These days due to COVID and its related restrictions now its almost impossible to travel and be free.
As I release further extracts from my series of letters from nearly 10 years ago. I recall writing about holiday madness in Korea.
Here are my thoughts from 2012-2013
One of the must see periods if you spend time in Korea is during the holiday season. There are two main holidays in Korea. The Lunar New Year which comes maybe early February every year allowing me to enjoy two New Year’s parties. It falls on the day of the second new moon after the winter solstice and is a three day holiday. Right across Asia millions if not hundreds of millions of people hit the road in order to celebrate with their loved ones. Although it is situated right in the middle of winter which can sometimes hit -20 so that dampens the excitement a little.
There are many events and rituals during this period, there is an interesting ritual called Sebae. This custom involves children dressing up in traditional costume and bowing before parents, grandparents and seniors. They are rewarded with an envelope of cash to start the New Year. Wish I had this when I was a kid.
The second major holiday is the Harvest festival or in Korea it is called Chuseok. This celebration has its origins in Confucian traditions and celebrates not only the successful harvest but also the memorial of loved ones that have passed away. This also includes the memorial of ancestors hundreds of years ago. The majority of the population works and resides in the capital city Seoul but this event allows them to travel to their hometown to meet family and carry out the ancestral rights at family tombs.
It truly is a sight to behold as millions of people hit the road and a normal trip of 3 hours to a hometown turns into an exhausting trip of nine to ten hours during this period. As a result of huge numbers of people leaving Seoul, the city closes down. However, it provides a great opportunity for those that remain to really enjoy the city without the constant hustle and bustle.
It really is something to see Koreans perform the ancestral rights and remembrance. There is a strict order as to where each dish is placed also order of bowing and length of the bow. The whole process is regimented and follows a tradition of hundreds if not thousands of years. The dishes prepared for this period are tasty and arranged in a certain way. An example could be the following table setting. On the north, rice and soup are placed and fruits and vegetables are on the south. On the west and in the middle, meat dishes are served and, on the east, rice cake and some drinks such as makgeolli or soju are placed. Dishes include songpyeon or rice cake which can contain anything from honey, cinnamon, walnut, pine nut or a number of other fillings. Chapchae, the very tasty dish which closely resembles our own Chopsuey. Finally, bulgogi which is marinated meat cooked over the barbeque in front of you that I have mentioned previously.
This period is called by some women of Korea a “hell period” as they are expected to prepare numerous dishes not only for the ceremonies but also to feed the constant arrival of family members. Furthermore, they are required to maintain a spotless home and surroundings as in traditional Korean society men are not required to do anything during this period except eat, drink and entertain guests. Very stressful times!
Tickets for transportation such as intercity buses and trains are booked months before the holiday and flights out of the country are also becoming increasingly hard to find. In recent times, the number of single women and families leaving during this period has increased. For single women there is the extended pressure of family members asking them why they are not married and when they intend to tie the knot. Increasingly prevalent are the travel companies and marketers targeting this group as a new hugely untapped developing market.
Koreans really look forward to this period as according to research they are ranked among the top countries in the world working the most hours. In 2010 they worked 44.6 hours per week the most hours among the 34 OECD nations. However, their productivity does not reflect this as they only ranked 23rd in productivity.
The same madness involving transportation and long travel times also exist during the New Year period. In Korea an estimated 75% of the population is on the road traveling to their hometown, considering Korea’s population totals about 50,000,000 that is just mind blowing. During the New Year period or as Koreans call it Seollal an astounding 220,000,000 people in China are also on the road in some form.
Korean holiday madness, sometimes a spot on Muri beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands will do me just fine.
INDECISION WILL DESTROY YOU
“More is lost by indecision than wrong decision. Indecision is the thief of opportunity. It will steal you blind.”
Marcus Tullius Cicero (106 BC to 43 BC)
In the annuals of millitary history a number of major defeats were not as a result of overpowering enemy, inadequate preparation of ones forces, or a tactical error. Rather the cause of defeat was indecision.
Marcus Tullius Cicero 106 BC to 43 BC or sometimes referred to as simply Cicero was a Roman senator that was famous for his speeches and ideas on society. Considered one of the great orators of his day, one of his famous quotes is stated above. Essentially he believed that decision making and effective decisions created the opportunity to become a great leader and are crucial to ones character. By comparison the absence of this characteristic will result in weak leadership on a personal and societal level and lead to missed opportnites and regret. In our modern world and daily lives its common to procrastinate. To delay actions or decisions. It feels great at the time but ends up creating more work and problems further on. Its strangely ironic that in the hyper speed world with access to everything at our fingertips we still can’t allow ourselves to be decisive. To take action, to make a move.
One of the things that drives me crazy is indecision or a kind of paralysis of decision. Its a killer and goes against my character. Although like everyone I’m sometimes prone to it. Its like the devil and angel scenario in my mind battling to delay or do it. I’m sure you can sometimes relate. It could be something simple like avoiding assignments or even not making a choice in a restaurant for lunch. It could be watching an online shopping site and waiting for the price to drop and yet when your ready its gone. The fear to commit to something is sometimes worse than making a decision.
In millitary aspects it can prove deadly. An example I will discuss today are the D Day landings of June 6th 1944. With Europe under the grip of Nazi Germany a massive operation was underway in the United Kingdom. What is known as the largest amphibious landing in history involving 160,000 soldiers waited on the decision of one man. General Dwight D Eisenhower who would later become the 34th president of the United States was Supreme Commander of Allied Forces in Europe in 1944. All final decisions involvng the European theater would rest with him.
After considerable planning and months of research the allies created the plans for Operation Neptune. The potenital invasion of France would open up the foundation for the liberation of Europe and hopefuly end of the war. It was decided that a critical three day window was available to invade France. This period would give the allies an opportunity to land on the beaches of France taking into account tides, weather patterns etc. However, approaching this selected period storms raged off the French coast. Suddenly, the three day window was now reduced to a 36 hour period. Missing this window created a serious problem. The next suitable opportunity would not occur for 2 weeks. With a massive force waiting and a chance that missing this window would reveal their hand to the Germans a decision needed to be made.
A number of options were presented to Eisenhower. Launch and face the chance the weather will wreck the invasion fleet. Delay and miss the window thus revealing to the Germans the size and potential invasion force. Eisenhower made one of the greatest military calls in history and went for it. A moment of indecision would of stolen the opportunity and robbed the allied forces of a chance to set foot in Europe in force. Indecision is the thief of opportunity. Its very likely the world would be a different place today had indecision robbed Eisenhower of this move.
On a personal trip to Normandy in 2019 I witnessed the landing sites and huge cemetaries. Although the landings succeded with great cost I sometimes wonder what would of happened if Eisenhower didn’t make the decision.
Another relevant quote is the following
“A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.”
George S. Patton
Try to think about daily life and see if you notice indecision in your life and how you can be more decisive. Hopefully, it can benefit you in a positive way.
3) How to NOT Overthink. Act NOW With an Adaptable Plan: Brilliant insight by Jocko Willink former Navy Seal and Iraq war veteran. Major influencer that will kick you into gear and forget indecision and procrastination.
