Money or Happiness, what are you pursuing?

Managing Editor Lee Sang-chul

dltkdcjf0831@gmail.com

 I do not know when many people started to lose their life’s ultimate goal, happiness. And now, it is clear that most of the Korean people are not happy and only pursue economic success for their ultimate goal. “The worst employment rate after the IMF crisis”, “The country with the lowest birthrate in the world”, “Immovable world no.1 suicide rate” are the indexes representing Korea in 2021.

 Nowadays, university students like us are worried about how to get a job. We study, get a certification, and if we can, experience an internship. Some of us will compete with hundreds of others and get a job. Others will experience failure and have to keep trying again and again. Eventually, somehow, we will finally get our own job. However, after we get a job, this job might not be what we wanted.

If you end up in a job that you feel miserable doing, you will most likely feel stress because of human relations and tasks in the workplace. You will get paid based on your ability. And that is all. You will be less happy than you were as a student. Let’s go back to your high school days. Teachers and parents tell you if you study hard, you will enter a good university and get a well-paid job. Every goal was set to money, economic success. The reason why you cannot feel happiness in your life is because your goal and life were not set to your happiness, but to earn money.

 So, why not try doing something that makes you happy from now on? I am not telling you to give up your economic success, but we need to have something that allows us to rest and feel comfortable. When we were young, we did not need money to be happy. We played with our friends, making memories and having fun. Find something that can make you happy. It can be and it will be different from every person. For example, I like taking a walk with my high school friend. Walking outside and having a small talk makes my worries go away. Also, I can breathe in the fresh air. After going for a walk, I can easily focus on my university lectures or some other work.

 We are now living in a world without attachment. Adding to COVID-19 aftermath, people are interacting less with other people. But sometimes, you can lean on your friends, family and lovers for your happiness. Throw off your worries and make some happiness instead of worrying about your own future house.