what makes you come alive?

These days I’m giving some thoughts to what I enjoy doing and what I’m good at doing. Wouldn’t it be great if what I enjoyed doing was what I was good at doing? Some people call it “talent”, although “blessing” might also be an appropriate word.

One thing I’ve discovered in college, and I guess The Giving Tree (student club), is the fact that I love teaching children and while when I’m fully charged they take away my energy, when I have no energy they manage to instill a whist of life into me. They don’t fail to make me smile, even when I’m depressed. In short, I love teaching kids – even the whiners like 현우 and the keeners like 정호and especially the cute ones like 정현. And as Jiwon and I talked about excitedly on the bus, it’s awesome to get to see the kids grow up (not sure if their English has improved at the rate that they’re getting taller but…).

I definitely enjoy being part of ‘education’, especially child education. But is this also what I’m good at? Am I a good teacher?

I also enjoy writing. But this is one of the greatest areas of questioning whether I’m good at writing. Is journalism or fiction writing a field I should pursue further? Could many people empathize with the feelings and heart emotions I want to convey? Could they take interest in the issues I feel strongly about through my writing?

And I enjoy one-to-one, heart-to-heart conversations. I enjoy listening to life stories, adventures, failures. I treasure vulnerability, but am I a good listener? Could I pursue counseling?

I guess the bottom line is that I want to be good at what I enjoy doing. And this makes me think about the fields I may want to pursue in the near future. Also, there’s that desire to really be able to make a difference by doing what I want to do. Which then reminds me of a quote I recently read,

“Don’t ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do that, because what the world needs is people who have come alive.” – Gil Baivre

“HOW is God’s department. He is asking you WHAT. What is written on your heart? What makes you come alive? If you could do what you’ve always wanted to do, what would it be?” -John Elderidge

Endless, endless possibilites. ‘Uncertainty’ may be a word that pops into mind, but so does ‘adventure’. Follow your heart, never underestimate the power of the creator of the universe. He can only take you as far as you’ll let yourself dream.

아빠의 질투상대는…존박♥

오늘 상계동 할머니.할아버지네에서도 엄마의 존박 사랑은 그치지 않는다. 삼촌의 작은 엄마의 김현중 사랑 증언에 이어, 엄마도 말한다 존박이 선전하는 모든 것들을 사주고 싶다고. 음료수 CF의 음료수도 스포츠웨어 CF의 스포츠웨어도 ㅋㅋ 나는 존박이랑 결혼시키고 싶으시고 (내가 “어떻게 만나?!”라고 물으면 “팬 사인회를 가야지”라고 말하는…), 동생은 교환학생으로 존박이 4년 장학생으로 다니는 Northwestern University에 보내고 싶으시다고 말하신다.

그러자 아빠가 말한다, “난 아내를 존박에게 빼았겼어.” 그에 이어 삼촌, “나는 김현중한테.” ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

나: “김수현 너무 귀여워~~”
엄마: “몇 살인데?”
나: “나 보다 한살 많아”
엄마: “존박이 더 잘 생겼어, 넌 존박이랑 결혼해야돼”
나: “그럼 연애는 김수현이랑 할래”
엄마: “안돼 연애도 결혼도 존박이랑 해야돼”
난 농담인데 엄마는 점점 더 심각해지신다….^^;;;