{"id":1969,"date":"2025-01-24T06:37:04","date_gmt":"2025-01-24T06:37:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webdesigninsg.com\/nif\/alumnus\/?p=1969"},"modified":"2026-01-16T09:17:25","modified_gmt":"2026-01-16T01:17:25","slug":"turning-heartbreak-into-purpose","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/2025\/01\/24\/turning-heartbreak-into-purpose\/","title":{"rendered":"Turning Heartbreak into Purpose"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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\u201cYou never know the strength of a relationship until it\u2019s tested,\u201d Ms Ruth Ong reflected, drawing from her journey of love, heartbreak, and rediscovery. After a difficult relationship left her feeling anxious and insecure, she found herself at a crossroads. Meeting her now-husband was a turning point.<\/p>

\u201cThe stark contrast of these experiences changed everything for me,\u201d she shared. \u201cThe right partner doesn\u2019t just love you\u2014they accept and grow with you. I wanted to create something that would help other couples find that connection and nurture it intentionally.\u201d<\/p>

This epiphany gave birth to A Year of Us<\/a>, a 52-week card game that encourages couples to ask thought-provoking questions about values, goals, intimacy, and conflict resolution.<\/p>

\u201cWe often assume relationships will thrive on autopilot, especially in the early stages,\u201d Ms Ong explained. \u201cBut sustaining that spark takes consistent effort. I wanted to make prioritising your relationship feel enjoyable and meaningful, even when life gets busy.\u201d<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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A Year of Us is a year-long journey designed to deepen the connection between couples.<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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DESIGNED WITH PURPOSE<\/strong><\/p>

Influenced by her NUS education in psychology and communication, Ms Ong structured the game around a simple but impactful concept: one set of cards per week, with prompts and activities designed to spark meaningful conversations and moments of connection.<\/p>

The game\u2019s structure emphasises three core values:<\/p>

  • Discovery:\u00a0<\/strong>Reigniting curiosity and excitement about each other<\/li>
  • Empathy<\/strong>: Understanding emotions and motivations beneath the surface<\/li>
  • Growth<\/strong>: Empowering couples to evolve individually and as a team<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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    One unique feature of the game is its focus on conflict resolution, a skill Ms Ong emphasises as essential. \u201cDisagreements are inevitable,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat matters is how couples navigate them together.\u201d Ten specially designed cards guide couples through common conflicts, offering strategies like active listening, expressing needs constructively, and finding win-win solutions.<\/p>

    Interestingly, she once received feedback that the game led to a break-up. \u201cThis is not always a bad thing,\u201d she noted. \u201cThe goal is clarity \u2014 whether that means strengthening a bond or recognising it\u2019s time to let go.\u201d<\/p><\/div>

    FROM HEART TO HUSTLE

    <\/strong>Ms Ong\u2019s entrepreneurial spirit was sparked by watching her father build an interior design business from scratch. \u201cHis determination over decades showed me what it really takes to succeed,\u201d she recalled.<\/p>

    An internship at ShopBack during her time at NUS offered another reality check. \u201cI saw the relentless effort it took to turn an idea into a thriving business. Entrepreneurship isn\u2019t glamorous \u2014 it\u2019s about persistence and creating impact.\u201d<\/p>

    These lessons prepared her for the challenges of launching A Year of Us. Balancing her passion for relationships with the realities of running a business, Ruth remains deeply involved in every aspect of her brand, from product design to customer feedback.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    BUILDING LOVE, ONE CARD AT A TIME<\/strong><\/p>

    • Designed for Connection<\/strong>: A 52-week journey, with weekly prompts for reflection and bonding<\/li>
    • Conflict Resolution<\/strong>: 10 cards with practical strategies to turn disagreements into opportunities for growth<\/li>
    • Deeper Understanding<\/strong>: Cards are organised around nine key themes\u2014from relationship expectations to intimacy and past experiences and more\u2014to foster a more holistic appreciation of each other<\/li>
    • Love Token<\/strong>: A meaningful symbol to remind couples of their love and strengthen their bond during challenging moments<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      GROWING WITH THE COMMUNITY
      <\/strong>
      Since its launch in 2022, the card game has sparked thousands of meaningful conversations between couples, earning praise from users and therapists. The latter have lauded A Year of Us for helping couples connect on a deeper level, improving communication, and enabling them to handle challenges with empathy.<\/p>

      One particularly memorable moment for Ms Ong was discovering that a couple had unknowingly ordered it for one another, both shipping it to the same address. Moved by the coincidence, she decided to help preserve the surprise by packing one of their orders in different packaging to avoid suspicion. Responding to her handwritten note, the couple later reached out to share that it was their first Christmas together, and this small act had made it all the more special and unforgettable. \u201cIt\u2019s stories like these that remind me why I started,\u201d she recalled. \u201cLove isn\u2019t just about grand gestures. It\u2019s about the little moments\u2014the ones that bring you closer together.\u201d<\/p>

      Available online and at select retailers, the game has become a dynamic tool for couples seeking to connect on a deeper level. \u201cHearing how it has strengthened relationships, or even brought clarity to some, is incredibly rewarding,\u201d Ms Ong shared.<\/p><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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      A couple enjoying A Year of Us<\/figcaption>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      WHAT\u2019S NEXT: PRODUCTS THAT SUPPORT OTHER KEY RELATIONSHIPS

      <\/strong>While A Year of Us began as a way to deepen romantic connections, its mission goes beyond couples. According to Ms Ong, the \u201cUs\u201d represents every meaningful relationship we choose to nurture\u2014whether with a partner, friend, parent, or ourselves.

      \u201cThe most important relationship we\u2019ll ever have is the one with ourselves,\u201d Ms Ong reflected. \u201cIn 2025, I\u2019m excited to introduce new products that will empower personal growth and help strengthen the relationships that shape our lives.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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      PARTNERS IN LIFE AND PURPOSE<\/strong><\/p>

      Behind the scenes, Ms Ong\u2019s entrepreneurial journey is strengthened by her husband, Mr Godfrey Yu (Arts & Social Sciences \u201819), who runs a software business. Their mutual understanding of the demands of entrepreneurship has deepened their bond.

      \u201cHaving a partner who understands the highs and lows of running a business is invaluable,\u201d Ms Ong shared. \u201cIt\u2019s not always easy, but we\u2019re building a life that reflects both of our desires to deliver value to the world.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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      <\/div>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      Inspired by her personal journey, Ms Ruth Ong (Arts & Social Sciences \u201917) launched A Year of Us\u2014a card game that is bringing couples closer in over 15 countries worldwide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1970,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"elementor_theme","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1969","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-startups"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1969","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1969"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1969\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13077,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1969\/revisions\/13077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1970"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1969"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1969"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alumni.nus.edu.sg\/thealumnus\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1969"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}