It's been 20 years since I came to America...

It's surprising how quickly I've spent almost half my life in the U.S.

Yet, whenever a large sum of money is about to go out, my heart races.

Whether it's buying a car, purchasing a house, or getting new insurance... whenever big money is involved, these thoughts unconsciously swirl in my mind.

"Am I doing the right thing?"

"Am I making a foolish decision right now?"

I've asked myself these questions countless times throughout my life.

People born and raised in America might have similar worries, but for immigrants, there's an added burden.

With different cultures, a lack of information, and not many people to ask around, it can be tough.

I'm always the type to play it safe. But strangely enough, thanks to my cold feet, I've never really failed.

Looking back, the most memorable moment was in 2009, buying my own home against my parents' opposition... specifically, a 2-bedroom condo.

I scraped together all the money I had and took out a bank loan to buy a condo near Southwestern Law School for $200,000, which was a quick sale at the time.

My parents and brother shook their heads, saying, "The housing prices will drop further," while my friends asked, "Why buy now when the real estate market is crashing?"

But for me, a condo that was worth $280,000 being sold for $200,000 was a safe investment.

I was confident I wouldn't lose my home. Plus, it was an opportunity to buy it for $80,000 less, knowing I wouldn't be renting it out anyway.

Honestly, I was worried for about two years... constantly questioning if I had made a mistake, feeling uneasy and always having cold hands and feet.

During that time, stocks were crashing, companies were going bankrupt daily, and I wasn't sure if I would keep my job; it was a time filled with uncertainty.

However, as time passed, my home has more than doubled in value.

Taxes and management fees are high, but thanks to that house, "I feel like I did something right after all."

And one more thing. Cryptocurrency. Yes, cryptocurrency.

At one point, I heard people say, "If you don't get in now, you're a fool" so often it became a mantra.

One of my friends invested heavily in a strange altcoin in 2021.

"This is going to $100. It's $20 now, get in before it's too late!"

"Hmm... let's just watch for now."

That friend, invested $30,000 and now can't even recover $5,000 and is upset.

Thanks to not getting in, even while being called a "coward," I quietly applaud myself whenever cryptocurrency comes up.

Is that why?

These days, my cold feet sometimes feel like a blessing.

Rather than taking reckless risks, my style is to steadily move forward one step at a time.

Life doesn't seem to require hitting a jackpot to be successful.

It's about not failing big, holding on, and gradually improving over time.

That's the real skill I've learned from living in America.

Today, I am still cautious.