[Namsan Ddalggakbari] I Was the Only One Doing Well and Living Diligently, and Now I'm Fifty...

Choi Jong-yeop's 'Analects to Read at Fifty'

The author, who believed that as long as they did well, were smart, and diligent, they had lived faithfully. The result? “Everyone became strangers.” Not only coworkers but even family members became no different from strangers. “I became an island left alone in the sea of fifty.” They thought that running tirelessly would get them there first, and then they could rest and enjoy more, but only at fifty did they realize, “Life is not a game of running without rest.” “Because it was not easy to live a debt-free life even by working to death, I realized that direction is more important than speed in life.”

Although the ancient sage Confucius became free from the world's disturbances and reached the age of wisdom at forty, most modern people, who are much smarter than those 2,500 years ago, still cannot escape the struggle for livelihood even at fifty or sixty. People in their fifties, the age of wisdom, are wandering in the halftime of life, hesitating in front of problems such as retirement, unemployment, career change, job change, failure, bankruptcy, early retirement, honorary retirement, and health. This is precisely the starting point of this book.

The author says they gained “unexpected insight” from the ‘Analects’ they happened to encounter. There was never a time or place without worries and concerns, whether king or commoner, rich or poor, and as Charles Dickens said, “Life day by day was close to a tragedy.” This is also why goals and dreams are necessary. The author says, “Having clear goals doesn’t immediately make worries and concerns disappear, but if there is a future and hope, you can muster more strength.” They add, “Although you can excuse the first half of life by saying you couldn’t live as you wished due to various constraints, the second half of life is different. In the second half, whether you do well or not, it’s your responsibility.”

“If you are hated even at forty, there is nothing more to watch in that life.” According to Confucius, at fifty, one needs to reflect on life. Or you need to check if you belong to any of the following seven types: ▲People who expose others’ bad points ▲People who slander their superiors ▲Brave but rude people ▲Bold but inflexible people ▲People who claim prejudice and consider themselves wise ▲People who consider disrespectful acts as bravery ▲People who attack others with harsh words and consider themselves upright.

Cases like those above directed at others are relatively easy to find. You can get feedback from honest people. But not being hated by oneself is more difficult and a bigger problem. ▲People over forty without a special personal brand or strengths ▲People who don’t read even one book a month ▲People suffering from pressure to resign without any plan ▲People who always say “I’m busy” but miss what is truly important in life. The author advises, “This is not an environmental problem but a strategic one,” and “You must build your personal brand before you turn fifty.”

How to do that? Become the leader of your life. The author shares three methods. First is learning. Whether enjoyable or not, learning is undoubtedly a condition for becoming a leader. The author asserts, “No one becomes a noble person without learning, and no one becomes a leader without going through a learning process.” Only those who can stand on their own can lead others. “Learning that brings the joy of growth is like a strong root that creates a happy life.”

The second is relationships. People feel true joy when they are with others. “It becomes even happier if they share the same purpose.” Of course, human relationships are not always pleasant. But at fifty, “If you become a leader, you should know how to make relationships enjoyable (...) and have the power to gather people,” the author says.

The third is not feeling hurt even if others don’t recognize you. The desire for recognition is human instinct. Even if you don’t praise others, you want to be praised. “If you wear even a small armband on your arm, that desire grows.” However, the feeling of being hurt over small things also tends to grow, and if you are ignored or criticized, you feel “hurt and resentful.” The author advises, “You must have a healthy mind that does not get angry or hurt even if others don’t recognize you.”

There is nothing new under the sun. When you reach fifty, there are hardly any new advices or teachings that come to you. However, there is a good chance you have forgotten or failed to recognize their importance. This book is filled with content that awakens important values left neglected between forgetfulness and oversight.

Originally published targeting readers in their fifties, it has expanded to a wider audience including those in their thirties and forties. A representative from Yuno Books said, “It seems to have resonated with people in their fifties by interpreting classics in a popular way. The readership is expanding as sons-in-law or sons are recommending it,” and added, “It also coincides with the New Year, gaining great response. So far, it has gone through 22 printings.”

Reading the Analects at Fifty | Written by Choi Jong-yeop | Yuno Books | 16,000 KRW

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.