[One Thousand Characters a Day] Until the Last Day of Life <1>

Editor's NoteHong Shin-ja, a world-renowned artist, Korea's first avant-garde dancer, and a meditator who walked the path of spiritual seeking in India, has published an essay to mark her 50th debut anniversary. With significantly fewer days ahead than those lived, she reflects on her fulfilling past and aims to convey the value of freedom to future generations like us. To those who ask, "How can I live freely?" she shares how to express emotions and oneself, how to enjoy sexuality properly and love, how to empty desires and live lightly, and finally, how to become familiar with death. Word count: 926.

Every day, I feel freer than I was yesterday. When I open my eyes, I inevitably face physical discomforts and awkwardness, but I open my eyes with a lighter spirit than before. Then I think about what I need to do today. If I had drawn a line in advance and decided to stop at that point and rest, I would not have opened my eyes with such a spirit. I have never lived by setting a limit of "this much is enough." Having lived 83 years and come this far, rather than thinking "let's just eat well and stay healthy," I wanted to become freer.

Every day, I think about today more than yesterday. I look again and feel again the things I see and sense when I open my eyes, even the small discomforts arising inside my body. My 80s are different from my 20s, but I try to look at what is in front of me with the same attitude. In that sense, life has no end. I do not know how much longer I will live. This is true regardless of age or for others as well. I just believe there is still some way to go. Until the moment I die, I will strive to free my body and mind. I have not set any limits, and the road ahead is still long.

Having fully embraced 83 years with my body and mind, what I can say now is that living to 83 is not a bad thing. There is still a tomorrow to move toward, and I love my life enough right now. When I open my eyes, the sunlight shining down, the deep and wide sky fully open, and the earth accepting everything as it is... and all the nature I cannot help but worship, my shrunken back compared to before, even my naked body.

I was born free, so I will be free when I die. I still live with the thought that I must become freer throughout my life. This writing is about the days called today, always, for me and for freedom.

- Hong Shin-ja, Until the Last Day of Life, Dasan Books, 17,500 KRW

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