One Swing Philosophy — What Golf Taught Me About Life

Today, my golf bag stayed home. Instead, a 20-liter sprayer rode in the back of my car. I drove to my Hwangchil tree field, where I have been taking care of my trees for the past seven years. I spent about two hours spraying weeds and cleaning around the trees. To many people, two hours may not sound like much. But during Korea's rainy season, those two hours feel much longer. The weather is hot, humid, and exhausting. Before I even leave home, I already know how hard the work will be. Interestingly, winter and spring are different. Working in the field during those seasons is actually enjoyable. The air is cool, and the trees seem to grow quietly with me. Summer tells a different story. The weeds grow incredibly fast. If I ignore them for just a few weeks, they quickly take over the field. Nature never takes a vacation. So neither can the person who cares for it. Fortunately, experience has helped me. Handling a 20-liter sprayer no longer feels difficult. But it ...

There is a common belief that money allows us to do what we want. But in reality, money often works in the opposite way. It gives us the freedom not to do what we don’t want. Not to go where we don’t belong. Not to stay where we feel uncomfortable. Not to compromise our values just to survive. That alone changes everything. Money is not just a tool for consumption. It quietly becomes a sponsor of our mental state. When your financial ground is stable, your mind is no longer pulled in ten different directions. You can focus. You can stay present. You can choose. And that is where real performance begins. Think about a single golf shot. To stay committed to one swing, your mind needs to be calm, steady, and undistracted. But if your life outside the course is unstable— if money is constantly pulling at your thoughts— that calm doesn’t exist. The swing may look the same, but the mind behind it is completely different. Yes, sometimes golf or small moments of hap...

Some mornings feel like an entire day. Today was one of them. I started the morning by walking my two dogs. It was a peaceful way to begin the day. Then I met a friend at the driving range. As we had planned, we practiced together before brunch. The best part was that I rediscovered the rhythm of my full swing. That alone made me happy. Later, I met another close friend at Tomorrow Café. We enjoyed a delicious brunch with a beautiful ocean view and agreed that it has the best view and the nicest interior among the cafés we've visited. Our conversation wasn't about shopping or travel. Instead, we laughed while talking about weeds, grass trimmers, and taking care of our tree lands. Since we both manage our own small fields, we understood each other perfectly. Sometimes, the most ordinary conversations become the most enjoyable ones. Then came the funniest moment of the day. One of my golf friends called me. She said, "I think the putter inside my putter cover i...

One Swing Philosophy – A Journey of Healing (Part 3/3) When I was younger, I thought people became wiser as they grew older. Later, I believed something different. I thought people simply became more fixed in their ways. I imagined that once I reached my 60s, my philosophy of life would never change again. I was wrong. At 60, I have been surprised by my own heart. Instead of becoming harder, I have become softer. Instead of becoming more cynical, I have become more hopeful. The warmth and innocence I thought I had lost many years ago have quietly returned. That has been one of the biggest surprises of my life. Golf helped me understand why. When I lose my natural rhythm, I try to control every shot. My swing becomes tight, and the game stops being enjoyable. But when I trust my swing again, I don't become a different golfer. I simply return to my natural rhythm. Perhaps our hearts are the same. Healing doesn't always create a new person. Sometimes, healing brings us back to the...

One Swing Philosophy – A Journey of Healing (Part 2/3) For a long time, I believed that good people were rare. After being disappointed many times, I stopped expecting too much from relationships. I wasn't angry. I was simply tired. So I chose a quieter life. I spent more time with myself, my two dogs, and golf. Without realizing it, I was learning something important. I was learning how to enjoy my own company. Little by little, I became emotionally independent. I no longer needed someone else to make me feel complete. Then something unexpected happened. This year, I started meeting kind and thoughtful people. At first, I wondered, "Did people suddenly become kinder?" I don't think so. Maybe they were always there. The difference was me. As my heart became healthier, I could finally recognize them. Golf reminds me of this lesson every time I play. When my swing loses its rhythm, every hole looks difficult. I force my shots, make poor decisions, and lose confidence. B...

One Swing Philosophy – A Journey of Healing (Part 1/3) For many years, I slowly gave up expecting too much from people. When I was younger, I trusted people easily. I believed that kindness would naturally be returned. But life taught me something different. Like many people, I experienced disappointment. Sometimes I was appreciated only when I was the one giving help, support, or time. After several painful experiences, I stopped believing that I would find many truly good relationships. So I made a different choice. I stopped looking for people. Instead, I spent more time with myself, my two dogs, and golf. At first, I thought I was simply protecting myself. Now I realize I was also healing. Golf quietly taught me an important lesson. When I try too hard to force a perfect shot, my swing loses its rhythm. The harder I try, the worse my swing becomes. Relationships can be similar. When we feel lonely, we naturally want someone to fill that empty space. But I don't think loneliness...

Today was supposed to be a nine-hole golf day. The weather forecast, however, had different plans. Rain was on its way, so I stayed home instead. Surprisingly, I didn't feel disappointed. My younger sister had brought me some fresh potatoes and vegetables, so I made potato pancakes, boiled an egg, and enjoyed a glass of tomato juice. After breakfast, I made myself a small iced café latte and quietly sat down to write. It already felt like a wonderful morning. Then I stepped outside. For more than a week now, three or four beautiful white butterflies have been visiting my yard every day. They flutter gently from flower to flower, enjoying the colorful blossoms without a care in the world. Of course, I know their caterpillars have been very busy. They almost finished one section of my vegetable garden. A few years ago, I probably would have been frustrated. Today, I simply smiled. Maybe the caterpillars were hungry. Maybe the butterflies are simply living the life they w...

[My vegetable garden after pulling the weeds] This morning, I took my two Jindo dogs for a walk as usual. When I came back home, I looked at my vegetable garden. The butterflies had already eaten most of my vegetables, and the weeds had grown everywhere. For several days, I kept telling myself, "I'll do it tomorrow." It was too hot. Too humid. I felt tired. I always had another excuse. Finally, I rolled up my sleeves and made one small promise to myself. "Just 30 minutes." At first, I only planned to clean one side of the garden. But once I started, I couldn't stop. When I finally looked at my watch, I had been pulling weeds for a full hour. Thankfully, I finished around 7 a.m., just before the summer sun became too strong. Looking at the clean garden made me feel lighter, almost like a student who had just finished homework. Later, I watched The Open on TV. The beautiful rhythm of the professional golfers reminded me that every good swing...

Today, the sun finally came out after many humid days. Without wasting a minute, I carried all of Ruby and Rich's beds and cushions outside to dry in the sunshine. Seeing everything under the bright summer sky made me smile. Ruby and Rich are now shedding their fur, so I brush them almost every day after our walks. Their coats stay clean, especially Ruby's beautiful white fur. Ruby has always been a funny girl. Many dogs happily step into puddles, but Ruby carefully walks around them. She always chooses the cleanest path. Sometimes, I think she behaves more like a cat than a dog. Both Ruby and Rich are also very polite at home. They have never jumped onto my sofa or bed. They don't dig up my vegetable garden or break flower pots. Most of the time, they quietly lie on the floor or rest on their own beds. When the weather is nice, they simply enjoy spending time in the yard. People often tell me, "Your dogs are so well-behaved." I smile whenever I he...

Last night, a parcel arrived at my home. It was a big box of sweet pumpkins from my younger sister. This morning, I decided to make sweet pumpkin soup. The weather was cloudy and very humid. Standing in front of a big pot wasn't easy, and I found myself sweating as the soup slowly cooked. As I stirred the pot, I smiled. Not because cooking was easy. But because I no longer felt the need to hurry. There was a time when I hurried through almost everything. To achieve more. To understand faster. To become better. To be seen. To be loved. But as I have grown older, something inside me has quietly changed. I no longer rush. Not in golf. Not in relationships. Not even in everyday life. A pot of soup cannot be rushed. It needs time, gentle heat, and a little patience. Perhaps life is the same. When the soup was finally ready, I divided it into three containers and sent a photo to my younger sister. I wanted her to know that every pumpkin she had sent had become a warm meal. Sometimes, a s...

Back to My True Self For a long time, I thought I was simply becoming older and more responsible. Now I realize that wasn't the whole story. I had simply drifted away from my true self. But this year... I'm back. After I moved back to my hometown, something in me slowly changed. I became much more careful about what I said and how I behaved. My family was here. Many people knew me. I was teaching young students, and I felt responsible for protecting my reputation. Without realizing it, I began to censor myself. Before returning home, I had lived much more freely. In Seoul and later in the United States, I felt comfortable expressing my thoughts and simply being myself. But for nearly a decade, I lived a quieter version of my life. Not because someone forced me to. Perhaps because I thought I had to. This year, something changed. Through new golf friends, countless moments of laughter, and writing my stories in English, I remembered who I used to be. I realize...

There are many ways to connect with people, but in my life, I have found two especially meaningful tools: Golf and English. At first, I thought they were simply hobbies or skills—one for enjoyment, and one for communication. But over time, I realized they are much more than that. They are bridges. They help me connect with people I have never met before, often more quickly and naturally than I ever expected. On a golf course, even strangers can become friendly within a few holes. A simple “Nice shot.” A shared laugh after a missed putt. A small conversation while walking down the fairway. Without trying too hard, the distance between people begins to disappear. English works in a similar way. Even when we come from different countries, backgrounds, or cultures, a common language creates immediate understanding. Sometimes the English is not perfect. Sometimes the conversations are simple. But that hardly matters. What matters is the willingness to connect. And when golf...

Yesterday, I spent a relaxing day with a close friend. We enjoyed fresh seafood by the sea and shared good conversations at a café. It was a happy day, but today brought me back to my favorite place—my small garden. After several days of rain, my perilla plants had grown so quickly. I picked a basket full of fresh leaves and made seasoned perilla leaves with plenty of garlic. The garlic came from my younger sister, which made the side dish even more special. Simple food always reminds me that happiness doesn't have to be expensive. In a couple of hours, I'll be teaching my students. It will be a busy morning, but I enjoy this rhythm of life. Tomorrow, I have a golf appointment. The weather forecast says a typhoon may bring rain, so our round might be canceled. I'm quietly hoping for a break in the weather. If the rain stays away this afternoon, I'll visit the driving range for a short practice. I don't need a perfect swing. I just want to keep my body ...

When we are young, we often have the courage to take risks. We make mistakes. We fall. We learn. Little by little, we build our own wisdom. Later in life, we begin to realize something different. Success is no longer about gaining more. It is about appreciating more. We protect what we have. We enjoy simple moments. We become grateful for ordinary days. And perhaps the greatest joy is this: Encouraging someone else who is still walking the path we once walked. Because even one warm word can make another person's journey a little lighter. And when we encourage each other, our happiness quietly grows together.  KR Version 인생의 계절 젊은 시절에는 과감하게 도전하고, 실수하고, 넘어지며 많은 것을 배웁니다. 그 과정은 때로는 힘들고 외롭지만, 그 경험들이 결국 나만의 삶의 지혜 가 됩니다. 시간이 흐르면, 우리는 조금씩 깨닫게 됩니다. 행복은 더 많이 가지는 데 있는 것이 아니라, 이미 가진 것을 감사하며 살아가는 데 있다는 것 을. 그리고 그때부터는 누군가를 이기기보다, 누군가를 응원하는 일이 더 큰 기쁨이 됩니다. 왜냐하면 우리 모두는 서로 다른 길을 걷고 있지만, 그 여정 속에서 느끼는 기쁨과 두려움, 희망과 성장은 생각보다 많이 닮아 있기 때문입니다. 따뜻한 말 한마디는 누군가의 하루를 바꿀 수 있고, 서로를...

Today, the rain came down hard all day. My English lessons were off, and for once, I had nowhere to go. So I stayed home, slowed down, and watched a long Chinese movie. Sometimes, unexpected pauses give us exactly what we need. At the very end of the movie, I heard a line that stayed with me: No one is given a perfect life. But there can still be beauty, joy, and quiet confidence. Something about those words touched me deeply, just like no one has a perfect golf swing. Maybe because golf has taught me the same lesson again and again. We all want perfection. A perfect shot. A perfect round. A perfect life. We imagine that if everything goes right, then we will finally feel peaceful. But life doesn’t work that way. And neither does golf. Even the best players miss fairways. Even the strongest people have uncertain days. The swing can feel off. The mind can feel tired. The weather can change everything. And yet, there can still be beauty. There is beauty in continuin...