Let's Talk: Lifting the Veil - The Power of Conversations

Identifying a gap and medium for members to engage in deeper conversations, the Member Engagement subcommittee launched the Let’s Talk series in January 2024. Through this series, small group activities and dinners were organised to facilitate a safe space for members to discuss relevant but often overlooked topics. In the 1.5 years since January last year, the organizing committee held a total of 5 events under the Let’s Talk series:

1. Let’s Talk about Navigating Transitions

2. Let’s Talk about Community

3. Let’s Talk about Breaking the Chains/ Crushing Self-Limiting Beliefs

4. Let’s Talk about Self Care

5. Let’s Talk about Progress over Perfection

Let's Talk event about Community

To kick off the new year and with the often fresh motivations that come with new year resolutions, the 1st instalment of the Let’s Talk series was officially launched on 4 January 2024. Karen Tay, founder of Her Life Ally, was the guest speaker and generously shared insights from her life and career with a group of 12 members. One of her key pieces of advice was to understand that life has different seasons, and it is important to recognize when it is time to turn the page. 

Following this, the organizing committee facilitated a series of small group luncheons and dinners to foster open conversations about community. These gatherings helped members to reflect what the YWLC community means to them, and highlighted opportunities to grow together.

Let’s Talk event about Breaking the Chains/ Crushing Self-Limiting Beliefs

The 3rd event focused on overcoming self-limiting beliefs and took place over a cozy dinner at Providore. The organising committee first began by sharing their self-limiting beliefs and how they have overcome these experiences.

Over dinner, a guided activity was conducted for participants to dig deeper, reflect and explore possible solutions to overcome these self-limiting beliefs.

Let's Talk event over a Sound Bath

In December 2024, to wrap up the year, the organising committee planned an event centered on Self-care. Held at Ground Spaces, the session began with a relaxing sound bath to help members unwind and immerse themselves in a calming environment. Participants were then given a Self-Care Wheel worksheet to explore how self-care encompasses various aspects of life - physical, emotional, mental, spiritual, social, personal development, creative expression, and leisure activities.

Let's Talk event over Pottery Painting

To cap off the successful run, a pottery painting session was held for members to express themselves creatively while reflecting on the theme - Progress over Perfection. 24 participants gathered at PotteryPlease at Queensway Shopping Centre and each participant had the freedom to choose their choice of pottery and express their art. Pottery painting proved to be tricky for some, as too many strokes could drastically alter the final colour after the pottery is placed in the kiln. This was the perfect metaphor for the theme because too often, people focus solely on achieving the best possible outcome and forget there is joy in the process as well. After completing their artwork, participants enjoyed a dinner together, further discussing what the words “progress” and “perfection” each meant to them, and subsequently how to approach uncertainty. It was a heartwarming evening of open conversation and connection.

As the Let’s Talk series progressed, there was an increasing number of repeated participants - a testament to the value members place on a close-knit community and a safe space for vulnerable conversations. The Let’s Talk series will return soon with even more engaging and unique activities!

Acknowledgements

Organising Team: Urmila Baskaran, Rachel Lee, Evonne Li, Shin Mun