[One Thousand Characters a Day] It's Okay to Start Now＜4＞- Please Hug Me

Editor's NoteDespite the painful struggles with severe atopy, side effects from treatment, and financial difficulties, Jeong Hoe-il, CEO of Yeongnahan (English Training! I do it in Korea!), recalls facing a new self every day, taking one step closer to the dreams he desires, and overcoming difficult times with an attitude of gratitude at every moment. At first, he was only obsessed with the thought that being born into poverty and illness was not his fault, but upon deeper reflection, he acknowledged that his responses thereafter were his own choices, allowing him to look back on his transformed self. He encourages others by saying, "Blaming all problems on external factors solves nothing. The person I am now is the result of the choices I have made," urging people to keep going and find their path through various motivations. Word count: 746 characters.

For quite a long time, even when I wanted to cry, I found it strange that tears did not come easily. Even when I felt like crying from hardship, my emotions somehow did not express themselves naturally. But one morning during breakfast, my mother said to me,

"Son, just a few years ago, you wouldn't even make eye contact with the family or greet anyone."

Hearing that, old memories suddenly came flooding back, and I was overwhelmed with emotion.

1 year, 2 years, 3 years, 4 years, 5 years, 6 years, 7 years...

I focused all my energy on healing my body, which had been completely damaged by medication side effects, and on coming back to life. Because I had to live a life centered on 'me,' I had no time to care about others. I was so lonely, so hurt, so distressed, so scared, and so isolated. When I recall how desperately I fought back then,

tears streamed down...

I was proud of myself for overcoming the pain, and truly grateful to my parents who supported me. So that morning, my mother and I hugged each other and cried together, saying we had done well. After crying like that, my chest felt relieved, and I fully felt joy and happiness. The book The Power of Tears also says this:

If you are in pain, do not worry about anyone's judgment and cry as much as you want. Only then will hope and creativity for tomorrow spring forth... You must acknowledge and shed your own tears to gain the strength to see and hear others' tears.

Do you want to cry? But do you not even have the strength to shed tears? Cry for yourself. Embrace the wounded you.

- Jeong Hoe-il, It's Okay to Start Now, Chai Garden, 16,000 KRW