Stories have always been my teachers. They've carried me through moves across continents, through becoming a mother in a foreign country, and through all the quiet moments when I've had to rebuild who I thought I was.

What I've learned is this: having someone really listen to your story—not to fix it or judge it, but to help you see what's already there—can change everything.

So, this is the beginning of The Narrative Trade Circle.

Here's the deal:

You share a story with me. Any story from your life—a turning point, something that's been sitting with you, a moment that shifted something inside you.

In return, I set aside a full hour of my time as a narrative coach with you. We'll sit together (virtually) and explore your story. What patterns do you see? What's it telling you about who you are now? Where might it be pointing you next?

No preparation needed. No perfect storytelling required. Just you and whatever story wants to be told.

Why am I doing this?

Because I believe our stories matter—even the messy ones, especially the buried ones. And sometimes we need another person to help us see what our own experiences are trying to teach us.

I also know that sharing stories can feel scary. Maybe you're thinking your story isn't interesting enough, or it's too painful, or what's the point of digging up the past anyway?

Here's what I've learned: the stories we hesitate to tell are often the ones we most need to explore. Not because we need to fix anything, but because when we give voice to our experiences, we often discover wisdom we didn't know we had.

How it works:

1. Share your story - Submit 200-500 words (or a 2-5 minute voice recording) through a simple form

2. Book your session - You'll get a link to schedule a 60-minute conversation with me

3. Explore together - We'll look at your story from different angles, find the threads that matter

4. Take it with you - After our session, I'll send you a summary of what we discovered together

If you're comfortable with it, I might ask to include an anonymous piece of your story in a collection I'm building. But that's completely up to you.

Not sure what story to share?

Sometimes the "right" story is obvious. Sometimes it's not. Here are some gentle ways to think about it:

• What's a moment when someone was unexpectedly kind to you?

• Tell me about a time when something ended before you were ready

• What's a conversation that's stuck with you?

• When did you choose a path that surprised people (maybe even yourself)?

• What's something that happened years ago that you're still trying to make sense of?

• Share about a dream that isn't unfolding the way you hoped

• What's a story about grief, loss, or deep disappointment?

• When did you feel completely free and joyful?

Really, any story that feels alive for you right now. Trust that instinct.

A story from me:

I was working late one day, racing against time to pick up my son from preschool. My husband was overseas for work, so it was just me juggling everything. I was stressed, feeling guilty, and frantically messaging the teachers that I'd be late.

Then a friend who was also picking up his daughter texted: "I got your son. I'll drop him at your place."

I was still in my meeting when I read it, but I nearly cried. Not because I was grateful (though I was), but because I realised how hard it had become for me to accept help. I'd gotten so used to handling everything myself that when someone stepped in, it almost felt foreign.

Looking back, that moment showed me how tightly I'd been gripping control in every area of my life. My story about being self-reliant was both my strength and my cage. Sometimes the smallest gestures crack open the biggest realisations.

What you can expect from our session:

• Space to talk through your story without judgment

• Questions that help you see familiar experiences in new ways

• Recognition of patterns you might not have noticed

• Language for things that have been hard to name

• A clearer sense of how this story connects to who you're becoming

A few important things:

• Your privacy matters. Nothing gets shared without your explicit permission, and anything that is shared will be completely anonymous.

• This isn't therapy. I'm not trying to fix anything or dig into trauma. We're simply exploring what your story might be teaching you.

• No story is too small. Sometimes the most ordinary moments hold the deepest insights.

When and how:

I open The Narrative Trade Circle every few months and work with up to 8 people each time. This ensures I can give proper attention to each story and each person.

To join, simply fill out a brief form where you can share your story and what drew you to this exchange.

The next circle will open in October 2025.

Ready to trade?

You don't need to have it all figured out. You don't need to be a good storyteller. You just need to be willing to share something real.

If you're reading this and feeling a little tug, like maybe you have a story that wants to be heard, that's probably your answer.

Share Your Story

The Narrative Trade Circle is my way of honouring the stories that shape us. In a world that often rushes past our experiences, this is an invitation to pause, to be witnessed, and to discover what you already know.

I came across a LinkedIn post today about preparing students for global platforms through overseas immersion programmes. One comment caught my eye, which went something like this: "We can only truly know our own country after we've been on the outside looking in."

That hit me because it's exactly what I've been experiencing over the past few years while living in China.

A friend shared something fascinating earlier this week. Her Japanese neighbours recently visited Singapore and went to our National Museum. There, they came across a section about Singapore under Japanese occupation during World War II. They were shocked - it was history they had never learned in Japan's education system. It was through Singapore's perspective that they came to understand a part of their own past.

It reminded me once more: our truths are not the only truths. Sometimes we need other people's stories to fill in our own.

What Distance Reveals

Before moving to China, I believed I knew Singapore well. I thought we were the best — the most efficient and advanced. I ran a wedding planning business and felt comfortable setting client response times at three days. That seemed reasonable, even professional.

Then I started living in China. Here, businesses respond within two hours. Not as a special service, but as standard practice. Suddenly, what I thought was "efficient" looked slow. What I thought was "competitive" looked comfortable.

The gap extended beyond just response times. I began to see how Singapore's support systems - the grants, safety nets, and predictable pathways - had built a form of protection. Not a bad thing, but still protection. We didn't have to compete with the same intensity. We didn't need to innovate out of necessity in the same way.

Living abroad showed me something uncomfortable: I had become entitled without noticing it. Not in a spoiled manner, but in the way that occurs when systems operate so smoothly that you forget how challenging things can be elsewhere.

I had to learn to speak up for myself more. Back home, things usually went smoothly without much effort. Here, I needed to be more assertive about my needs and requests. When you're far from family and friends, you have no choice but to stand up for yourself.

Even my healthcare experience surprised me. Everyone expected horror stories about giving birth in China. Instead, my experience here was much better than in Singapore. The anaesthetist stayed with me throughout the delivery, adjusting medication as needed. In Singapore's private hospital, he left after the initial injection. The level of attention and care I received in China challenged everything I thought I knew about medical standards.

Friends visit us in China with outdated ideas about what they'll find. They expect something less advanced, less sophisticated. After a few days here, their perspectives change completely. Some even realise that in many ways, China has moved ahead of Singapore.

But here's the thing - I couldn't have convinced them of this from a distance. They needed to see it for themselves. Just as I needed to live it to believe it.

The Gentle Truth

The honest truth is this: we all have blind spots about the places and systems we believe we know best. We can't see them from within. Sometimes, we need the Japanese neighbours in Singapore's museum. Sometimes, we must move somewhere else to understand our own country's pace.

Sometimes we need to step outside to really see home.

The question isn't whether our home is good or bad. The question is: are we brave enough to look at it with fresh eyes? And what might we discover about ourselves when we do?

Design sustainable well-being that works while you navigate international life, family, and personal goals across borders

Moving abroad changed everything about how I thought I "should" live. The wellness routines that worked back home? They didn't fit my new reality. The support systems I relied on? Gone. The simple things like finding a doctor or knowing which aisle has what at the grocery store? Suddenly complex.

If you're an international woman trying to maintain your well-being while building life across borders, you know this feeling. You're not just adapting to a new country—you're rebuilding your entire sense of home, health, and identity.

This Program Is For You If...

✨ You've moved abroad and want to rebuild wellness routines that actually work in your new reality

✨ You're tired of putting your well-being on hold while you "figure out" international life and family logistics

✨ You miss having a system for your health, relationships, and personal growth that travels with you

✨ You're an introvert or deep thinker who prefers private, thoughtful development over group pressure

✨ You want guidance from someone walking this path alongside you, not someone who's never lived it

What Makes This Different

WhatsApp-Only Delivery (No Group Pressure)

Real growth happens in safe, private spaces. This entire program is delivered through WhatsApp—no platforms to learn, no showing up for group calls, no performing for others. Just you, your personal coach, and space to grow at your own pace.

Focus on the Inner Work

While other programs focus on logistics (finding gyms, navigating healthcare), we focus on what really matters: managing the emotional complexity of being away from family, rebuilding your identity across cultures, and creating meaning when everything familiar is gone.

AI-Enhanced Support

You'll get practical AI tools that work as your 24/7 wellness assistant—helping with nutrition tracking, exercise planning, stress management, and cultural adaptation between our sessions.

Real Experience, Not Theory

I'm not teaching from a textbook. I'm a mother of two navigating international life, building my career across borders, and designing wellness systems that work for real life complexity.

The 8 Wellness Domains We'll Design Together

1. Physical Wellness: Movement, nutrition, and health habits that adapt to any environment

2. Mental Wellness: Stress management and learning strategies during cultural transitions

3. Emotional Wellness: Managing identity shifts and maintaining emotional balance abroad

4. Social Wellness: Building connections across cultures while maintaining home relationships

5. Creative Wellness: Joy, self-expression, and maintaining what lights you up

6. Environmental Wellness: Creating supportive spaces and routines anywhere

7. Financial Wellness: Money management and security across currencies and systems

8. Purpose Wellness: Values, meaning, and direction while navigating cultural transitions

Ready to Design Wellness That Travels With You?

Join the waitlist by subscribing and receive:

• Early access to beta registration

• Monthly tips for maintaining well-being abroad

• Updates on program development

Subscribe now

About Weiwei

I'm a certified mindbodygreen health coach, mother of two, and someone who's been building life across borders for about 3 years now. I've navigated visa complexities, rebuilt my career internationally, and learned (sometimes the hard way) how to maintain well-being while everything around me was constantly changing.

I created this programme because I believe international women deserve wellness systems that honour the complexity of our lives, not generic advice that assumes we live in our home country with built-in support systems.

Currently based in Guangzhou, China, with family roots in Singapore, I understand the unique challenges of maintaining identity, health, and relationships while building life across cultures.

Questions about the program? Email be@herewithweiwei.com or message @herewithweiwei on Instagram.

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For regular insights on wellness, narrative coaching, and global living, subscribe to my newsletter where I share honest reflections on designing an intentional life across borders.

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© 2025 Weiwei Tan • Wellness Design for Global Living

Same strokes, same pool, completely different world. Thirty-five minutes was all it took to transform my swim from cramped restriction to pure freedom.

The pool was packed today, so I squeezed into the only available space - the shallow kids' lane. With every other turn, my knees scraped against the elevated floor. My feet kept bumping into boundaries that felt too small, too tight. The scraping was more than just physical discomfort - it was my body telling me I'd outgrown this space.

I spotted three people in the deeper end, chatting and soaking. One was a beginner, practising basic breathing techniques. I watched them for a while, debating whether to ask for some swimming space. But something held me back. Would I come across as presumptuous? Would asking for space seem like I was suggesting the beginner move to the shallow end? The thought of being rude, of appearing haughty, kept me quiet.

So I stayed in my cramped lane, accepting the restriction. And here's the thing - it was okay. I was still swimming, still moving, still achieving what I came to do. I guess sometimes we don't have to fight for everything we want. Sometimes patience creates its own kind of space.

Then, thirty-five minutes in, they left. I swung over the barriers into the deeper pool.

The moment I stood in the water and stretched my legs fully - that's when I felt the shift. Pure freedom. My first stroke confirmed it, and suddenly I was swimming with renewed energy and motivation. Same movements, same destination from one end to the other, but the feeling was completely different.

It struck me how much the environment shapes our experience. The same activity can feel restrictive or liberating depending on the space we're given - or the space we claim for ourselves.

The pool taught me something simple but profound: we can make do with smaller spaces while we wait for larger ones. And both have their place in our journey.

I was catching up on a coaching class about handling stress when the instructor shared something that stopped me:

Imagine you're on a mountain with the rest of your family. You need to get down from the mountain but you all have broken bones and you cannot help one another. You can only help yourself down the mountain. Remember that some of you might not be able to get down the mountain.

I had to pause the video right there. Had to write it down. Had to sit with it for a while.

My mum passed away last year. We as a family handled it rather well, I think. Or peacefully at least. It wasn't completely unexpected, but it wasn't expected either - that strange middle ground families often find themselves in with loss.

I remember my mum telling me when I first became a mother myself that "mothers are made of steel". That stuck with me all these years. Maybe that's why I appeared pretty unfazed during our family's loss - I was just being that steel my mother told me about.

But this mountain analogy - it helped me understand something I hadn't quite pieced together before. We were all dealing with the same loss, but so differently. Same mountain, different broken bones, different paths down.

I've read somewhere that grief hits in waves - big ones, small ones, now and then. That makes sense with the mountain picture too. As you're making your way down with your broken whatever, these waves just crash into you sometimes. Some days the path seems clearer, you feel like you're making progress. Other days - whoosh - a wave hits from nowhere and you're stuck or even sliding backwards.

I'm a problem solver by nature, but this mountain analogy really struck me because it emphasizes the fact there are some things I simply cannot fix.

I can't help someone else down their grief mountain. I can't walk their path or carry them down. Some people might never fully "get down" from their mountain - their grief just becomes part of who they are rather than something they "get over.”

As a coach, the most helpful thing I can do is to witness the grief unfold and sit with them bravely. I can see them. I can acknowledge their journey. I can walk alongside them, not with solutions but with presence.

Another powerful part of this analogy is that it reminds us that whenever we have a choice, we should choose to be kind to people. When we really get that each person's grief journey can look very different, and that grief might not always be obvious, it helps us be more patient and empathetic.

Grief changes us. It breaks parts we didn't know could break. But as we navigate our own mountains and witness others on theirs, we learn things that make us more compassionate.

Next time you're with someone dealing with loss, remember the mountain. Remember their path is their own. And remember that sometimes, the most powerful thing you can offer isn't a solution, but just being there.

"I had to work late on this particular day and was approaching the cut-off time to fetch my son from his preschool. With my husband overseas for work, I was the sole caregiver.

A mixture of frustration and guilt was building as I contacted the preschool teachers to inform them I'd be late.

All of a sudden, a friend who was also fetching his daughter messaged that he had picked up my son and would drop him off at our place.

Still in my meeting, I couldn't explain the mix of emotions washing over me. I wasn't used to getting help. Nor accepting it.

But in that moment, I realised I needed that support — and that it was okay."

— From Weiwei, true story!

Universal Echoes

Many of us grow up learning that independence is strength. That carrying things alone is simply part of becoming capable, reliable, worthy.

But sometimes, it’s the small, quiet moments of letting go. Of saying yes to help. That opens the door to a different kind of strength.

The story we tell ourselves about self-reliance can be both empowering and limiting. In surrender, we don’t lose ourselves. We make space for connection, trust, and a renewed way of being strong.

Open Space

• Where in your life have you been carrying the weight alone, even when help was available?

• How has your story about independence shaped your relationships—with others, and with yourself?

  ---

This story was shared as part of the Narrative Trade Circle, a space where people offer a story from their lives in exchange for a narrative coaching conversation. Stories are shared with permission, and identifying details are changed to respect privacy.

I’m just beginning to collect insights worth sharing and I know this collection will evolve as I continue to learn. Below, you’ll find questions I’ve explored with the help of AI, along with cited and sourced answers.

My hope is that these findings support you on your wellness journey, just as they’ve guided me and my clients on ours.

Relationship Between Water Retention and Nutrition

Overview

Water retention, also known as fluid retention or edema, occurs when excess fluids build up inside the body. Nutrition plays a direct and significant role in regulating water retention, influencing both its causes and its management.

Key Nutritional Factors Affecting Water Retention

Sodium (Salt) Intake

• High sodium intake is a leading cause of water retention. The body retains water to balance sodium levels, so consuming salty foods or processed foods high in sodium can lead to swelling and bloating^[1][2][3].

• Reducing sodium by avoiding processed foods and using herbs or spices instead of salt can help decrease water retention^[1][3][4].

Carbohydrate Consumption

• Carbohydrates are stored as glycogen in the body, and each gram of glycogen is stored with several grams of water. High-carb diets can therefore increase water retention, while cutting down on carbs can reduce it^[1][3].

• Replacing refined carbs with high-protein foods may help minimize water buildup^[1][3].

Potassium and Magnesium

• Potassium helps regulate sodium levels and supports fluid balance. Foods rich in potassium (e.g., bananas, avocados, leafy greens) can help reduce water retention^[5][3].

• Magnesium, found in nuts, whole grains, and leafy greens, also aids in fluid regulation and may help prevent retention^[5][3].

Vitamins and Minerals

• Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) and B5 (pantothenic acid) have roles in reducing mild fluid retention. Vitamin B6 is found in foods like brown rice and red meat, while B5 is present in fresh fruits and low-fat dairy^[4].

• Calcium and vitamin D may also help the body excrete excess fluids, supporting overall fluid balance^[4].

Fiber and Hydrating Foods

• High-fiber foods (whole grains, vegetables) support digestive health and can help reduce bloating associated with water retention^[3].

• Foods with high water content (e.g., watermelon, citrus fruits) and natural diuretics (e.g., asparagus, celery) can promote fluid excretion^[3].

Other Nutritional Considerations

Processed and Sugary Foods

• Processed foods, sugary snacks, and alcohol can worsen water retention, especially when consumed in excess^[2].

Balanced Diet

• Maintaining a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains helps regulate fluid balance and minimize the risk of water retention^[5][3].

Conclusion

Nutrition and water retention are closely linked. Diets high in sodium and refined carbohydrates tend to increase water retention, while diets rich in potassium, magnesium, certain vitamins, fiber, and hydrating foods can help reduce it. Adopting a balanced, nutrient-rich diet is one of the most effective ways to manage and prevent fluid retention^[1][5][3][4].

1. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320603

2. https://www.goodrx.com/well-being/diet-nutrition/foods-that-cause-water-retention

3. https://orangecountycosmeticsurgery.com/blog/dr-cruise-talks-about-foods-that-cause-water-retention/

4. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/Fluid-retention-oedema

5. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/6-ways-to-reduce-water-retention

View the full query here with a helpful summary table.

Stories we've inherited.

Stories we've learned to tell ourselves.

Stories that once protected us—but now might be quietly shaping our lives in ways we no longer choose.

Narrative coaching is a practice rooted in the belief that these stories matter. It invites us to become aware of the personal narratives that shape how we see ourselves, relate to others, and make decisions. And then, gently, it offers the possibility of rewriting them.

I'm a certified narrative coach through The Moment Institute, and I can tell you: this approach changed how I work with people, and also how I live my own life.

What Narrative Coaching Is

Developed by Dr. David Drake at The Moment Institute, narrative coaching works with the stories people tell about themselves and their lives. Unlike approaches that focus mainly on setting goals or following step-by-step plans, narrative coaching focuses on being fully present with people as they explore their stories and discover new possibilities.

Put simply, narrative coaching helps people make meaningful changes by becoming more aware of the stories that shape their lives and learning how to reshape those stories when needed.

At its heart, narrative coaching is about:

• Being present: Paying full attention to what's happening in the moment rather than following a rigid plan

• Seeing the whole picture: Looking at someone's complete story—past experiences, current situation, and future hopes

• Doing just enough: Supporting people in finding their own insights rather than telling them what to do

• Working with the now: Recognising that real change happens in the present moment, when we see our stories in a new light

What Narrative Coaching Is Not

To better understand this approach, it helps to know what narrative coaching is not:

• It's not following a cookbook of techniques or exercises

• It's not mainly about setting targets or creating action plans

• It's not just analysing stories intellectually without involving feelings or experiences

• It's not the coach directing or controlling someone's journey

• It's not something that only happens during scheduled sessions

My Personal Journey

Narrative coaching freed me from rigid structures. It gave me permission to move beyond frameworks and formulas, and instead trust what naturally emerges in conversations. It taught me to listen more deeply—to words, yes, but also to silence, body language, and the deeper meanings hidden beneath the surface.

This approach has carried me through different seasons of life: across countries, through career changes, and into those quiet moments when life doesn't offer simple answers. It's shown me that the stories I live by can change, and that I have a voice in how they unfold.

How Narrative Coaching Works

Rather than starting with an agenda, narrative coaches meet people exactly where they are. We begin with presence. We listen. We notice what's said and unsaid. And we invite curiosity about the stories that rise to the surface.

Through thoughtful conversations, people often find clarity, insight, and a new sense of possibility—not by trying to be someone else, but by reconnecting with who they already are beneath the noise.

Why It Matters

In a world that loves quick fixes, narrative coaching offers something different: a space to pause, reflect, and reimagine. It respects the richness of human experience and works with life's natural flow rather than forcing it into a box.

The stories we tell ourselves shape everything—our relationships, our work, our sense of what's possible. When we become aware of these stories and learn to work with them thoughtfully, we open doors that might otherwise remain closed.

As I bring narrative coaching into my work, I hope to offer others what it's offered me: a chance to pause, reflect, and reimagine. To notice the stories that no longer serve us. To honour the ones that do. And to create new ones that feel more true.

If this resonates with you—if you're in the middle of a life chapter that feels uncertain, challenging, or in transition—I hope this gives you a glimpse of what narrative coaching can offer.

Because your story is still being written.

And in the telling, you find yourself.

I ran TheWedMag.com, pouring myself into the stories and people behind modern weddings—then quietly started reshaping it behind the scenes with a trusted partner, wondering what it might become if we let it grow with us, at our pace. I launched Woven, a gentler kind of storytelling space that found me just as much as I found it, somewhere between strangers and unfamiliar streets in a new country. I explored coaching, dived into narrative coaching and began training as a health and wellness coach—drawn not by a five-year plan, but by a feeling: freedom, fluidity, intuition.

For a while, I kept these parts of myself separate out of habit. Out of a desire to “get it right” and “make it perfect”. I wasn’t sure if they could belong in the same room. A wedding editor. A narrative coach. A brand storyteller. A woman still learning how to be at home wherever she is.

But the truth is, I’ve never stopped weaving. Stories, selves, seasons. Even when I thought I was starting over, I was really starting through.

And so here I am, starting this—@HereWithWeiwei. A space to bring all the threads together. Not as a brand or a business move (though maybe it will become both). But as a practice in honesty. A home for the messy middles. A place to contain what I wish to share and see who it reaches.

I’ve hesitated to call myself a writer. I often get help shaping my thoughts—this very piece was put together with AI. I call her Echo, because she puts my thoughts into words in a way that sounds like me, only clearer. But the stories, the questions, the quiet pull to express? That’s all me. I’m learning to trust that’s enough.

I’m still not entirely sure what this space will become. But I’m here. And I’m beginning.

Let’s see where this takes us.

If you’re also in the middle of weaving your own story, I’d love to hear from you.