things that matter

These days, thanks to my phone English lessons, I’ve been organizing what to talk about by topic. Just like Haruki Murakami said, the more I write things down, the more I feel like my life is expanding. And you know that saying, “When you learn about your neighboring country, you understand your own country better”? Talking about my life in English somehow makes my life feel clearer, like my direction becomes more defined.

 

The topic for this week’s call with Nalee is things that matter.

 

When I think about what gives my life direction, I’d say “simplicity.” You’ve probably heard the phrase "Simplicity is the beauty.” Even Gandhi said it. It applies not just to life, but to art, to engineering—really to everything.

 

The principles of nature are simple. We shouldn’t manipulate things artificially. Did you know that all mammals have a total of about 1.5 billion heartbeats in a lifetime? A mouse, a rabbit, even a human—it’s all the same. But a mouse’s heart beats so fast, it uses them all up in just three years. Humans, on the other hand, stretch them out over about 80 years. So if we get too easily excited or worn out, it can’t be good for our health.

 

And it’s not just about heartbeats. For example, in winter, the little shrimp you find at the market can only jump about a meter high. And humans? Same thing—maybe a meter if we try really hard. Everything that’s alive is surprisingly similar, I know we were taught that humans are superior to all living things, but honestly, I don’t agree. Animals live in tune with the natural frequencies of the world, and they stay focused on the present. That doesn’t seem inferior at all to me.

 

Even between animals and plants, there’s no real hierarchy. Did you know that a plant’s stoma—the tiny pores on leaves—work kind of like our eyes? They sense and communicate with nature, knowing exactly when to bloom or bear fruit. Some seeds can even sprout thousands of years later. Every living thing is a miracle, and I truly believe there’s no such thing as superiority in nature. Meanwhile, humans keep inventing things that are faster, more complex, all in the name of "technology." But that often goes against nature. That’s just greed, if you ask me.

 

Another value I try to live by is this: things that move should be light. Even Genghis Khan, one of the most influential figures in history, said it—mobility needs to be light. And it makes sense, because simple things are beautiful, so the things that move should be simple and light too. Take cars, for example. The heavier and faster they are, the more energy they consume.

 

In Korea, cars are getting heavier and heavier. Back in 1990, the average car weighed about a ton. Now it’s almost double that—between 1.5 to 2 tons. Of course, they burn more fuel. We’re adding all these convenience features and pushing engines to their limits, so it’s no wonder cars are getting bulkier.

 

These days, people talk a lot about eco-friendly cars—electric and hybrid cars. But did you know they’re about 30% heavier than regular gasoline cars? Just because they use less gas, does that really make them environmentally friendly? Not necessarily. That’s a bit of a fraud too. The electricity your car needs still has to come from a power plant, and that plant is burning more fuel. It’s kind of like saying, “Don’t burn trash in my yard,” but someone else is still burning it somewhere.

 

And are these heavier cars really safer in an accident? People like to compare “safer” vs. “less safe,” but honestly, that’s misleading. Every car is getting heavier—so it’s kind of a zero-sum game. What really matters is the driver’s mindset. A calm and focused mind is the best safety feature.

 

I’ve been driving the same car for over 30 years—a Daewoo Tico, one of the lightest cars in Korea. It weighs about a third of what most cars today weigh. It uses very little fuel and produces very little waste when scrapped. That’s what I call truly eco-friendly. Is it unsafe because it’s light? Not at all. I’ve driven it safely for 32 years. Safety doesn’t come from weight—it comes from the way you drive.

 

Some people say small cars are dangerous in accidents. But let’s be real—there’s no such thing as a completely safe car in a crash. The best accident is one that never happens. And when people talk about small cars being “too dangerous,” they’re often just repeating worst-case scenarios that hardly ever happen. Worrying about unlikely things just adds unnecessary stress.

 

The older I get, the more I feel like life is really simple. Eat modestly. Take regular walks. Sleep well. Read books when you have time. Ride your bike or scooter when the sun is out. Travel occasionally. And stop trying so hard to impress other people. That’s a good life. Today, I love myself, and I’m grateful for my life.