[One Thousand Characters a Day] 'Loneliness Class' <3> - It's Okay to Wander the Path

Editor's NoteEveryone encounters the wave of loneliness at some point in life. Loneliness is an emotion that arises from being left alone, and while some feel fear, dread, or horror, others find it comforting, warm, and gentle. Former MBC PD Kim Min-sik talks about how to ride and overcome these waves of loneliness without breaking. Today, Asia Economy presents the third excerpted transcription content from ＜Loneliness Class＞ for the 'One Day Ten Thousand Steps, One Day One Thousand Characters' newsletter readers. Word count: 913 characters.

Psychologists say loneliness is an emotion felt by all humans, and it is only during time alone that the self matures. They advise turning loneliness into a time to enrich your inner self.

The Max Planck Institute conducted an experiment. Behavioral scientists invited about ten volunteers, one by one, into a room. The room had no communication devices like phones, radios, or TVs. Only one light was on. Inside, each person was allowed to do just one thing they liked. Some practiced piano, others worked on their abdominal muscles. At first, there was concern the experiment wouldn’t last long. But when the experiment ended and the door opened, eight out of the ten participants said they wanted to return to that room. They had learned how to enjoy loneliness. This is according to philosopher Dr. Wolf Poschardt.

"Loneliness is an essential part of human life. Loneliness is like inhaling, and being with others is like exhaling. It is important to maintain a balance between the two."

A long time ago, while filming a variety show, I flew to a remote village called Lawak in the Philippines with actor Daniel Henney. The morning after arriving, Henney disappeared, and the staff panicked. All around were just fields and paddies?where on earth had he gone? We were anxious. It turned out he had gotten up at dawn and gone jogging for two hours. I asked him,

"But what if you get lost in a strange land so far away?"

"Wherever you go, if you leave your lodging and run in one direction for an hour, then turn back at the halfway point and return the same way, you won’t get lost."

That phrase stayed with me for a long time. The 'one-direction rule' for safe jogging. When life is hard, and no matter what emotions you face, if you want to return to your starting point without getting lost, you need to establish such a firm rule from the beginning.

- Kim Min-sik, ＜Loneliness Class＞, Saenggakjeongwon, 18,000 KRW