Category: Essay

New Year’s resolutions of Koreans have three regular guests: reading, learning English, and working out.

Since around the end of last year, I’ve seen quite a lot of people declaring these on SNS, and then I realized something.

My New Year’s resolution doesn’t have those three popular items anymore.

I am just doing them every day, without really trying or thinking about it. I read books in the morning and in the evening before going to bed, listen to English audiobooks and read English books as part of learning English (and reading, obviously), and have minimal workout routines including 20 Judo pushups, 2-minute squats, and 30 to 40 minutes of running.

My way of living seems to be alright.

Living an effortless life with some daily routines is something to cherish.
(Right? I’m talking to you. Yes, you – me in the past without any real habits.)

 

English is just a tool. It always has been, and it always should be.

There is no such thing as ‘true mastery’ in language. I’ve never been to that territory yet, but since I haven’t even mastered my native language (Korean), I am pretty sure this is not the case for English either.

I can travel around the world without using translation apps for the most part; I can express my thoughts quite freely, and I can work in English. Yet, it is not enough. It never is. I always want to make it a little better, more easily.

Still, I am telling myself that English is just a tool.

For the things I want to have – whatever they may be, it is just a tool I learn how to use and use freely.

I read the news aloud, listen to audiobooks, and read books in English today, tomorrow, and pretty much every day.

I am doing all of these, thinking I will be a little better at this tool.

And I also think that someday I will not be conscious of this tool at all while using it.

An essay is about trying, experimenting, and well, thinking.

For the millionth time, I’m trying to force myself to build the habit of writing an essay.

I don’t have time to write an essay, but do I really?

For something important or something fun, I can make time. I SHOULD make time.

Therefore, I am trying again.

No. I am doing it again.

I can write something, some tiny bit of something every day.

Ready, and go.