Observing flowers

By Kim Jin-hyun

Last September, thousands of flowers exploded in the flowerbed between two school buildings. When bees and butterflies gathered around, the appearance was even more dazzling.

The flowers are called kangaroo paws. Three years ago, for two weeks in cold mid-December, I dug more than 600 holes and transplanted the flowers. I tried to think about where they should be planted.

My heart leapt because it got to be September. In my free time, I walked around the flowerbed and observed how the soil had changed. As a harbinger of the flowers, the earth was broken above the seeds. A few days later, little stalks appeared bashfully. At that moment, I was careful not to ruin them in my mind and was nervous about whether they would grow safely until they bloomed.

After admiring the beautiful flowers in September, I pondered what kind of energy moved my mind. I have been planting trees and flowers all my life.

I was born in the countryside. At that time, the mountains were so barren that community leaders asked citizens to plant trees regularly. My father ordered me to do so instead of him, making the excuse that he was too busy.

Then I entered a new middle school. It had recently been built, so there were no trees or flowers around. Therefore, teachers asked us to plant trees around the borders under the pretence of an insufficient school budget.

My jobs have always been based on compensation yet the happiest moments were results accomplished not because of a material component but because of spontaneous participation.

A job with a material component, which has purpose, usefulness or duty, is completely based on capitalism. On the contrary, spontaneous participation, in which men participate in a job without purpose or use, is based on play.

In capitalism, men's values depend on “Homo sapience” or “Homo faber,” meaning rational beings. It always demands material compensation for their labor.

On the other hand, “Homo Ludens” means men at play according to a theory by Dutch historian Johan Huizinga. He insists that our civilization, ancient or modern, has been built by men at play.

Today, regardless of our highly competitive society, many people spend their weekends volunteering to help the disabled, campaigning or growing crops.

None of them demand any compensation. Rather, they enjoy their hobbies. Through such activities, they may realize their dreams and feel satisfaction.

As for me, the reason that I transplanted kangaroo paw seeds was to anticipate my satisfaction and accomplishment. Therefore, I concentrated on planting them joyfully.

My labor for two weeks made the school more beautiful and valuable. In terms of Homo Ludens, my play was creative.

Students don't have enough time to enjoy hobbies because they must struggle for higher scores to enter big-name colleges. It means that in a capitalistic society, endeavor is money. It is evident that all citizens, as well as students, get stuck with such an ideology.

Nevertheless, sensible men should see through reality and suggest alternatives. On that point, Homo Ludens is an excellent suggestion.

Nowadays, our society is becoming more painful due to the economic downturn. This leads to more rigid lifestyles. Therefore, our minds and bodies are more stressed. We don't care for ourselves.

In this melancholic situation, I ask that even though our jobs may be difficult, we select a hobby we like and invest our time and energy in it.

At that moment, we will have time to refresh our minds and bodies. Moreover, our family and neighbors will be brighter and happier. Therefore, the more revitalized such a culture becomes, the happier our society will be.

The writer is an English teacher at Yeosu Girls' High School in South Jeolla Province. His email address is shinykim60@hanmail.net.