There are many new phrases emerging in Korean internet culture.

Expressions like 'Alppano' and even just "Scratching?" are common these days, haha.

Among them, the phrase I resonate with the most these days is 'jipaljikon'.

It means you shape your own fate.

After meeting many people, watching the news, and listening to stories around me, I realize this phrase isn't entirely wrong.

Here in LA, where many Koreans live, some people work diligently, buy homes, and send their children to college.

However, I've also seen people who earn a decent income but get caught up in stock and cryptocurrency investments, eventually falling into drugs and ending up completely ruined.

When you look closely, not many people were unhappy from the start. Most begin to get tangled up when they cross their own boundaries.

Drugs start with the thought, "Just this once, it should be fine."
Investments begin with, "This time, it's definitely going to be a hit."

I've seen many cases where people end up ruining their own lives.

Living in America, I feel that in a country with a lot of freedom, self-control becomes even more important.

No one interferes. Whether you drink, gamble at casinos every day, or do drugs, it's your choice.

But you must take full responsibility for the consequences.

Watching news about Korean celebrities, I have similar thoughts. Of course, not everyone is like that.

There are certainly personal struggles that are hard to bear, like depression, malicious comments, and issues with agencies.

However, when you look closely at unfortunate news, there are often intertwined issues of gambling, drugs, excessive investments, reckless business expansions, debt, and relationship problems.

One wrong choice creates another problem, and that problem leads to a cycle of even bigger issues.

Human greed is truly frightening.

When you earn $5,000 a month, you want to earn $10,000, and when you earn $10,000, you want to earn $50,000.

Then, when normal methods no longer satisfy, people may choose risky paths.

These days, I'm trying to think the opposite way.

I believe that knowing what not to do is also a skill.

Not going to the casino is a skill, not doing drugs is a skill, and even rejecting a friend's suggestion to make money if it seems off is a skill.

Avoiding getting involved in coins, futures, options, or strange businesses is ultimately a choice that protects your life.

After living in America for a long time, I also see common traits among successful people. It's not some incredible secret.

They work steadily, pay taxes, take care of their health, look after their families, and avoid doing what they shouldn't. It's surprisingly ordinary.

On the other hand, those whose lives have fallen apart often have flashy failures.

The greed to make a big score at once, the complacency of thinking, "It should be fine just this once," and the illusion that I will be the exception ultimately hold them back.

As I get older, I realize that what you don't do can often be more important than what you do in life.

In my 50s, I find that people who don't cause trouble seem more impressive than those who make a lot of money.

Living without losing health, without creating debt, without causing worry for family, and quietly doing what needs to be done each day—perhaps that's what it means to truly live well.