By Lee Hyon-soo
"All the world's a stage,
And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts."
The above quote comes from William Shakespeare's "As You Like It." If life is a stage play as Shakespeare put it metaphorically, how has my play unfolded and what parts have I played?
I have no fond memories of my childhood. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, I fled with my family to Busan where we eked out a precarious living. I was an ill-fed, ill-clothed refugee boy then and I came to know the bitterness of life at an early age. But what matters is the fact that I survived; after all, the name of the game during the war was survival!
After the devastating war ended, most Koreans lived from hand to mouth. Although I grew up in needy circumstances, I was fortunate enough to get a full-fledged formal education. But I had to work my way through college. With only one year left before graduation, I ran out of money. So I took a leave of absence and enlisted in the army, where I served as a common soldier for three years.
Upon graduation from college, I landed a job as a banker. My working life spanning 30-odd years was not all smooth sailing. I stumbled along my career path from time to time, but I kept myself from falling by going around or scrambling over the obstacles that stood in my way.
After I got married, I assumed an awesome responsibility as the head of a family. I toiled to provide for my family and, more importantly, to give my children a more decent upbringing than I had had in my youth.
Retirees tend to be labeled free riders who are good for nothing. Although I am a retiree, I refuse to be so labeled because I have paid my dues by performing an essential role in my capacity as a banker in the process of Korea's remarkable economic development. What's more, I am no burden on society as I am financially independent.
As I no longer go to work, my time is entirely at my disposal. I do things and go places as I please. Before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, I had globetrotted to my heart's content. When I am at home, I do not idle away my time. I devote most of my waking hours to reading. I read a wide selection of books about subjects that interest me. Needless to say, there is no end to learning regardless of one's age.
Not only did reading enlighten me, but it also helped me enhance my critical and creative thinking skills, which are essential for good writing. When I happen to have a thought or opinion that I want to share with other people, I cannot resist the temptation to put pen to paper and I contribute my writings to newspapers or post them on social media. It is my way of giving back to society.
There is a saying that old men live in memories. As I am in my twilight years, memories are all that I have got left and I indulge in reminiscences of my journey through life. Although I suffered my share of misfortunes, they are overshadowed by the blessings that came my way and I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude.
I am content as I have a roof over my head and don't worry about where my next meal will come from.
The writer (tomhslee43@gmail.com) is a freelance columnist and the author of "Tales of A Korean Globetrotter."
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And all the men and women merely players;
They have their exits and their entrances,
And one man in his time plays many parts."
The above quote comes from William Shakespeare's "As You Like It." If life is a stage play as Shakespeare put it metaphorically, how has my play unfolded and what parts have I played?
I have no fond memories of my childhood. When the Korean War broke out in 1950, I fled with my family to Busan where we eked out a precarious living. I was an ill-fed, ill-clothed refugee boy then and I came to know the bitterness of life at an early age. But what matters is the fact that I survived; after all, the name of the game during the war was survival!
After the devastating war ended, most Koreans lived from hand to mouth. Although I grew up in needy circumstances, I was fortunate enough to get a full-fledged formal education. But I had to work my way through college. With only one year left before graduation, I ran out of money. So I took a leave of absence and enlisted in the army, where I served as a common soldier for three years.
Upon graduation from college, I landed a job as a banker. My working life spanning 30-odd years was not all smooth sailing. I stumbled along my career path from time to time, but I kept myself from falling by going around or scrambling over the obstacles that stood in my way.
After I got married, I assumed an awesome responsibility as the head of a family. I toiled to provide for my family and, more importantly, to give my children a more decent upbringing than I had had in my youth.
Retirees tend to be labeled free riders who are good for nothing. Although I am a retiree, I refuse to be so labeled because I have paid my dues by performing an essential role in my capacity as a banker in the process of Korea's remarkable economic development. What's more, I am no burden on society as I am financially independent.
As I no longer go to work, my time is entirely at my disposal. I do things and go places as I please. Before the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, I had globetrotted to my heart's content. When I am at home, I do not idle away my time. I devote most of my waking hours to reading. I read a wide selection of books about subjects that interest me. Needless to say, there is no end to learning regardless of one's age.
Not only did reading enlighten me, but it also helped me enhance my critical and creative thinking skills, which are essential for good writing. When I happen to have a thought or opinion that I want to share with other people, I cannot resist the temptation to put pen to paper and I contribute my writings to newspapers or post them on social media. It is my way of giving back to society.
There is a saying that old men live in memories. As I am in my twilight years, memories are all that I have got left and I indulge in reminiscences of my journey through life. Although I suffered my share of misfortunes, they are overshadowed by the blessings that came my way and I am filled with a deep sense of gratitude.
I am content as I have a roof over my head and don't worry about where my next meal will come from.
The writer (tomhslee43@gmail.com) is a freelance columnist and the author of "Tales of A Korean Globetrotter."
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