By: Sarah Kiran
Ever caught yourself dreading the next milestone birthday, convinced that your best years are behind you?
You are definitely not alone.
In Episode 5 of Beautiful Me, we took our production overseas for a very special, heartfelt conversation. Our host sits down with someone incredibly close to his heart—his mum, Celine.
At 69 and on the brink of her 70th birthday, Celine is a founder, a global traveller, and living proof that life only gets better when you decide to take the reins. The episode kicks off with a beautiful declaration from our guest, “70 is the new 20”!
A Spark in the Jeju Heat
It’s easy to assume that launching a business is a young person's game, but Celine completely shatters that narrative. Her entrepreneurial journey began in her late 60s, during a sweltering July trip to Jeju.
Seeking refuge from the punishing summer heat in their hotel room, our host asked her a simple, yet profound question: “Mum, are you really happy?” That single question ignited a deep reflection.
Realising she felt unappreciated at work and wanted to “owe my time” so she could travel freely, she made the bold choice to quit her job the day she returned from her holiday.
Stepping out from under the corporate umbrella to gain back trust on her own wasn't easy, but her philosophy on facing the daunting unknown is refreshingly straightforward.
As she tells herself when fear creeps in, “If it's all going to be difficult, just do it.”
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Unloading the Weight of the Past
Celine’s journey to happiness wasn't just about her career. It also required making tough personal choices.
In the episode, Celine recounts a gathering with her schoolmates where she shared the news of her divorce. Their immediate reaction was to ask why she wanted to do it, followed directly by, “Do you have a boyfriend?”.
Celine even recalls jokingly replying to them, “Do I have a boyfriend, that I'm going to a divorce? Yeah, I wish I had!”
But for Celine, the choice was never about another person. She recognised that staying in a toxic relationship, where you “hate to face each other”, only causes suffering for everyone under the same roof. “Tolerance is not a tolerance,” she notes, explaining that the decision to leave finally “off-lifted the weight I've been carrying”.
Embracing the Future (and Gen Alpha Lingo)
So, how does someone stepping into their 70s handle the lightning-fast pace of modern technology? By completely embracing it. Instead of resisting the changing times, Celine actively leans in. She recently completed a seven-day virtual course to upskill, proudly passing it on her first try.
Alongside that, she has readily adopted ChatGPT to assist her in planning and drafting technical reports for her business. Beyond AI, she constantly navigates the hilariously confusing world of Gen Alpha slang with her granddaughter, Kimmy.
Whether she is figuring out that “ADK” means “away from keyboard” during a Roblox game, or learning to apologise before interrupting her granddaughter's playtime to keep their bond strong, Celine proves that staying open and curious is the ultimate fountain of youth.
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A New Philosophy for 2026
Looking ahead, Celine introduces a beautifully simple philosophy to guide her through the new year, which is the G-A-H method, representing Gratitude, Acceptance, and Humility.
She notes that a common trap for the pioneer generation is reaching retirement only to “sit in a park, and waiting for your time”. Celine actively rejects this narrative. Rather than getting bogged down in what family or society expects of her, she encourages us to look inward and ask a far more important question, “Am I happy?”. She points out that you can try to please a thousand people and still neglect yourself. By choosing to prioritise her own joy, she naturally radiates happiness to the people around her.
If you need a reminder that age is just a number and it is never too late to reinvent yourself, be sure to tune in to Episode 5 of Beautiful Me. Catch Celine’s full, heartwarming story and let it inspire you to ask better questions for your own life.
