Cultivating the Heart
Short but touching writings will make the field of your heart rich.
Jun 13, 2025
Sharing
There was a water carrier whose job was to fill the water jars at a wealthy household. He always used two jars. One was perfectly intact, while the…
Jun 13, 2025
As Long As You Don’t Give Up Until the End
When a ball leaves the pitcher’s hand and reaches the batter, it takes only about 0.4 seconds. In that split second, the batter has to swing the bat…
Jun 13, 2025
What Happens If We Lose Our Sense of Smell?
“If you had to give up one of your five senses, which would you choose?” In a survey conducted by the University of Pennsylvania, the most common answer…
Jun 13, 2025
Labor or Exercise?
Harvard psychologist Professor Ellen Langer conducted a study on 84 hotel housekeepers to examine their health. Although these workers were physically active due to their jobs, many still…
Jun 13, 2025
A Truly Good Person
At work, there are some people others describe by saying, “They’re genuinely a good person.” These are the people who sincerely take on tasks that others might overlook,…
Jun 13, 2025
The Birds That Cannot Fly
On the calm and quiet islands of New Zealand, there are over 20 species of birds that cannot fly. One of the most well-known is the kiwi, a…
Jun 13, 2025
What Takes Over My Heart
There’s a story about a merchant traveling through the desert on a freezing night with his camel. As the night grew colder, the camel asked if he could…
Jun 13, 2025
Why We Need Education
I watched a TV program where parents received expert guidance on how to educate their children. One child behaved as he wanted, without thinking of others. The expert…
Kim Gyuri, Gumi, Korea
Jun 13, 2025
The Life Shaped by My Thoughts
“Our lives are shaped by our thoughts.” This is a well-known quote from Dale Carnegie, a pioneer in human relationships and personal development. He meant that the direction…
Jun 12, 2025
The Value of a Ring
A young man once went to a wise man and said that people seemed to think very little of him. He asked for some advice. The wise man…
Jun 12, 2025
The Attitude of Learning
“Each time you fall, pick something up.” These are the words of Oswald Avery, a bacteriologist from Canada. Failure doesn’t mean the end. If you can learn even…
Jun 12, 2025
When It’s Time to Let Go
In 2016, the Korean vessel Sun Peony was sailing smoothly from Thailand to Taiwan, carrying about 7,800 tons of liquid chemicals. But then, it was caught in a…
Jun 12, 2025
The Fable of the Chestnut Grove
A man was walking through the mountains when a bird with unusually large wings suddenly flew past him and disappeared into the bushes. Curious, the man picked up…
Jun 12, 2025
The Cactus in the Desert
In order for living things to survive, they need nutrients. Plants, which cannot move once they’ve taken root in the ground, obtain nutrients through photosynthesis. Photosynthesis is the…
Jun 12, 2025
The Methuselah Syndrome
There was a time when websites that helped people reconnect with old classmates were hugely popular. More recently, a film about a middle-aged woman searching for her long-lost…
Jun 12, 2025
The Three Diligences (三勤戒): “Be diligent, be diligent, and be diligent”
In the Joseon Dynasty of Korea, there lived a renowned agronomist, philosopher, and poet named Jeong Yak-yong, also known by his pen name, Dasan. During his exile in…
May 28, 2025
Words That Changed the Mood
While busily preparing dinner, the mother accidentally poured vinegar into the stew instead of sesame oil. She was startled, but since the food was already made, she couldn't…
May 28, 2025
If You’re Not Sure What to Do
Before building a house, you first need to picture what the finished home will look like. That way, you can figure out what steps to take, what materials…
May 28, 2025
Unyielding Will
There once was a marathon runner from Ethiopia named Abebe Bikila. In the 1960 Rome Olympics, though an unknown athlete at the time, he ran the marathon barefoot,…
May 28, 2025
The Incubation Period of Thought
When we face a difficult problem or try to come up with an idea, there are times when we think for a long time but can't find an…
May 28, 2025
What Does It Mean to Succeed?
“To laugh often and much. To earn the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children. To earn the praise of honest critics and endure the betrayal…
May 28, 2025
The Fig Tree and the Fig Wasp
The name fig in Korean literally means “fruit without a flower.” But in truth, no fruit in the world can grow without a flower. What looks like a…
May 28, 2025
A Melody of Hope Echoes Through the Slums
In the slums of Venezuela, where children are left unprotected against violence, drugs, and firearms, many end up joining criminal gangs simply to satisfy their hunger. These children…
May 28, 2025
Proof of Love
This is a story from a home in the United States. Whenever her son wanted to talk, the mother always listened seriously. One evening, the mother and her…
May 28, 2025
The Principle of Presumed Innocence
The principle of “presumed innocence” is a legal concept that means a person is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court of law. This idea took shape…
May 28, 2025
Why She Learned to Spin a Wheel First
Margaret Bourke-White, an American photojournalist, was known for her fearless work. When World War II broke out, she risked her life to cover the front lines. Even after…
May 27, 2025
Purpose, Goals, and Plans
To achieve a purpose, you need to set goals. A purpose is more abstract—it’s the ideal or direction you’re aiming for. A goal, on the other hand, is…
May 27, 2025
The Grandfather Who Traded a Horse for Apples
A grandfather who lived in the countryside went into town one day to trade his only possession—a horse—for something else. First, he exchanged the horse for a cow.…
May 27, 2025
Knowledge Beyond Words
There are two types of knowledge: one that can be expressed in words, and another that cannot. The first is called explicit knowledge, while the second is known…
May 27, 2025
The Traveler Who Hitched a Ride on a Wagon
An Israeli traveler, tired from walking, asked a passing wagon driver if he could get a ride. The driver gladly agreed and let him on. The traveler asked,…