After pushing myself too hard during exercise, I injured my leg and had a tough week. Just when I thought it was getting better, any strain would send a thunderous pain shooting up my leg. This pain was a constant companion, whether I was walking outside, sitting down, or trying to sleep at night. It was as bothersome as a blister on the edge of your lip. Then one weekend afternoon, I dozed off on the couch, and when I woke up, just like the ‘click’ of a switch, the pain was gone without a trace.
Feeling free, I took my bike out to the Han River park, listening to Trans Fixion’s ‘Come Back to Me’ and rode full speed to Seoul Forest without a pause. This song is the most exhilarating thing ever if you ignore the lyrics.
This summer was nothing but dreary rain clouds that blocked the sky for a month, the ever-nagging presence of the pandemic, and leg pain that made me wince every time I moved. It felt like the season just slipped away, but as I rode along the river, I saw the clear autumn sky ready to take its place.
Nothing seems fun anymore
Come to think of it, I always said that. Repeating it like a habit. As a kid, everything felt clumsy and dull, nothing seemed fun. I hated just sitting and listening to others teach, even music became boring after a while, and I’d often leave my guitar untouched for months. I was indifferent to everything, time just drifted by. I’d say to friends, juniors, or girlfriends, that nothing was really fun…
Everyone around says that these mask-wearing days are the most stifling and boring ever. But for me, life never felt particularly thrilling even before, and I guess it wasn’t much different for others. Being accustomed to monotony, maybe that’s why we’re all enduring these times, even if we grumble about it.
Life can be dull and a series of pains, but looking back, wounds healed and pain eventually disappeared. New skin grew over scars I thought would never heal, and unexpected moments of joy appeared. Sure, like the story of the old man and the horse, who knows what’s next, but if you just shrug it off as ‘that’s life,’ you might find yourself able to enjoy the moment.
Just as the dark sky that seemed to engulf the world cracked open to reveal blue patches, giving us the strength to endure this tedious world, if we just hang in a little longer – though I’m not sure how long – for sure, the switch will ‘click’ and reset the scene.
By the way, 2022’s fall is fading away…
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