D 18 – Solo Korea Car Camping Trip: Hwaseong → Seosan

2021.06.10(Thu)

Today, I went to Beolcheonpo Beach in Seosan.

Around fifty households lived near the beach, making it a very quiet and peaceful village.

Despite being in such a remote place, there was public Wi-Fi and even a clean public restroom—like a little oasis for travelers—making it a perfect spot for a night of car camping.

It must have been because rain was expected in the afternoon—the sky was covered with dark clouds all day, making everything feel dim. Still, it had its own unique charm, and I actually liked it. Also, since the beach was made up of pebbles instead of sand, I didn’t have to worry about sand sticking everywhere, which made it even better.

With nothing else to do, I started collecting stones, and before I knew it, they had unintentionally formed into the shape of a heart.

After laying down the larger outline, I began filling in the gaps with smaller stones, and suddenly it struck me that life really isn’t all that different. If we set up the big framework first, and then little by little fill in the spaces with small, seemingly insignificant things, one day the whole shape will be complete.

Honestly… who else comes up with strange thoughts like this just by playing with stones?

And so, sitting quietly in the middle of the beach, I spent the rest of the day writing in my journal and reading a book.

As the day grew dark and the rain began to fall, I quickly packed up my things and returned to my little home on wheels. There, listening to the gentle sound of raindrops tapping against the car, I quietly brought the day to a close.

I may not like rainy weather, but the sound of raindrops falling softly while I sat inside my car created a peaceful atmosphere unlike any other sound in nature—it was perfect.

Today, I ended my day by gazing at the faint glow of the streetlights, accompanied by the gentle sound of the falling rain.

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18. People are like looking into a fogged-up mirror.

: Just as we sometimes think, “Ugh, why is that person like that…”, others might also look at me and wonder the same, noticing things about me that I might not even realize. The truth is—I don’t fully know myself.

To avoid arrogance, I always try to see myself through a third eye.

A fogged-up mirror… it’s a phrase I came up with, but one I deeply resonate with.

Since everything revolves around our own perspective and we are imperfect beings, we’re bound to make mistakes, misjudge, or uncover flaws we never expected. A word I spoke unintentionally might pierce someone’s heart, and advice I meant kindly might come across as criticism. These unintentional mistakes or misunderstandings often happen because, as I said, we are seeing ourselves through that fogged-up mirror, unable to clearly reflect on our words and actions.

Some people only notice flaws when they look into a mirror, while others see only their good traits. But the truth is, we all carry both strengths and weaknesses. That’s why we must clear away the fog and look more closely—not just at one side of ourselves, but from head to toe, front and back, from different angles.

Because I am me, I may know myself best, but at the same time, I may miss the blind spots hidden from my own view. That’s why I believe it’s important to stay open to feedback from others, to remain humble, and to be willing to acknowledge the flaws hidden in those blind spots.

This doesn’t mean lowering self-esteem—it means lowering arrogance. By looking at ourselves more honestly, amplifying our strengths, and acknowledging and improving our weaknesses, we can become a better version of ourselves.

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