International Women’s Day 2025: Asia’s most inspiring women write letters to their younger selves

Dear Melinda,

You are stronger than you think. Take it one day at a time. Slow down—there’s no need to rush. Invest in what matters. I once read a quote somewhere, I can’t remember the exact words but the message was something like: “you’ve survived every single hard moment you’ve ever had”. Life can be abundantly beautiful, joyful, loving and positive. Yet it can also be unpredictable and difficult. Whatever life throws your way, remember every single moment, that at the time seemed insurmountable, is now history. 

Time is fleeting. Enjoy now. This is something that we hear older people say all the time and unfortunately there is no way to truly understand it until you have experienced it. Same with motherhood. You are constantly told to enjoy every single moment of your child being a child without rushing it. Yet somehow we get so excited to rush to the next milestone: when they learn to sit, stand, walk and run. And just like that, before you know it, they are running their own lives independent from yours. You look back wishing you had slowed down and just savoured the here and now. 

We all wish we could be everywhere at all times and be everything to everyone. But as we’ve grown older we’ve learnt we have to prioritise. There are so many hours in a day and you have no choice but to choose wisely where you invest those hours and in whom you invest them in. We are a product of the people and relationships around us. It is these relationships that see us through the brightest of days and help us through the hardest of times. It is the love we give and receive that brings meaning to our lives. So don’t forget to nurture those relationships that are most important to you, as if they are tiny plants. Important things take time. Water them, care for them and cherish them so you can grow old surrounded by a beautiful lush garden blooming with love and memories. 

Love, Me

Dear Nadine,

I look back and wish I could give you a hug and tell you that everything will work out. Your purity, innocence, kindness and curiosity will bring you a long way and be your north star. Your deep love for those surrounding you will reach new heights, but will burn fiercer with time as it gradually reflects back to you. You will fall in love with the person you have become and all the little things that make you you. Life will throw you many curveballs: your family unit as you know it will collapse, your world will be rearranged, your story rewritten, your future broken down and rebuilt, your hope challenged. However, with every obstacle, with every moment in which you almost surrender, you will rise stronger, fiercer, with increased determination and experiences that feed your creativity, compassion and agility. You will always feel like you don’t fit in, eventually you will listen to your inner voice, your guardian angel—and realise that your uniqueness is your superpower. As you move from country, school, culture and friend groups, you will develop your unique quilted experience that will refine your perspective.

Soon you will reclaim your love for colours, joy, connection and family and you will find luxury in simplicity and happiness in a very different life than the one you dared to imagine.

Every heartbreak, loss of innocence and confrontation with fear has led you here. Every time you chose to rise, the universe had a positive surprise. Although life has tried to harden you—don’t give in and don’t give up. Stay your stubborn, beautiful self who smiles at strangers, offers help when you anticipate someone’s need or reaches out during silence. Every act of kindness counts, and every connection inspires you to break the rules and continue being the rebellious energetic child you always were. Pave the way and don’t look back, and most importantly don’t forget to play. 

Love, Nadine

Hi Kim,

This letter is being written to you in 2025. You’ll be happy to know that you have had an interesting career in fashion—and it’s still going strong! There weren’t many Asian role models in fashion for you to reference growing up so it has been a challenge to present a successful case study to mum and dad to pursue your interest. Coming from a family of doctors, I know sometimes it may feel like you are completely alone and don’t have any support, but you are not afraid to work hard. I assure you— if you go through the journey with an open mind and open heart, there will be people who admire your integrity and will help light the way for you. The challenges are there to make you stronger.  Please remember this: don’t settle. Listen to your heart. Trust your gut. There is no wrong answer when it comes to your feelings. There may be a difference in opinions. You should hear them out. But your feelings are sacred. Understand the why of your feelings. Understand the intentions.

It’s interesting being born a girl. The high expectations combined with the lack of expectations imposed on us. The many hats we have to wear as daughters, sisters, wives, mothers, friends and lovers. We can’t change all of the mindsets we are faced with sometimes, but we certainly can keep grace close to our hearts while standing our ground. The people who need our kindness the most are other women. I am so excited for the adventure that you will go on. You will meet so many people—not all of them great—and have so many conversations and feel so many things—also not all of them great. Don’t fret so much about making mistakes, that’s how you learn and get a better understanding of yourself.

In your twenties, you will say “I’ll sleep when I am dead!”. You will have the energy and need to go to every single party. I am going to strongly disagree and say: “Sleep when you can!”. Don’t deprive yourself of it. As your older self, I would love to be able to thank you for it now. Make sure you always check in with nature. Balance is key. Being present will reveal life’s many riches. 

With love, future Kim 

P.S. Make sure you wear SPF 30 everyday.

Dear G,

Names can be a delightful puzzle. In Chinese, it’s “Zi”, meaning pearl in Shanghainese dialect. I once fancied “Zizi” until a French friend pointed out its unfortunate meaning. “GiGi” became common, though the capitalised second “G” baffled me and made it feel like a nickname. In your 20s and 30s, I insisted on just “G”. It felt fitting for a decade, but now, single initials seem pretentious. So, perhaps it’s Gi, Zi, Gee or even Jeee—I’m open to suggestions.

Not quite half a century has passed, and so far, the most important lesson I’ve learnt is not to be too busy. Growing up with abundant energy, I was eager to shine independently, unshadowed by your media-renowned parents. Restlessness, now known as ADHD, was your companion until it vanished unexpectedly—more on that another time. Embracing stillness and making peace with time has been your greatest reward, a difficult but treasured journey. It opened your heart to care, to live simply and to love generously.

Reflecting on the busiest days, I recall delivering newspapers at 6am, attending lectures on architectural history at 9am, washing dishes at Pete’s Eats during lunch and balancing design studio work with evening jobs as a bar-back or in a nursing home. Carrying cases of beer up flights of stairs at the nightclub on Oxford Road strengthened your back, arms and legs—strength that I miss now.  More cherished are the innocent friendships formed with co-workers: childlike and full of joy. Working the nursing home graveyard shift became a precious memory too, especially when close friends and family fell ill. I’m grateful for the kind nurses who cared for them.

Donating 40 packs of blood in your energetic 20s left me thankful when a family member needed a transfusion. Before facing trauma or illness, I felt invincible. But life’s unpredictability taught me about loss and the necessity to pause.

Studying architecture at university taught me about life, the essence of home and building friendships from scratch.  So, I guess no matter what you think the future holds, in business as in life, the thing to do is to build reserves: pay kindness forward and see beauty in a stranger’s eyes.  From there, goodness will flow and time will become your greatest ally.  Best of luck with life.  

Love, G

Dear Janet,

I know you’ve always dreamed of being an air stewardess or a model, and let me tell you—you’re on the right path. Moving to a new city to chase your dreams and navigate the unfamiliar world of modeling all by yourself was never going to be easy. I know how lonely and overwhelming it felt at times, but I’m here to tell you: be brave. Have the courage to face each challenge head-on because every tough moment you endure will only make you stronger. Trust yourself and the process, because even when it feels like you’re fumbling in the dark, everything will work out in ways you can’t yet imagine. You’ll grow into the confident, capable woman you’ve always wanted to be.

Looking back, the journey has been incredible, and each step shaped who we are today. Though life took unexpected turns—especially after having kids—those changes brought joy you never imagined. Shopping trips for yourself turned into buying for them, and they became your world. Priorities shifted and getting insurance for your firstborn was the moment you realised how deeply you cared for their future.

Motherhood taught you lessons no school ever could. The love and bond you share with your children are indescribable. They’ve been your greatest teachers and you’ve grown alongside them.

There’s always more to achieve, but gratitude for what you have is the key to happiness. Your honesty, authenticity and dedication have been your greatest strengths, both at work and in life. Keep being true to yourself—you’re doing great.

With love,  Janet

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