“Do You Think It’s a Good Idea?” — A Journey of Grief, Growth, and Global Understanding

It’s an honour to have my book, Do You Think It’s a Good Idea?, featured in the Berwick Star News. Sharing this very personal story has been both daunting and cathartic, and to see it resonate with readers in my community and beyond means more than I can express.

This book is a memoir—a patchwork of moments that have defined and reshaped my life. It’s about deep personal loss, unexpected journeys, and the resilience we find within ourselves when life takes a turn we never imagined. The title itself comes from a question I found myself asking—again and again—when life presented choices that felt anything but safe or easy.

In 2015, I lost my beautiful son Callum at just 18 years of age. His death turned my world upside down and pushed me into a darkness I didn’t know I could survive. Grief changes you at the core—it quiets some parts of you and amplifies others. Writing became one way to process that pain and start making sense of it.

Some years later, I found myself in China, teaching English during the outbreak of COVID-19. That chapter of my life was surreal—living through a global crisis in a foreign land, witnessing the fears, hopes, and humanity of people from all walks of life. With my diploma in TESOL, I had the chance to teach a diverse group of students, and in doing so, I discovered new pieces of myself. It challenged my views, strengthened my empathy, and showed me how universal our stories really are—no matter where we come from.

Do You Think It’s a Good Idea? brings together these very different, but deeply connected, life experiences. It reflects on love and loss, identity, resilience, and the migrant experience—especially through the lens of motherhood and womanhood. It’s written from a place of vulnerability, with the hope that others who are navigating grief or displacement will feel seen, understood, and less alone.

As a florist turned teacher, I never imagined I would one day be called an author. But here I am. And I’m so grateful. The book isn’t just about me—it’s about the threads that connect us all. It’s also worth mentioning that proceeds from the book sales are being directed towards causes close to my heart—something that allows Callum’s memory to live on in meaningful ways.

I live in Melbourne now, surrounded by the love of my family and students who inspire me every day. This book is my tribute to the people, places, and moments that changed me. If you decide to read it, I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And if you’ve ever asked yourself, “Do you think it’s a good idea?”—I hope this story reminds you that sometimes, the best things come from the scariest leaps.

 

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