Imagine having the opportunity to make corrections and adjustments in your life—that’s the concept behind Lovely Runner. It’s a charming and enjoyable drama brimming with lessons that we can apply to our own lives. So, what are the lessons from Lovely Runner?
The Story
Meet Sol, our female protagonist, a devoted fan of the K-pop idol Sun-jae. For years, Sol has managed life’s challenges by drawing inspiration from her idol. So, it’s only natural that she would be deeply devastated by Sun-jae’s untimely death. By a sudden twist of fate, she finds herself transported back to high school, where Sun-jae and she were once neighbors. Will she be able to alter the course of the future?
Lessons From Lovely Runner
If only life offered us the chance to alter the past, it could be better for many. While reality doesn’t work that way, we can still gain valuable lessons from the show Lovely Runner. More than just a typical romantic comedy adventure, the drama provides valuable lessons and insights that can help us navigate our own lives.
Here are Lessons From Lovely Runner:
1. Importance of Mindfulness
Mindfulness involves being fully aware and present in the moment. Often, our minds drift to the past or the future, which not only causes stress but also leads us to miss opportunities and lessons available in the present.
In Lovely Runner, Sol only discovers upon traveling back to the past that Sun-jae was actually her neighbor. She spent years idolizing someone who seemed out of reach, not realizing she could have easily befriended him when they were both just ordinary high school students. She had been caught up in her own little world in the past that she failed to notice the people around her including Sun-jae who actually has a secret crush on her. Had she been more mindful, she wouldn’t have missed such a valuable opportunity.
How about you? How many opportunities have you missed? Have you ever lost someone because you took their presence for granted? Being mindful can help us recognize and cherish the moments and connections that matter most. It will also help us easily identify any opportunity that comes our way.
2. Do Your Best The First Time
Second chances offer a rare and valuable opportunity to correct past mistakes and start anew. They provide a moment to reflect, learn, and grow from previous experiences, allowing us to make better choices and embrace new possibilities. However, the opportunity to have a second chance in life is rare and often limited to a few fortunate individuals. Sol is incredibly lucky to not only travel back to the past but also possess knowledge of the future. She returns with a clear goal and a problem to address.
For the rest of us, however, we shouldn’t wait for a second chance. Strive to do your best the first time around and cherish your loved ones while you still can. And if you ever are given a second chance, seize the opportunity to make positive changes, rectify errors, and create a more fulfilling path forward.
3. Create Genuine Connections with People
Forming authentic relationships is crucial in our lives. Genuine connections go beyond superficial interactions, offering real understanding, empathy, and support. These connections enrich our lives, provide emotional strength, and create a sense of belonging.
Look what happened to Sun-jae. Despite having a successful career, vast wealth and immense popularity; he was not happy and fulfilled at all. Although there are many people around him, he shares no genuine connection with anyone at all.
In a world where meaningful relationships can sometimes be overlooked, prioritizing genuine connections can make all the difference. A chance to rewrite the past reveals a deeper and more meaningful relationship between Sol and Sun-jae. Instead of merely admiring Sol from a distance, Sun-jae finds himself opening up to her, sharing his dreams, aspirations, struggles, and vulnerabilities.
4. Every Action No Matter How Small Matters
We often take small things for granted. But in the grand scheme of things, a simple smile just like the flap of a butterfly’s wings can set off a chain of reactions leading to substantial differences in the future. This is the butterfly effect. It is a concept that states that small changes or actions can have significant and far-reaching consequences over time.
Sol’s journey into the past has forged an entirely new pathway for the future. Every small decision she makes creates a ripple effect, altering the course of events yet to come.
The same principle applies to all of us. Whether we choose to act on something or procrastinate, reach out to a friend or watch television, start a new project or improve on an existing one, every decision—big or small—can have a profound impact on our lives and the world around us. So make every moment count.
5. Chase Your Dreams
Yes, dreams can come true, but the path to achieving them is rarely a straight line. Pursuing your dreams involves more than just envisioning a future; it requires taking proactive steps toward achieving your goals. It means embracing passion, persevering through challenges, and staying focused on what truly matters to you.
However, expect bumps and challenges along the way. It’s through overcoming these obstacles that you grow and move closer to your goals. Sometimes, you have to learn to trust the Universe that there is a better plan for you. Simply follow where life is leading you. Just as with Sun-jae, even though his career as a swimmer came to an end, a new path emerged that allowed him to shine in other ways.
What are you waiting for? Grab a tissue and start watching Lovely Runner.
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Image Credit: Lovely Runner poster of CJ ENM drama
Many people love watching romantic dramas. It is so heartwarming to see the lead couple meet, bicker, fall in love and then finally get together. We laugh, we cry and we feel good when the leads get their well-deserved happy ending. They make you want to experience falling in love all over again. However, we all know that reality is not like that. The truth is maintaining a relationship requires more than just loving one another. It requires commitment, compatibility, hard work, patience, shared values, trust, and so many others. Some of these things you can actually learn from watching Korean romantic dramas. Here are Korean dramas with lessons on love and relationships. Just a reminder before reading, there are spoilers ahead.
1.Cunning Single Lady (2014)
This is a story about Na Ae Ra, a divorced woman who is having a hard time trying to make ends meet and Jung Woo, her ex-husband who is a top rich businessman. It is a drama about ex-lovers who are still living in the pain of their divorce and yet too proud to admit that they still have feelings for one another.
In a marriage, both husband and wife have roles to fulfill. If these duties are not met, conflict arises. Generally in many cultures, the husband is supposed to be the provider and protector of the family. If the husband cannot fulfill these duties, it is normally the wife who suffers the most. It will be too much for the wife to handle if she will have to take on the role of the husband in addition to the duties that are expected from her as a wife.
Another lesson from the story is the importance of communication. Good communication is an integral part of any healthy relationship. Couples can refrain from needless arguments. It can prevent misunderstanding. It can also make resolving conflicts easier. The leads were only able to settle their differences when they started to understand one another.
2. Go Back Couple (2017)
Go Back Couple is the story of husband Choi Ban-do and wife Ma Jin-joo. They met each other as university students, fell in love and married each other. Unfortunately, things didn’t work out the way they imagined it to be. Now, they are both frustrated, exhausted and unhappy with their relationship.
In the drama, the two found themselves back to their 20 year old selves and were given a chance to redo their lives. Unfortunately for us, this does not happen in real life. We can no longer undo what we had done in the past but we can always correct it. The “happy ever after” in fairy tales is not guaranteed. A relationship needs work. Everyday is a decision. Every little thing that you do to your partner on a daily basis can pile up. And in the future, it can make or break the relationship.
The lesson here is to never take your partner for granted. It is so easy to be caught up with life that sometimes we forget that relationships need nurturing. Show your appreciation, say you love your partner, share stories about your day, give them a hug, surprise them and go on dates. These are just some things that you can do for your partner to make them feel that they are not alone. And equally important too is to love yourself. Stay beautiful, take care of your body and pursue your passion. Marriage does not mean forgetting your individuality. Remember, you cannot love somebody truly from a place of lack.
3. Hometown Cha-Cha-Cha (2021)
Yoon Hye-Jin is a successful doctor from Seoul who ended up resigning from her job after she got into a conflict with a senior dentist. She could not find a single job in Seoul so she opened up a clinic at a provincial seaside village. There she met Hong Du-Sik, an unemployed handyman who helps people around the village. For someone who values wealth and success, the drama showed how a person like Yoon Hye-Jin had a hard time adjusting to the simple village life.
Just like Yoon Hye-Jin, we are all programmed by society to subconsciously judge people based on their wealth and success. The same is true when looking for relationships. For many people a perfect partner is someone who is wealthy and successful. But is that what truly matters in life? Does a successful and wealthy partner guarantee a lifetime of happiness? This drama teaches us that the house, car and title of a person is not the true worth of a person. Sometimes, true happiness can be found in the simplest of things.
4. My ID is Gangnam Beauty (2018)
Gangnam Beauty is a deregatory term in South Korea pertaining to people who are beautiful only because they underwent several plastic surgeries. In this drama, Kang Mi-rae is a college student who has been bullied all her life because of her looks. She decided to change all that by undergoing multiple plastic surgeries to become attractive.
Although Kang Mi-rae succeeded in changing her outer appearance, her insecurities are still there. No matter how beautiful you are on the outside, it does not matter at all if you feel bad about yourself.
Self-esteem is important not only in our general well-being but in a relationship as well. A low self-esteem will lead to misunderstandings and lack of self-confidence. Just like Mi-rae, she had a hard time believing that somebody who is handsome and popular like Do Kyung-Seok will actually like her. When you feel bad about yourself, you will have insecurities in the relationship. You will be more anxious. There is a tendency to be clingy and over jealous. You will have trust issues. You need to develop your self-esteem first before you can be in a healthy relationship.
5. Our Beloved Summer (2021)
What happens when the best and the worst students in class ended up dating? In the drama Our Beloved Summer, the relationship of Choi Woong and Kook Yeon-Soo ended. Surely this is bound to happen when one person is driven and ambitious while the other one is free-spirited and laid back. Ten years later, they ended up working together to shoot a sequel to the documentary video that went viral when they were in high school. But this time, the situation was switched. Genius Kook Yeon-Soo is an employee at a small firm while Choi Woong is a highly successful incognito artist. Will there be a second chance for the two of them?
Are you totally honest with your beloved? The reason why their relationship failed is that both leads are wounded souls who were not totally honest with one another. Kook Yeon-Soo grew up in poverty with her grandmother. Beneath her achievements lies an insecure individual. She hid this fact from her peers including Choi Woong. Woong on the other hand, is actually an abandoned child. The trauma of being abandoned by his father is still with him. And like Kook Yeon-Seo, he also kept this side of him a secret. Since neither of them were fully honest with one another; the relationship is bound to crumble because they do not understand where the other is coming from.
The lesson here is again authenticity and honesty. Maintaining a social mask in front of your lover is doomed to failure. A successful relationship is based on trust, honesty and being true to one’s self.
6. The King 2 Hearts (2012)
The King 2 Hearts is about a South Korean prince, Lee Jae-ha who fell in love with a North Korean special agent, Kim Hang-ah. The two characters are polar opposites. They have different personalities, economic and social status, nationalities, upbringing and even ideologies but in the end, they did manage to work through their differences.
While it is true that opposites attract, many believe that such a relationship will not last long. After all, it is easier to work on a relationship where the couple share a lot of things in common. On the contrary, just like the couple in the drama, opposite personalities can work well together. They can complement and encourage one another. They can also compensate for each other’s weaknesses. The key here is that there should be mutual respect and commitment. Both parties must be willing to compromise and understand each other’s differences.
7. Twenty-Five, Twenty-One (2022)
Love is not just about finding the perfect partner, it is also about perfect timing. Even if you did find the perfect person, if you still have a purpose to fulfill in life; then the two of you cannot be together – at least not yet in some cases. It is normal to start a relationship with someone right away if you love a person. But sometimes, it pays to wait. What if you are not ready or the other person is not yet ready? Being in such a relationship can only lead to heartbreak.
This is what happened with the main couple in this drama. Na Hee Do’s high school fencing team got disbanded; which is supposed to be her stepping stone to enter the national fencing team. On the other hand, Baek Yi Jin’s family business went bankrupt amidst the South Korean Financial crisis. Two broken souls met each other. They became each other’s support in the face of these difficult times.
Although the couple did not get their “happy ever after” towards the end of the drama; how the couple supported each other’s realize their dreams and become better persons is truly an inspiration. Just because the couple did not end up together, it doesn’t diminish the fact that their love was not real. Life’s journey is really like that, we meet significant people along the way but it does not necessarily mean that they will be beside us every step of the way until the end of our life. What is important is the impact that they have had in our lives.
8. Two Outs in the Ninth Inning (2007)
Hong Nan Hee and Byun Hung Tae have been best friends since childhood. They are there for each other in their ups and downs. Both of them have seen each other’s best and worst. They laugh, cry, comfort one another, criticize each other and fight with one another. Due to unavoidable circumstances, Hong Nan Hee moved into Byun Hung Tae’s apartment. And soon, they began to develop romantic feelings for one another.
That is how it is with human relationships, people tend to look for the right one everywhere when they fail to notice the person that is right in front of them. Sometimes, we don’t need to look far. The perfect person for us might just be right in front of us all along. It is just that we never really noticed before.
9. Weightlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo (2016)
Inspired by the true to life story of a South Korean Olympic Gold medalist, the drama is about a group of young athletes fighting for their dreams. Kim Bok-Joo is a weightlifter who found herself enrolling in a Weight Loss Clinic in order to be near the man of her dreams. As a weightlifter she is supposed to be gaining weight. But because she is trying to impress the guy that she likes, she tried losing weight. Although she did not end up with the man of her dreams, she did find the love of her life through her childhood friend, Jung Joon-hyung.
Kim Bok-Joo tried to change herself in order to be noticed by the man of her dreams. She even had to compromise her dream. Should you change yourself for someone you love? The answer is no. If you try to change for somebody, you might end up losing yourself in the process. If somebody really loves you, he/she will accept you for who you are. If change needs to be done, you should change for you, not because of someone else. Just like Kim Bok-Joo, there will be somebody out there who will love you for who you are.You will only find the perfect partner if you are being true to yourself.
10. Wonderful Life (2005)
This is a story about two strangers, Han Seung Wan and Jung Se Jin who ended up sleeping together while on a trip. The girl got pregnant and decided to keep the baby. As a result, they were forced to get married by the parents for the baby’s sake. The story showed how the couple navigate their way through challenges in their married life.
There is a season for everything. It is a part of the natural cycle of life. There is a season to study and find yourself and a season to be single and focus on your career. And, there is a season for starting a family. Problems arise if you will not follow the seasons in life, just like what happened to the lead couple.
The couple in the story had to struggle a lot because of the unwanted marriage and unprepared parenthood. The natural course in life for couples is that you fall in love, you get married and then have children but this couple had it backwards. In addition, all these things happened when they were too young to start a family and still in the process of pursuing their dreams and aspirations.
If you follow the season of life, there will still be challenges, but at least you will be equipped and mature enough to handle whatever life has in store for you.
How about you? Are there other Korean dramas with lessons on love and relationship that you can recommend?
Are you spiritually well? People are so busy with life that they tend to forget that there is more to life than making a living. That is what spirituality is all about. Spirituality gives meaning to our existence. But what really is spirituality? Why do we need spiritual wellness in our lives? A simple way of learning spirituality is through the story of Pinocchio.
The Story of Pinocchio
Are you familiar with the story of Pinocchio? Pinocchio is a classic children’s novel written by Italian author and journalist C. Collodi. Pinocchio is popularly known as the little wooden boy whose nose grows big each time he tells a lie.
The story started with a wood carver named Geppetto who created a wooden marionette and called him Pinocchio. A marionette is a puppet controlled by strings. Since Geppetto is old and alone; he wished for Pinocchio to become a real boy. This wish was granted by a fairy. The fairy gave Pinocchio life but he is to remain a wooden boy until he proves himself worthy of becoming a real boy. The fairy also sent Jiminy Cricket to serve as his guide and conscience.
And so, Pinocchio’s adventure begins. As he sets out for school, he finds himself being sidetracked and tempted by dubious personalities. He went on doing one misdemeanor to another. He also found himself lying continuously to hide his naughty and mischievous behavior. This is what caused his nose to grow bigger and bigger. He ended up missing, causing Geppetto to look for him.
On his quest of finding Pinocchio, Geppetto was swallowed by a whale. To save Geppetto, Pinocchio risked his own life. Through this brave and selfless act, the fairy deemed him worthy of becoming a real boy.
Spiritual Lessons From Pinocchio
The first thing that comes to mind when we talk about lessons from Pinocchio is that lying is bad. But honesty is merely the superficial lesson. If you dig deeper into the story, there is more hidden meaning in the story of Pinocchio. The story actually is a perfect representation of our life and our journey towards spirituality.
1.Third Eye
The term Pinocchio means pineal gland. The pineal gland has long been associated with spiritual awakening or the third eye. French Philosopher Rene Descartes described the pineal gland as the meeting point of the physical and spiritual world.
The body and spirit not only meet there, but each affects the other and the repercussion extends in both directions.
– Rene Descartes
2. The Creator
Geppetto, the woodworker, created a puppet based on his image and likeness. Similar to the story of Christianity wherein God created man from His image and likeness.
3. Limitless Potential
Geppetto’s wish of turning a wooden toy into a real boy is an impossible dream. But what it implies is that anything is possible in life. We all have limitless potential; regardless of who we are. As long as we stay true to our human design, set a goal, believe and focus on it; then it is attainable. We can unlock the magic in our lives.
When you wish upon a star; makes no difference who you are; anything your heart desires will come to you.
-Song, When You Wish Upon A Star
3. Free Will
Just like all of us on earth, Pinocchio has free will. As humans, we all are capable of making our own decisions in life. We are free to make our own choices whether it will be good for us or not. But to serve as guide, we are given a conscience, an inner voice that shows us what is good or bad. Our conscience will lead us to the right path. In Pinocchio’s case; this is the role of Jiminy Cricket.
4. Temptations
Pinocchio met a lot of characters that introduced him to temptations. Life is similar. We will encounter many different people in our lives. However, not all of them will be good for us. Just like Pinocchio who was led astray. That can happen to us if we don’t choose the people who we hang out with. Remember that you are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with. So, choose your five wisely.
5. Shadow Self
Although Pinocchio was given life, living a life without purpose is like losing one’s soul. This is where we manifest our shadow self. The shadow self is our dark side. It is characterized by anxiety, anger, depression, loneliness, fatigue, boredom and other negative feelings. Although fun and exciting at first, living in the dark side can have serious consequences later on; similar to what happened to Pinocchio. We can never be truly happy and successful if we continue to stay in our shadow self.
6. Enlightenment
When Pinocchio realized that he might lose Gepetto forever, he risked his own life to save Geppetto. This selfless act and showing of unconditional love to others is what made him become a real boy. Unfortunately, many people are the same. They will not value what they have until they lose it. When we lose something very important to us; this is the time when enlightenment comes in. Whether it is about your health, money or the people around you; learn to take care of them while you still have them.
How are you doing with your finances? Do you consider yourself financially stable? If you do, then good for you. If not, you are not alone. Most people are having problems with money because only a few are financially literate. Most of us have to learn financial lessons the hard way. Just imagine all the things that you could have done differently if only you know a thing or two on personal finance. Here are some more money lessons you wish you had learned in school Part 2 (click here to read part 1):
1. Basic Investing Skills
A lot of people are scared of investing. This is just natural; after all, who would not be scared of losing their hard-earned money. You probably heard stories of people losing all their money through bad investments.
However, savings alone are never enough. You need to invest your money too. This is where your knowledge on Investment Basics will come in handy.
True, investing involves risk but it is also a great way to increase your wealth. You can minimize investment risks through financial literacy. Familiarize yourself with the different investment vehicles available out there. For beginners, you can learn about bonds, funds and stocks. Depending on our risk tolerance, you can try for the more advance type of investing such as cryptocurrencies, foreign exchange and stock options trading. It is only through Investing will you be able to slowly build your passive income.
2. The Power of Compound Interest
Out of all the items listed here, compound interest is one topic that was surely discussed in school. Unfortunately, since a lot of people hate math, compound interest is nothing more than a numerical value calculated from a math problem. You probably forgot the formula on how to compute it by now. Big mistake!
Compound interest is probably the most important concept of personal finance. If used to your advantage, it can give you vast wealth. However, it is a double-edged sword. It can either make you or break you. If it works against you, it can lead to your financial downfall. Do you know of people who are buried in credit card debt? That is a clear example of compound interest working against them.
Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. He who understand it, earns it…He who doesn’t pays it.
– Albert Einstein
3. Time Value of Money
The time value of money is one the most important concept for investors. It simply state that the value of your money today is worth more than your money tomorrow. To put it simply, it means it is better to have your money with you now than at a later date.
This concept involves time. Time is literally money. The sooner you earn or have money in your hand, the faster you can have money work for you. If this concept was discussed in school, making decisions in life would have been a lot easier.
For example, a buyer wants to buy your property at the prevailing market price. You declined the offer hoping that somebody else with a bigger offer will approach you later on. There is no assurance when the next buyer will come. What if the next buyer comes after a year or two? Is it still worth the wait?
Another example is let’s say the luxury bag that you have always wanted to have is on sale. You decided to buy it to take advantage of the sale. You use your credit card for the purchase. Unfortunately, you were only able to fully pay the item after a few months. With the interests incurred during those amounts, you ended up paying more for the bag.
The time value of money is also at work in investing. The younger you start investing, the more money you will have in the future. This also applies to other things such as your health. Choosing the right food and exercising today will keep you healthy. This will save you money on medical expenses later in your life. In practical terms, don’t put off what you can do today for tomorrow.
4. Building Good Credit
Do you pay your bills on time? Establishing a good credit is probably one of the most important things that you can do in your life. A good credit history will make your life a lot easier. Whether you are buying a house or a car, applying for a loan or a credit card or even getting a job; a good credit score will come in handy.
A credit report is an explanation of your credit history. It shows if you have an existing loan, if you are applying for one and your balance. It also shows your capacity to pay and whether or not you are paying your bills on time.
This is very important in your financial life. A good credit history will make it easier for you to get a loan. It can also qualify you for a higher credit limit and lower interest rates.
5. How Credit Card and Interest Rates Work
Do you understand how credit card and interest rates work? Do you even know how to read your credit card statement? So many people do not understand how credit card and other consumer loans work. As a result, they end up with an enormous credit card debt.
Credit card can be good or bad depending on how you use them. Credit card is a financial tool that you can use as leverage. However, it is never a good idea to use credit cards to purchase goods that you cannot afford in the first place.
The bottom line is that financial literacy can help us make better monetary decisions in our lives. It will help us achieve financial freedom and avoid bad debts.
Teaching personal finance in school can help our children have a better future.
First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 09.18.2019
Last November of 2018, Ariana Grande’s single, “Thank U, Next” broke records when the single became the most streamed song with almost 50 million streams in the first week of its release. The song garnered much attention because the singer publicly revealed her past. In the song, Ariana said that each time a relationship ends, she felt pain but at the same time she is grateful because of the lessons that she learned from each one. She knows that all those past experiences will help her somehow with her future relationships. She is now a better person and a stronger one at that because of what she had to go through. More than simply controversial and entertaining, the song has a valuable lesson. That is, how to not get stuck in the past.
Bad things do happen in life. Things don’t always come our way whether it is our career, business, health, family, love or relationships. It can be very painful especially if we did our very best to make it work. Some people get stuck and allow the hurt from past experiences to continue to hurt them. However, not moving on can only succeed in jeopardizing future happiness. After whether we like it or not, life goes on.
Here are some tips on how to not get stuck in the past:
1.Learn from the Past
Have you ever wondered why we have to take up History in school? That is because history gives valuable lessons. Learning from past mistakes will allow us to grow and not repeat the same mistake over again. Even the COVID-19 pandemic has lessons that we can apply to make our lives better. Learn the lesson, no matter how painful so that you can start to move on.
2.Be Grateful
Yes, it is possible to be grateful even in tough times. Be grateful for the experience. It may sound cliche but challenges are blessings in disguise. Whatever it is that you had to go through was really meant for you to grow and become a better person. Moreover, by being grateful you are shifting your focus from the negative to the positive. A positive attitude can help ease the burden that you are carrying.
Thank you, next.
– Ariana Grande
3. Forgive Those Who Wronged You
When you forgive someone, it does not mean that you are condoning the wrong things. It does not mean forgetting and reconciling with the other person.What it simply means is that you are now releasing and freeing yourself from the anger, resentment, guilt and other negative emotions. This will do wonders to your emotional state and general well-being. The act of forgiveness does not only pertain to other people but also yourself. You need to learn to forgive and love yourself.
Did you know that success happens outside of your comfort zone? Your comfort zone is your safe place. Since you are comfortable in that place, there is really no room for growth because there is no need to. Stepping outside of your comfort zone means doing new things that you are not comfortable with. You will need to learn new skills and adapt to a changing environment but there will be transition and growth in the process. It is similar to a caterpillar undergoing metamorphosis. Don’t remain a caterpillar all your life. Find your genius zone and be a beautiful butterfly.
6. Remove Toxic People From Your Life
Did you know that you are the average of the five people you spend most of your time with? Your thoughts, beliefs and actions are highly influenced by the people around you. Thus, it is important to choose the people you spend most of your time with. Remove negative people from your life. Spend time with positive and supportive individuals instead.
7. Believe in Yourself
Fear is crippling. It can hold you back in life. That is why it is important to learn how to overcome fear. Conquer your fears by trusting yourself. Believe in yourself. Trust that you can do great things.
In short, allow yourself to feel the pain then move on. Don’t dwell on it. Get yourself ready for the next adventure.
Updated version. First published in Pinoy Smart Living on 11.17.2018
It is almost the end of the year. Many people are eager to have 2020 done and over with. That’s not surprising considering the fact that 2020 has been an exhausting and overwhelming year for most of us. But before we chase the remaining few days of the year, why not look back and take a look at the year in recap and learn some of the valuable life lessons from 2020. The following top articles of the year is a reflection of what transpired during the year and the general sentiment of the readers.
1.Cherish Your Loved Ones While You Still Can
As of this writing, more than 1.76 million people around the world had already lost their lives because of COVID-19. This means that many people lost their loved ones because of this pandemic. Most of the time, it happened so quickly that they were not able to properly say their goodbyes. The grieving process becomes worse if there is regret and guilt involved. To avoid this from happening, it is better tocherish your loved ones while you still can. Don’t wait until it is too late to do so.
2.Korean Dramas About Overcoming Challenges
If there is one thing that we got from 2020, it is the gift of time. Because of the lockdowns, many people found themselves trapped at home with nothing to do. To help fight boredom, many people resorted to watching Korean Dramas. Because many had to go through challenges this year, they look for something inspirational to watch like Korean Dramas about overcoming challenges.
3.Redesign Your Life Through a Bucket List
The world is now totally different. What used to work before this pandemic may no longer work in the new normal. Thus, now is the perfect time to redesign your life through a bucket list. What is it that you want to accomplish in life going forward? What needs to change? It is time to create new dreams and goals.
4.It’s Okay To Not Be Okay
Let’s admit it. No matter how big or small the effect of the pandemic is in our lives; at some point this year, we can honestly say that we were not okay. But, it’s okay. It is all a part of life. Sometimes, it’s okay to not be okay. The only way we can only move forward is if we learn to embrace our negative emotions and our pain. That is how we grow as a person.
5.How To Survive This Economic Crisis
Unfortunately for us, the COVID-19 pandemic is more than just a health concern. It has also turned into a full-blown economic crisis with millions of people losing their means of livelihood. So many people found themselves at a loss just trying to figure out how to survive this economic crisis.
6.Wealth Rules from the Richest Man in Babylon
Because of the economic crisis, people now realized that working hard alone is no longer enough. There is also a need for financial literacy. Knowing and understanding how money works can help people prepare and survive a financial crisis. What better way to learn about money than learning from the wealth rules from the richest man in Babylon.
7.Crossroads: Making Life Changing Decisions
In a nutshell, 2020 is all about change. Since the world is changing, people found themselves in crossroads, making life changing decisions. It sounds easy but change is a difficult thing to do.It is scary most especially if we don’t know what lies ahead. Should I move away from the city? Should I change jobs? Should I change my lifestyle? All of these questions involve choices. Many people were forced to make difficult decisions in their lives this year because of this crisis.
8.The Power of A Smile
When everything around us is negative, it is difficult to stay positive. However, did you know that a simple smile can do wonders for our health and overall well-being? That is the power of a smile. A smile can make us feel better, albeit temporarily. It reduces stress. It boosts our happiness level, even if the smile is fake. So the next time you feel gloomy and sad, force yourself to smile.
9.Stock Options: A Way To Earn Amidst A Crisis
Since many people experienced a reduction or even a loss of income, people are now searching for an alternative source of income. Although there are many investment vehicles available out there, only a few can give positive and substantial returns even in times of crisis. Stock Options trading is one of them. Stock Options is a way to earn amidst a crisis. With stock options trading, it is possible to earn regardless of market direction.
10.Six Dimensions of Wellness
Because of the lockdowns, people have realized that the absence of disease alone does not mean that one is healthy. To be truly healthy, one needs to be healthy not just physically but emotionally, intellectually, socially, spiritually and environmentally as well. There are six dimensions of wellness. All of these dimensions are equally important in the overall well-being of a person.
That is the year in recap and life lessons from 2020. Hope we all learn from the experiences. Let us all look forward and visualize better days ahead of us.
These past few weeks have been very difficult for most of us because of the pandemic. It is not yet over. It may still get worse before it gets better but that is just how life is. There will always be challenges in one form or another. We go through them because challenges are important for our growth and success.What is paramount is that we overcome and we rise above the storm. It is not going to be easy but it is doable. If you are looking for some inspiration, here are some Korean Dramas with lessons about overcoming challenges in life:
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Popular among students and teens, Dream High is a school life drama about six aspiring arts students who entered a prestigious art school to pursue their dreams of becoming famous. It is a story about love, friendship, family and other issues related to school life. It also shows how the leads overcome challenges to achieve their goals.
2.Dr. Romantic Season 1 (2016) and Season 2 (2020)
Dr. Romantic is about a genius surgeon who lives his life in seclusion and works in a remote provincial hospital. He became a life mentor to young doctors who have problems in their careers and personal lives. It is an inspiring drama for those who are experiencing a slump in their careers. It shows lessons on not giving up and having the strength to move on.
Empress Ki is a true story of a woman from Goryeo (Korea) who was sent to the Yuan dynasty (China) as a human tribute. From a palace servant, she eventually rose to the ranks to become the last empress of the Yuan dynasty. To be able to rise from being a human tribute to becoming the most powerful woman in the Yuan dynasty is truly an inspiring story of a woman’s strength and determination.
4.Fight for My Way (2017)
Fight for My Way is about friends who started out with big dreams yet got caught up in life trying to make ends meet. It is about their journey from being miserable with their current jobs to finding their passion and fighting for their dreams. With little education and training, the way towards their goals was not easy. They had to overcome a lot of obstacles along the way. It is a good drama to watch if you want motivation to keep on going.
Good Doctor is about a genius who suffered from autism. It is about his personal journey in overcoming his disability and his traumatic past. His father abused him and his mother abandoned him. He also suffered from bullying and hostility from others because of his disability. Yet despite all of it, he was able to rise above the storms in his life.
Itaewon Class is not just your typical revenge or chasing dreams story. It is actually a story of underdogs who are given second chances in life. An ex-convict, a transgender, and an orphan are just some of the characters in the story who are considered outcasts of today’s society. It tackles social issues such as gender and race discrimination and social injustices. It is a story about starting over in life amid all the adversities and taking small steps towards the achievement of goals.
7.Misaeng (2014)
Misaeng is a story about the everyday life of ordinary office workers who work at a multinational company. It talks about the realities of working in the corporate world from demanding bosses to long-work hours, incommensurate pay, power struggles and unfair practices. Misaeng is an inspiring drama to watch especially for those people who are struggling with their jobs. It is about persevering despite the hurdles in finding your own place not only in your work but life as well.
8.Search WWW (2019)
If you are looking for a story that celebrates women empowerment, independence and strength, then Search WWW is the drama for you. The story revolves around three women in their late 30s who are independent, witty, competitive and successful. It is about women being on top of their careers and their journey to attain happiness in their work, love and life.
She Was Pretty is a romantic love story about two childhood friends who met again after twenty years. The lead character who was once a beautiful girl from a rich family grew up not so pretty anymore. What’s worse, her family is now bankrupt. On the other hand, the once unattractive little boy is now a handsome and successful editor. It is a light comedy yet it has deep lessons about inner beauty and judging people based on appearances. The female lead is such a strong and inspiring character. She lives life with much courage and enthusiasm despite all the trials that she has encountered in the past.
10.Strongest Deliveryman (2017)
Strongest Deliveryman is a story about a noodle house delivery guy who later becomes the owner of his own company. The male lead is an example of a responsible and hardworking individual who remains true to his principles. It is about navigating and finding one’s purpose despite all the challenges and setbacks that life throws.
