Liu Yu-jou Reflects on Life as She Approaches 40, Shares 'True Feelings'

As she nears her 40th birthday next May, Taiwanese celebrity Liu Yu-jou has shared her candid thoughts on life and personal growth. The 39-year-old, who married basketball player Hu Kai-hsiang last year and welcomed a daughter, reflected on her past financial anxieties.

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I don't know if it's innate, or if it's been subtly influenced by my upbringing, but looking back, I seem to be an extremely prudent person.

Liu recalled feeling like a failure at 20 due to a lack of savings, resorting to extreme frugality like walking instead of taking a bus and eating simple meals of toast, instant noodles, or rice with an egg. By 25, she had saved enough to buy her first car, a milestone achieved through years of working day and night, sacrificing social life, luxury purchases, and fine dining while sharing a rental with a roommate.

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When you can only rely on yourself, isn't that how it has to be?

Her hard work continued, leading to the purchase of her first home at 32. While still working tirelessly, she began to occasionally indulge in fine dining and buy herself favorite bags for special occasions. Looking back now, Liu feels she hasn't progressed significantly or grown in ways she expected. Her primary focus has been on being a good mother, with her existing career stagnant and a new venture just beginning.

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People who have been strong for a long time will still have moments when they need to be cared for.

Friends have suggested she puts too much pressure on herself, but Liu believes this is a consequence of having to rely solely on herself. She acknowledged that even strong individuals need support, especially when facing career challenges or exhaustion. Despite this, she asserts her determination to become better and stronger, deciding that relationships or circumstances that hinder her work and life are no longer welcome. Liu is committed to doing good, treating people sincerely, and maintaining her values without compromise.

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This is not just a hope, but a decision for my own life.