated with care.

See you tomorrow at Mossman Saturday Markets