A book of courage dedicated to the youth living their shining 30s!

I promise over and over again that I will go someday, but there is never a good time to leave!
Now that you desperately want to leave, 'now' is the time to leave!

Son Mina, a representative announcer of South Korea who transformed into a travel writer, has compiled the records of her one year in Spain into a book.
The reason she, who was the most active announcer, left her stable and solid path behind and boarded a plane to Spain was because her heart was so desperate that if it wasn't for 'now', she wouldn't have the courage to leave in the future.


This book is a record of the people and events that came to her like fate during her wandering youth, giving her the strength to boldly advance into the world at the age of thirty, and an honest confession about the true taste of freedom that she experienced with her whole body and soul in the embrace of the special country of Spain.

She was able to break the mold of our society that sends the unspoken message that it is now too late and step out into the wide world and grow a little. So, she wants to share the message of hope she discovered through that experience with the youth who are now shining in their 30s, and with everyone who wants to fill themselves with the passion and sparkle of their 30s.


'It was definitely a time when I felt it was too late to try something new, a time when I could have tried it at least once, even if it meant failing.
If you have the courage to shake everything off and leave, you will have the opportunity to fill it again.'

"Have you ever read Haruki Murakami's 'The Sound of a Distant Drum'? After reading it, I thought about what I could do if it weren't for 'now', and I thought it might be giving up everything and pursuing my dream, like Haruki at 37.
Actually, rather than saying you need to find something, it's just that you need to rest now, just like if you work from Monday to Saturday, you need to rest on Sunday, and if you work for a year, you need to take a vacation at least once."
---From the "Prologue"

The sun in Spain is unusually large and dazzling.
Madrid, especially in August, is like a furnace where everything burns hot under the sun.
That's understandable, because Spain is a 'hot country' that borders North Africa, although it is only a European country in name.
The sun rises at 6 a.m. and sets at 10 p.m., so the daylight hours are long. In March, which corresponds to our early spring, swimming is already possible.

---From "Where Goya and Picasso Become My Friends"

Every time I struggled to overcome difficult circumstances and achieve my dreams, I would face difficult moments, but then someone would show up and offer me unconditional kindness and encouragement.
So I decided that when I become successful one day, I should give something back to people like me when I was young.
And I saw it in you a few days ago when I met you on the plane.
We cannot allow young people pursuing their dreams to become frustrated and despair.
They say that a young person who has a dream in his heart deserves unconditional favor.

---From "Why the Senegalese Man Showed Favor"

Not worrying about the clock and the people watching, and enjoying the sunshine and freedom in the crowd.
Since becoming an announcer, a job that requires me to always be on time, neat and tidy, and in top condition in front of the microphone and camera, I've had nightmares about arriving late for live broadcasts several times a year.
I still couldn't believe that I hadn't had to fret for months, but I was definitely enjoying the sunshine and leisure in a Spanish sidewalk café, feeling the Mediterranean breeze blow in.
A gentle breeze of happiness blew through my heart.

---From "The real party starts now"

At the age of 90, I was deeply moved by the innocence of Mrs. Lolita, who blushed as she remembered her beloved man who had passed away 40 years ago.
I wondered if she could speak Korean.
“But I remember one thing.
“That’s what I said the most.”
“What is that?”
“Honey, come here~”
Tears clouded my vision.
I felt ashamed of myself for talking so carelessly about love.

---From "The Love Story of Young Ahn Ik-tae and Lolita"

When I think back on my time in Korea, there are many things I regret.
I felt sorry for myself for being so caught up in life that I had been complaining and getting annoyed, to the point where I hadn't even realized how grateful I was for where I was and what I had.
I realized that it was truly futile to have tried so hard, as if something big would happen if I didn't change things, when I could have taken a year off like this.

---From "Living Slowly"

Returning to my student life after a long time, I experienced a greater sense of freedom and accomplishment than ever before, and gained the confidence that I could still do anything.
I also built deep friendships with many kind friends and filled my heart with heart-fluttering memories.
I read books and watched movies until I was sick of them, danced to my heart's content when I was happy, and cried when I was sad without worrying about whether my eyes would puff up during the next broadcast.
I was truly happy.

---From "Adios, Barcelona"