Soong Mei-ling, famously known as Madame Chiang Kai-shek, wasn’t just the wife of China’s wartime leader — she was a “trailblazer in diplomacy, politics, and women’s empowerment.” Even more remarkable, she lived to be 106 years old.

Diagnosed with cancer at 40, she overcame it and lived another six decades, passing peacefully in Manhattan in 2003. Her secret was balance, mindfulness, and discipline. She began each day with cold water and lemon, ate five small meals, and stopped when she was “70% full,” believing in a “semi-hungry” state for good health.

Her daily routine included two hours of reading, drawing, and reflection, and she kept a strict 11 p.m. to 9 a.m. sleep schedule. Central to her diet was celery — “simple, inexpensive, and incredibly nourishing,” she once said. Modern science supports her choice, showing celery’s apigenin and luteolin compounds may fight inflammation and cancer.

Educated in the U.S. and fluent in English, Madame Chiang became a powerful voice during World War II, addressing Congress and championing education and humanitarian causes.

Her life proved that longevity isn’t just about living long — it’s about living with harmony, creativity, and purpose.