Dear Yen

When I was 18, I wrote a letter to my 28-year-old self. Reading that letter now brings a whirlwind of emotions, and today, I finally had the time to sit with it. Back then, 28 felt like such a big number—so distant, almost unreachable. But in the blink of an eye—*tadaaa*—here we are!  

Here’s my reply to 18-year-old Yen:  

Hey girl,

First of all, you didn’t stay in the media and broadcasting industry. I know, shocking, right? Let me explain. Back then, you thought broadcasting was your everything, your one and only true calling. But plans changed, and *you* were the one who decided to walk away. Did you regret it? Not at all. Over the past ten years, your horizons broadened, and you realized that broadcasting was just a small chapter in the vast, beautiful book of life.  

Secondly, guess what? You’re NOT married at 28! Hah! I couldn't help but laughed reading this part of your letter. I don’t even remember secretly hoping for that, but, okayyy. What were you thinking? It seems like Mr. Right lost his map and is taking the scenic route to find you—or maybe he’s just not on the way. But you’ve handled it well, especially when facing those never-ending “When are you getting a boyfriend?” questions. You’ve grown to realize that being in a relationship isn’t a checkbox to tick or a requirement to fit into society expectations. It’s not about “fitting in” anymore, it’s about YOU.  

Thirdly, and this one’s bittersweet: the friends you mentioned in your letter? We’re not as close as we were in high school. Life happened. But we still try to catch up, and for that, I’m grateful. Over the years, you’ve learned that some friends are meant to walk with you for some part of your journey. Don't get me wrong, It’s not about falling out—it’s just that life takes people in different directions, with different careers, paths, and even countries. But I’m still thankful for every single one of them and the beautiful memories we've created together.  

So, those were the three big things you were looking forward to, and yeah, none of them turned out the way you imagined. But hey, that’s life—full of surprises, shifting priorities, new challenges, and evolving preferences.  

And lastly, a big thank you—to YOU, the storyteller of our life. Thank you for making the choices that led us here today.  

With love,  

28-year-old Yen