[Haruchunja] From Today, I Decided to Rewrite Myself <3>

Editor's NoteThe second step in rewriting myself is to distinguish between what I can and cannot solve on my own. Instead of clinging to and worrying about things beyond my control, the author chooses to find realistic solutions and come up with various ways to boost his own energy. For example, rather than repeatedly failing at Miracle Morning and blaming himself, he opts to sleep well and then use the remaining time with focused effort and no regrets. To manage a daily life that easily drags and sinks, he adopted various habits and routines. Reciting poetry to start the morning, calming anxiety and impatience through transcription, doing squats after meals, tending a rooftop garden, walking barefoot, and participating in a reading club not only help him live each day in a good mood but also serve as a solid foundation for finding and achieving new life goals. Word count: 1039.

A five-minute walk on paper is just right. It shouldn’t feel burdensome if you want to do it every day. Committing to 30 minutes of transcription daily can feel overwhelming even for a week, but five minutes is such a short time that it’s embarrassing to use “busy” as an excuse. The start is to set aside time in your day to transcribe about one paragraph.

Having the right equipment makes transcription more enjoyable. I tried various writing tools until I found the perfect pen feel and matched a notebook with a fountain pen. When I open the notebook, smooth, high-quality white paper greets me brightly. It’s like untouched snow that excites me just by looking at it. The soft scratching sound of the fountain pen gliding over the paper is like footprints. Every night, I take a gentle walk on paper. Time spent focusing solely on myself is rare and precious.

The space that inspires the desire to transcribe is also important. Setting the same time and place every day makes your body move automatically without hesitation. I used to lie on the living room floor to transcribe, but after moving to a new house, I created a dedicated space. I placed a bar table and chair on a small veranda next to the bedroom. It’s a place designed solely for transcription.

(Omitted)

Transcribing has made me much calmer. After being used to familiar keyboards, paying close attention to writing neatly by hand was not as easy as I thought. If I write hastily, I make spelling mistakes and have to rewrite. When drawing strokes with a sensitive fountain pen, I have to carefully control the pressure and speed; otherwise, the ink smudges or the letters look distorted. Moving my gaze back and forth between the book and notebook for five minutes, copying one character at a time, is slow but requires intense concentration. After a hectic day, I momentarily put down my anxious and impatient mind.

Morning people may start their day with morning transcription, but as a night owl, I end my day with transcription. Doing so calmed the regrets and self-blame I felt when reflecting on the day. Even though I was unwell and stayed in bed all day, I still managed to transcribe at least one thing. Yes, the phrase “I managed” was comforting. The relief from a small achievement made me a more relaxed person.

－Kim Sun-young, From Today, I Decided to Rewrite Myself, Bookie, 17,500 KRW