[One Thousand Characters a Day] Life Lessons Starting Again <1>

Editor's NoteAsia Economy introduces this week's "One Day Ten Thousand Characters" newsletter readers to the ten-thousand-character transcription content ＜Life Lessons to Start Again＞ written by Lee Soon-guk, former chairman of Shinho Group. The author once served as the chairman of a large corporation ranked 25th in the business world, overseeing about 30 affiliates, enjoying the prime of his life’s first half. However, he was hit hard by the Asian financial crisis that began in 1996 and eventually closed all his lifelong businesses after selling Shinho Paper in 2006. To soothe his sense of loss, he traveled to Japan, where he collapsed from angina. Only after losing his health did he realize that health is the most valuable asset, leading him to seriously study exercise methods for the elderly. Now, as a health evangelist, he has switched rafts and is living the second half of his life more vibrantly than anyone else. This book shares a special story for those pondering "What is happiness in life?" and "How should we endure difficult moments?" The text contains 1,049 characters.

One of the wisdoms of living life is to have little or no regrets, attachments, or remorse. The more regrets, attachments, and remorse one has, the easier it is to cling to the past rather than the future. The flowing river water never returns. Only those who keep staring suffer. It is better to look toward the new flowing water during that time.

"Back in my day..."

"Even though I look like this, back in my prime..."

There are people who constantly say things like this. When they see young people, they keep trying to lecture them, and when they meet peers of similar age, they endlessly talk about the old days. So what are they trying to say?

The "back in my day" they speak of is already the past and the flowing river water. "Prime years (Wangnyeon)" are the departed years and irreversible time. You cannot go back or return. It is an attitude that either does not recognize the changed world or knows but refuses to accept it.

(Omitted)

Life is like crossing a river on a raft, whether you actively or passively ride it. Those who row hard will cross the river quickly, and those who row slowly will cross late. Although the timing differs, eventually the raft you are on will reach the other side of the river. Once you have crossed the river, you must quickly discard the raft you came on. There is no need to look back at the flowing river or the far shore where you first boarded the raft. Because I have a new raft to board again. I must board the new raft and row hard to cross another river. Some people ride a raft only once in their lifetime, some change rafts several times, and others change rafts countless times.

(Omitted)

Even if you row hard on the raft you are on and safely cross the river, the result may not turn out as initially planned. Because there is no perfect life. There is no life where you excel in studies, have a happy family, good relationships, earn money well, do many good deeds, and succeed in everything you do. Sometimes, despite doing your best, the results are unsatisfactory.

You may fail exams, get divorced, or experience failure. It cannot be helped. You just need to accept and acknowledge things as they are and start again. If you cling and hold on, you will live bound to the past. That is why you should not look at the raft that has passed.

- Lee Soon-guk, ＜Life Lessons to Start Again＞, Dongyang Books, 17,000 KRW