I HAVE previously shared several articles on K-dramas. All my family and friends know how much a fan I am of K-drama actors, including Song Seung-heon (Dinner Mate), Nam Joo-hyuk (Weighlifting Fairy Kim Bok-Joo and Twenty-Five Twenty-One), Song Hye-Kyo (Encounter), Son Ye-Jin (Crash Landing on You and Something in the Rain), among others. I was lucky to have traveled to Korea this year for the first time when I accompanied my daughter to the Asian Fencing Championships.
Lately, however, I also started to like Japanese movies and TV series. The last one I watched which really touched my heart was First Love, a series inspired by the music of American pop singer, songwriter and producer Hikaru Utada.
In line with my last article wishing all of us simple yet meaningful abundance, I thought about the last eight-episode Korean series I watched on Netflix, titled The Fabulous. The series follows the journey of four friends in different professions in the fashion industry. Chae Soo-Bin as Pyo Ji Eun, who plays a luxury fashion public relations executive; Choi Min Ho as Ji U-min, a freelance photo retouch specialist; Lee Sang as Joseph, an aspiring and eccentric fashion designer; and Park Hee Jung as successful model Ye Seon-Ho. I felt the series depicted several views on how simple but bold beliefs bring us to “fabulous” and abundant states in our lives.
I hope my reflections below can lead you to also celebrate those “fabulous” moments you have encountered at some point in your life but were probably too busy in the moment to stop and pat yourself for a job well done. Let’s use this first week of January to reflect on these positive thoughts and gain inner inspiration for 2023.
1. Know yourself and stand by your life choices. Min Ho chooses to be a freelance despite the offer of a stable job. He again chooses to pursue his passion of street photography. When Pyo Ji Eun’s boyfriend breaks up with her because she was not well-read in business, she respects her own choice of staying in the fashion industry which she loves. Later on, she accepts her ex-boyfriend back when he respects and accepts her for who she is. Joseph, the character I relate with the most, turns down a prestigious job in Paris because he believes in his own brand and does not want to leave behind the people he loves in Korea. In the end, a luxury brand in Paris offers him both a creative director position in Korea, as well as a collaboration brand. What were the moments in your life that you “fought for yourself” and today feel great that you did? It does not have to be about your career. It can be life choices, like the person you married, the country where you chose to live, or like the passions that, like I did, you chose to not let go.
2. Take your time. Every dream takes time to ripen. Each of the four characters in The Fabulous not just work hard but also forge on despite many setbacks that may have brought doubts to pursue their dreams further. In the end, they all reach their dreams in fate’s unique “package.” Think of the times you were patient with life and yourself. Think of how those times of waiting allowed you to usher in something truly meant for you.
3. Love people unconditionally. I truly admire the mom of the character of Joseph, played by Jeon Soo Kyeong. As she watches her son work hard for his fashion line, she provide a huge emotional support especially when her son faces deep anxiety. As parents, let’s pat ourselves on the back for the times we supported our children even when it was not in line with our own beliefs.
4. Fight for your beliefs. I loved how Ye Seon-Ho, despite her success, defends models who are less established than her against the bullying of industry professionals. At the same time, I admire how she demands that same respect from her partner. In the end, she is able to meet someone who would fight for her at all cost. Think of the times when you defended someone whether in school or work, whether from a long time or just recently. Celebrate that feeling of doing something you might not need to have done, but did so because it was the right thing to do.
5. Accept help and hugs from people who truly care. Joseph is humble and open enough to accept help from his assistant Esther, as well as her friends. Each one of the characters is always open to receive support from one another in both their toughest and happiest moments.
Each these points raised can also be seen as continuing reflections for self-care. It might seem like frivolous time spent in the face of our daily grind, but each of them emphasizes a little kindness to ourselves. In my experience, being kinder, more patient, less judgmental and ultimately more loving to ourselves allows us to be kinder, more patient, less judgmental and ultimately more loving to people and experiences around us, especially to the people who mean to us the most.
Image credits: Kelsey Chance on Unsplash