Teresa Hsu: Wisdom for all ages

October 7, 2011 by Gail
Filed under VidStyle

“Teresa Hsu Chih (Chinese: 许哲; pinyin: Xǔ Zhe) was born 1898 in Swatow, China. She is a prominent social worker and one of the oldest people in Singapore. The centenarian, who began devoting her life to helping the poor and destitute in the 1930s, has remained tireless in her humanitarian work even after turning 113. She is recognised not only for her contributions to society but also for her positive attitude towards life.

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ABOUT Teresa Hsu

Teresa Hsu was born into extreme poverty. Conditions were sometimes so dire that she had only grass to eat. After her father abandoned the family and together with her grandmother, mother and three siblings she travelled to Penang, Malaysia by boat.

Having had to work to survive from a young age, Teresa had no formal education, so she worked with her mother as a cleaner in a convent. In 1925, at the age of 27, she convinced the convent nuns to let her sit in on the children’s classes. These encounters led to a lifelong interest in literacy and reading.

Her philosophy towards life is simple. She has said that positive thoughts and laughter are her key sources of sustenance. Her involvement in social work is a natural extension of her life philosophy.

She describes her drive to help others as an instinct that stems from her ability to empathise with the needy, having once been destitute herself. Moved by the generosity and kindness she has received from others, she sees the poor people that she meets as brothers and sisters and is determined to extend her help to them.

Besides keeping her mind active through volunteer work and visiting various countries to give talks, she also keeps her body conditioned through yoga, which she learnt at the age of 69 and now teaches to the public. In addition to doing yoga twice a day, she meditates at 4am daily before going on a morning walk.”

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