[One Sip of a Book] I Want to Live Recklessly in a Strange Place

Editor's NoteSome sentences encapsulate the entire content of a book, while others instantly reach the reader's heart, creating a connection with the book. We introduce such meaningful sentences excerpted from books.

After thirty-five years of effort, the author abandons a comfortable and satisfying life, taking only a one-way ticket to New York and 6 million won in cash. In the jungle-like heart of New York, the author fiercely confronts, struggles, falls, and rises again with their own identity. The author's survival to-do list for living in an unfamiliar place is touching and refreshing. The tremors and emotions of life encountered amid chance and uncertainty, along with the resonance of mind and soul, unfold together with the pictures of New York drawn by the author. The author says that it is only when one grows based on the anxiety of unfamiliar places rather than the comfort and tranquility of familiar ones that one can discover more precious and valuable things in life.

The safe and seemingly certain present looked more like an obstacle to my growth, and I wanted to suddenly throw myself into a place full of chance and uncertainty. - From I Also Want to Live in New York at Least Once

If you have something urgent, make a reckless, determined decision focusing on just one place. It's only a matter of whether it takes a little time or a lot of time. If waiting is not a problem, the path will surely open. - From Reckless Determination

Strangeness and loneliness can sometimes be beneficial to humans. They awaken my intellectual curiosity that I had momentarily forgotten and lead me to endlessly explore the other side of my unconsciousness that I had been avoiding. - From Hurricane Sandy

Just as people can be lined up by specs and abilities but that cannot carelessly be said to be their value or everything about them, something worthless is not without value. Therefore, there is no such thing as trivial effort or insignificant existence in this world. - From Value and Worth

When teaching art to middle and high school students, there are always kids who diligently do their best. When asked why they work so hard, they shyly say, "Because I have no talent." To those kids, I say, "Didn't you know? Effort is also a talent. Not everyone can do that." Then they often burst into tears they had been holding back. To these admirable and pitiful friends, I always add, "That's right. You're not a genius. You're not a perfect scorer. But do you know this? The talent of effort you have already exceeds ninety points. Your ability is already much greater than you think." - From Another Name for Waiting

Even if every relationship ends up being the same, we meet a new version of ourselves each time. Every time we meet someone else, we discover a strange self wondering, 'Was I really like this?' Ultimately, dating is about confronting my true self. Living in a strange place, like dating, is about facing unfamiliar and strange emotions every day. It is sweet, bitter, tearful, and exhilarating. Whether it is Korea, New York, Africa, space, or the moon, wherever there is unfamiliar joy, anger, sorrow, and pleasure, that is exactly where I am. - From Unfamiliar Joy, Anger, Sorrow, and Pleasure

Leaving a familiar place and fully exposing myself where the protective shield disappears is scary and frightening. However, placing myself in an unfamiliar place is the blossoming vitality of life, resisting difficulties and paying the price, and the path to being born fully as 'me.' - From Holding on to the Difficult Side

I Want to Live Recklessly in an Unfamiliar Place | Written by Euija | Ma-eum-ui Sup | 240 pages | 16,000 won

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