“I want to be a generous adult who knows how to look after myself.”
To keep the line, cherish myself, and focus on happiness

The new essay by Seo-young Choi, "To You Who Can't Be Good," which has held the number one spot on the bestseller list at bookstores for a long time and has comforted and resonated with countless readers, has finally been published.

Author Seo-young Choi, known for her characteristic honesty and bright energy, has also been pondering the age-old question, "How can I live well?" as she grows older, and has been deeply contemplating her attitude toward life.
As I met various people of different genders, ages, and occupations, I naturally learned that the difference between the 'older people' around me and the 'real adults' is 'dignity'.
So, the author, who slowly began to think about dignity from various perspectives, realized that 'dignity' is not a one-dimensional appearance or grand decoration, but rather comes from one's mindset, speech, attitude, posture, beliefs, and gaze.
So I'm just now realizing that the most important thing is to take care of yourself, train yourself, and find something to learn from everyone.


It's more important how I treat myself than what other people think.
I will savor the momentary happiness without delay, find new things to learn everywhere, and live each day faithfully without being impatient.
If you don't feel anxious and just do one thing a day, you will be satisfied with having spent it meaningfully. These days accumulate to make you stronger than yesterday and build your dignity.
As readers read this book, they will also be able to follow the author's increasingly mature perspective and realize that they must first cherish themselves and treat themselves with dignity.

In this new book, the author has collected new writings on the theme of 'dignity' and several pieces he would like to share with readers, adding new meaning to them.
The author says that the 'past me' who made mistakes that were too embarrassing to even think about, the 'past me' who was embarrassed when he was young and clumsy, and the 'past me' who constantly struggled to grow and pushed himself out of the world despite all that, came together to become the 'me' of today.
The author's new work, filled with affectionate words that honestly reveal the face of growth and embrace the world beyond one's inner and outer self, will reach out to readers who are a little weary of life and gently pat them on the back.

It is clear that the seeds of bad adulthood are planted in everyone.
The moment you become reckless, thinking that you have lived a little longer and experienced a little more, that seed will grow quickly.
Perhaps we can avoid becoming undignified adults by making the effort to listen and be humble as a default, making wise use of the time that has passed.
Everyone gets old, but not everyone becomes an adult.
--- p.17 From “I Don’t Want to Become a Dignified Adult”

I don't think of myself as a complete person now.
I still make mistakes and sometimes I lie down before going to bed and replay the scenes of regretting them.
However, I believe I am making progress in that I am less likely to hate myself than I used to be.
It's okay to be imperfect, and we can be beautiful even with our flaws.
--- p.31 From "Hugging My Past Self"

Something to give me a little rest before I pass out from exhaustion.
Resting is also a feeling.
If I ignore that feeling and just move forward, I will only become blurred.
Stopping and then returning to daily life by my own choice, without being forced by anyone.
This is my way of thinking about relaxation.
--- p.92 From “The Sense of Rest”

At first, I thought they were just good people, but as time went by, I realized that the wonderful things I saw were skills they had honed over time and a character they had built up over time.
When I meet good people, I feel like I can learn their good thoughts, habits, and healthy desires, and eventually become a good person like them.
--- p.107 From "People I Want to Be Like"

I often meet people who say they have nothing they like or are good at.
But there are many cases where the things you like and are good at are already integrated into your life.
It's just that I didn't see it properly because I was too used to it or thought it wasn't anything special.
In the questions we overlook, there are my senses I didn't know I had, talents and interests I didn't realize I had.
The moment you realize that, you may find a clue to 'doing something you like and are good at', which had previously felt difficult.
--- p.174 From “Questions to Find Hidden Talents”

So the world is only visible to the extent that we know.
I judged the world based on my narrow worldly common sense.
This realization has given me a deeper respect for the people I work with.
Isn't becoming a member of society not simply about quickly learning and becoming good at a job, but rather a process of learning about the complexities of human existence?


I believe that if we treat each other with a little more affection and a little more understanding, the daily struggles we face to make a living will become less daunting than they are now.

--- p.235 From “Be Kind to One Another”