"Someone Else's Shortcut Is Not My Shortcut"... What Matters Is 'My Own Path'

Book 'Thoughts Without Thought' by Ryo
London Bagel Museum Brand Director
"The Courage to Live as My True Self"
Emphasizing the Importance of Discovering Oneself

Knowing the light of a morning full of moisture, knowing you who sing when you're not in a good mood, knowing the peace of steaming coffee, knowing the thinness and warmth of a dog's ear, knowing the color of your chest as you hold back, knowing the prism of the world and the aesthetics of reflection, knowing us who would see something beautiful and scatter in all directions laughing, knowing the finiteness of time, even if I train myself in sorrow every day, it doesn't mean I don't feel regret. One never really gets used to regret. Even if I come to know so much of all the beauty and sorrow in the world, it doesn't mean I am free from regret in the end.

Ryo, the author of the book 'Thoughts Without Thought', chose the above passage as her most cherished writing. Having introduced unique spaces such as London Bagel Museum, Artist Bakery, Cafe Highwest, and Cafe Layered, Ryo was a child who "had many questions and things she couldn't understand." However, she had a critical handicap in that she found it difficult to ask questions outright, so she often pondered alone. But this wasn't entirely a bad thing. Thanks to her timidity, she was able to develop what she calls "a natural humidity for observing, listening, touching, and remembering everything with care."

On the morning of the 16th, a press conference for 'Thoughts Without Thought' was held at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seo Mideum

The author explained at the publication press conference held on the morning of the 16th at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, that the book's title comes from a hashtag phrase she has been using on Instagram for 15 years, posting diary-like entries. Since childhood, she has been preoccupied with the question of "how can I live true to myself?" and has shared her traces of contemplation and realizations on this theme as a kind of archive. The book contains writings accumulated over 15 years, but there is no sense of chronological gap. The author said, "I edited it naturally, picking what resonated with me at each moment, but whether it was 15 years ago or now, what I say is always the same (laughs). Maybe it means I haven't grown, but nothing has really changed from then to now."

Although the author runs numerous restaurants with distinctive and charming sensibilities, she is not particularly sensitive to trends or the latest fads. She says she can hardly ever find the shortest route or even the right direction when going somewhere. However, this does not bother her. What she consistently emphasizes is "my own path." "The brands or trends I've created are simply the result of people liking what I express. I don't think there is any easy work or a path that suits everyone in this world. A good path someone tells you about is a good path for that person," she said. "The path I make is one I have to create by bumping into things myself. Someone else's shortcut is not my shortcut."

The author does not feel daunted or disappointed by aging. Rather than thinking that people change as they get older, she believes that with age, one becomes more truly oneself. This is also the background to why she suddenly entered the food and beverage industry, where she had no prior connections, 14 years ago. Fourteen years ago, she happened to visit Monmouth Coffee in Covent Garden, London, and was captivated by the visual appeal of filter coffee and the unpretentious communication between baristas and customers. This experience inspired her, upon returning to Seoul, to want to work in coffee-related fields.

What the author values most is time alone to discover herself. In particular, the time spent using public transportation is time when she can exist entirely alone. "Since everyone is looking at their phones, I can look at everyone. Watching them is my own input time," she said, recommending, "It would be nice if everyone could have their own archive and design themselves."