D 21 - Solo Car Camping Trip: Hongseong → Sejong

2021.06.13(Sun)

Because I had tossed and turned the night before and couldn’t fall asleep, I woke up about an hour later than usual.

Unlike the restless feelings of last night, this morning I calmly thought, “Finally, I’m going home…” After that, I stopped by a nearby restaurant and had a bowl of clam kalguksu for lunch.

Before heading home, I stopped by Suryonghang Harbor one last time. Knowing I wouldn’t see the sea again for a while, I sat quietly by the harbor, gazing at it for a long time and tucking its image away in my eyes and heart.

Even though I had seen the sea every day for the past three weeks, it always felt new and always brought me peace—a truly grateful presence.

On the way home, I felt more excitement than regret. All I wanted was to arrive quickly, take a proper shower in warm water, and stretch out on a soft bed.

When I got home, as always, my mom and dad welcomed me warmly. We all gathered around the dining table for the first time in a while, sharing stories as we enjoyed my mom’s signature dish—kimchi braised pork ribs.

These little things I used to take for granted felt overwhelmingly touching and joyful.

Now, as I write this just before going to bed, I feel a wave of emptiness, as though the past three weeks of travel were nothing more than a midsummer night’s dream. It’s hard to believe that a journey I started without any plans turned into three whole weeks of wandering across the country. Honestly, I don’t think I could do it again.

Maybe it’s because I’ve already experienced everything once, and I’ve lost that reckless courage that comes from the ignorance at the very beginning.

Even so, through this journey—having completed a solo trip around the entire country—I gained the confidence and courage to believe that if I could accomplish that, there is nothing I cannot overcome in the future. No matter what trials or hardships may come, I now feel I can face them. I also learned to appreciate the small things in life, as even the simplest comforts felt precious during the trip, teaching me gratitude for every little detail.

It began as a kind of escape, a journey I took because the future felt so unclear and overwhelming, and I wanted to step away from daily life. Yet even now, at the end of the trip, I cannot say that I found a definite answer about my future.

However, my perspective on my current situation has changed. The unseen future no longer feels dark and hopeless. Instead, what remains is a vague curiosity and anticipation—wondering what kind of colorful and diverse experiences might unfold ahead.

And so, the journey I set out on in search of life and happiness came to a close, leaving me with a deep lesson about the virtues of life.

The end

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21. People are like complex films

: A complex film reveals its meaning and truth the more you watch it—once, twice, and again. Reading interpretations alongside it helps you understand even more, though of course, perspectives differ from person to person. People are the same.

Since I was young, I’ve loved watching movies, especially complex and difficult ones. The first time, I often didn’t understand, but with each rewatch, I began to grasp more, and every time, I discovered something new. That freshness always fascinated me. For films I still couldn’t fully understand, I would go online to read critics’ interpretations and satisfy my curiosity.

What I found interesting is that everyone interprets a film differently. Unless you’re the director, no one can give a perfectly complete explanation. I think people are exactly the same.

No matter how simple someone may seem, you can’t fully grasp who they are upon a first meeting. Only by continuing to meet do you start to notice the subtleties you missed at first, gradually understanding the person better. Maybe the very fact that people are so complex is what makes human relationships so fascinating.

Our lives are like railroads, and we are the trains—constantly rolling forward. Along the way, we stop at countless stations, meeting and parting with innumerable passengers. Because our time is limited, we can’t possibly get to know every single person who passes through.

Those who struggle with relationships often overthink, worrying even about people who may just pass by once. If a train were to stop too long at every station, it would never reach its destination. Our mission is not only to carry passengers safely but ultimately to keep moving toward our goal.

So, we must fulfill our basic duties in relationships, but not let our focus scatter. Keep moving forward steadily. Along the way, there will be familiar passengers who return again and again, and some of them may even ride with us until the very end.

I too used to worry a lot about relationships, stressing myself over them. But at some point, I began to reduce that burden and instead focused more on myself. Then naturally, only the truly important people remained in my life—the ones who will stay in my carriage until the last stop. With them, I can give my full attention, and that makes me feel much more at peace.

Of course, even they are complex and sometimes hard to understand. But that’s okay. Because we’re on this endless journey together, I’ll keep learning and understanding them as we go.

Let go of those who leave without regret, and welcome those who come with open arms. If, at my final stop, even one person stays with me, I will be content.

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