No one tells me where the forest and marshes are

“There is no one in this world who tells me where the forests are, where the marshes are,” from the song “Dream,” song and lyrics by Cho Yong-pil.

The lyrics from the song “Dream” by Cho Yong-pil are quite familiar to mid-aged music fans. I personally had not known what the lyrics meant, but recently the words resonate more than ever. I get emotional thinking how the words aptly capture the way of life.

A few years ago, a wise mentor that I had always looked up to passed away. When I was faced with an obstacle or question, I would always call or meet in person to seek his advice. He would always give very clear and grateful advice. 　

After he passed away, I lost the go-to person I needed for advice. I was on my own to make all the decisions. I had heard countless times that the most crucial moments and challenges had to be made on one’s own. I studied hard and listened to others’ advice to make good judgement. I made careful decisions every moment and did my best to get the best results. However, the results did not meet my expectations. There were many moments when I regretted or disliked my decision. 　

They say that as you age, you become wiser. However, I feel like there are more moments when I am staggering to see ahead, as if I am walking in the mist, faltering on every step. Living in an age where satellite navigation shows you the right way in a new location, where artificial intelligence advises you based on previously accumulated data, I wish for a wise person where I can go to for advice, get solutions and be shown what the optimal solutions are. Perhaps that wise person can show me “where the forests and marshes are,” enlightening like a streak of light in the dark.