BRUSSELS | Pouring unconditional love

As the early morning light filtered through the window, we settled at the old dining table where countless meals had been shared and life’s little moments celebrated. The air filled with the earthy scent of matcha.

My son, soon travelling to Tanzania for his studies, watched intently as my hands, practiced and precise, moved gracefully through the tea ceremony - a ritual we shared often, but today held a deeper meaning.

With each deliberate motion I poured my heart, hopes and dreams for him into the ceremony. The whisking of the matcha was a whisper of my pride, the pouring a testament to his growth. As I handed him the tea bowl, our eyes locked, an unspoken conversation of love and farewell.

"Take this with you" I said, sliding the antique tea box across. "A reminder of home, and of the inner peace you can find. Just as you share this tea, share your spirit".