Kavitha and I (Kester) took our 9-year-old son to the beach recently.
He wanted to bring home a piece of seaglass he found at the shore.
Seaglass is glass naturally smoothened by the ocean.
It was a beautiful, sky blue-colored piece.
But we, his parents, knew that taking from anyone without permission, including nature, is not right.
The glass may have been made by man, but it was sculpted by the ocean.
We suggested he offer something to express his appreciation to the ocean.
He agreed and carefully selected violet trumpet flowers that had just fallen on the ground.
Kavitha brought him to the water's edge to offer the flowers, while I stayed behind to look after our bags.
Kavitha suggested he place the seaglass in the sand. If it was meant to be his, the seaglass would resurface.
He was hesitant. But he did it.
A few tides passed. The seaglass was still there.
He smiled and picked up the seaglass, thanking the ocean.
My Reflections
As I watched Kavitha and our son go through this ritual, I thought to myself, "what a beautiful moment."
As parents whose life mission is helping people build conscious relationships, we teach our son that it's not just your relationships with people that matter.
Your relationship with everything, including nature, is what helps you feel truly connected and gives you a sense of belonging in this world.
Everything is alive and conscious.
And so everything, including nature, needs to be respected and honored.
You don't treat nature like it's something you own. You build a relationship with it, as you would with another person.
I know of a tribe in Indonesia that asks for permission and says "thank you" to an animal before they hunt it for food.
After the hunt, they make sure to use every part of the animal without wasting, and place its ashes in a special place to honor its sacrifice.
They do this because they know something many of us in cities have forgotten: That we are all connected.
Everything I do affects others, which eventually affects me.
I reflected on how society conditions us to act as if we own not just nature, but other people as well.
I'm guilty of assuming what my son owns is mine to borrow anytime; that Kavitha should do certain things for me because she's my wife; that people who serve in shops, restaurants and help desks owe me their time and energy.
This is also what's going on between nations in the world today.
How might our relationships change, if we assume less, offer more respect, give thanks more often?
In Friendship,
Kester
Therapist and Founder, SACRED®
P.S. Tickets are still available for 'Date Wiser' at Chimichanga Vivocity on Saturday, 31st Jan 2026, 3-6pm. Kavitha and I are excited to share the fun, light-hearted activities we've planned for you all to understand your dating habits better, and be more intentional about finding a life partner. S$35 per pax / S$70 for 2 pax (inclusive of a $20 dining voucher + $150 relationship course). Get your tickets here.
P.P.S. Want to build a stronger relationship with your partner? Join the SACRED Relationship Foundational Course. Registration closes 1st Feb 2026.
