It’s crazy to realize that it’s been four years since I traveled to South Korea. What a lovely two weeks that was, and it’s a shame that I haven’t gone back since. Obviously, the pandemic stole what will be two years of prime travel opportunity. I think it’s very likely the first place I fly to, once it is all possible again, will be back to Seoul.
I miss that country very dearly. And with four additional years of Korean language learning under me, I think I will have an even better experience the second time around. Like going to places the foreign tourists don’t usually frequent.
It goes to show just how long it takes for things to happen in our lives. We are so caught up with cheats and shortcuts, but ultimately anything that is good and great takes many years to achieve. Whatever grand plans you have takes time to execute; meanwhile, your everyday life is still as mundane and Groundhog Day-like as ever. I think it’s easy to be frustrated with such gradual change. This age of ADD and constant connection do not contribute well to waiting.
I probably would have raged if I were told back in 2017 that it would be another four plus years before I would go back to Korea again. That sort of time horizon just isn’t satisfactory to this culture of you only live once and wanting to fit as much life into the shortest timeframe as possible. This is why I spent six-figures on a Porsche 911 GT3 probably a full year before I was completely ready. Because I was unhappy with the sameness of life, and needed something new, big, and exciting.
I’ve changed my mindset since then. I understand that things take time to develop, and goals worthy of pursuit have horizons that stretch out in multiple years. The typical day-to-day life is going to be the same week after week, so I might as well be happy about that and get on with it. Be grateful that I even get to do any of this in the first place.
A well-worn shoe.