I’ve always had a series of nagging questions lining up in my brain, such as “Why aren’t you a good runner?” or “Why don’t you have a regular job?”. I’ve wanted to change in the past, but somehow never got around to it. Well, “Why don’t you blog regularly?” is another one which is right up there. You may have noticed that sentiment running through this blog since its inception in 2004. I’ll get there, I really will.
Nevertheless, it seems headway is being made on other fronts. I’m running fairly regularly and am feeling fitter. I have gone from almost dying running up a hill, to running 5.5km in 37 minutes, to running the same course in 25. It’s still pretty slow, but I don’t stop and walk any more and progress like that is a great feeling.
I’m also rising earlier and more consistently than I have ever done before. Of course, these are normal things that normal people in normal jobs do, but for me, having lived a life of 11am awakenings, brunch at 1-ish followed by a few hours of glorified babysitting as an English teacher, followed by a dinner at 10 and eventual sleep at 3am, it’s quite a shift. I teach and get respect, I work legally with a visa and I even spend time preparing for classes.
It’s also been a little thorn in my side that I can’t speak Korean. At first it was understandable, I knew a little, enough to get by, enough even to joke around. But now it’s no joke. Having spent a good 4 years in this country and still be unable to put a sentence together is really getting embarrassing. So, of late I have dusted off the various books I had previously bought in various fits of studiousness and cracked them open for a peek. When I find some time, I may even enroll in something. 지금 í•œê¸€ë§ ì•„ì§ë„ 못하면, 곧 í• ê²Œë‹¤…
Life is about balance and fitting in what you can to limited time. Limited time and limited money leads to compromises. As a person who always wanted to do everything, I’ve struggled with the overwhelming lack of time available to tackle it. However, what I missed for so long is the actual wealth of time that exists by getting up at a reasonable time of day. Not only that, but the wealth of energy you get from eating regular decent meals. That you do something, anything is vitally important, for it gives you the confidence that some progress can be made in an area of your choosing.
Now, just for the wealth of money that comes with a regular job…
