* A reflection for the "My Beloved Book" column

Regret arises when we miss things worth cherishing. This is not because we are unaware of their value, but because we believe we have ample time. We grow accustomed to the presence of a person, an opportunity, or an ordinary moment, taking it for granted. Only when that presence departs do we realize what we have lost is not just an event, but a part of life that silently supported us every day.

To my dearest mom,

Life has brought me many ups and downs, allowing me to experience the warmth and coldness of people's hearts. It has compelled me to learn and grow in this fast-paced life, sometimes making me unconsciously lose my inherent gentleness in how I treat you. Despite this, I immediately adjusted my behavior to rebalance my emotions. These experiences always remind me that whenever I am with you, I need to practice being present as much as possible.

I hope to maintain this practice and cultivate my spirit until your hair turns completely gray. This way, no regret will ever arise between us. It is thanks to your tireless nurturing and upbringing that I have become the person I am today. I always carry the book "Please Look After Mom" with me, and it serves as a constant reminder of this truth.

I see your image in Park So Nyo, the character in the book — a hardworking mother, working tirelessly from dawn till dusk, utterly devoted to her family, husband, and children. She never complained, no matter the hardship. She always maintained optimism, compassion, lived righteously, and cared for those in difficult circumstances around her. Park So Nyo, despite being illiterate, meticulously raised each of her children to be good people; she truly was an extraordinary mother.

In her image, I recognize a profound lesson about love. True love does not demand ostentation or superficiality. It awakens humanity's deepest potential, turning the impossible into the possible. Wherever love exists, there is an intrinsic motivation to learn everything, provided it becomes a tool to develop oneself and express love to those we cherish.

I cannot imagine how I would feel if one day I were fortunate enough to receive boundless love from someone, only to carelessly take it for granted and let it slip away. This thought brought me to tears for a long time after reading a passage from the book: "The pharmacist recounted that he lived on the third floor of the building. That morning, when he opened the shutters of his pharmacy, he saw an old woman sleeping next to a trash can outside the fast-food restaurant next door. The pharmacist also mentioned that the old woman wore blue slippers, and because she walked so much, the area near her big toe was deeply wounded, almost to the bone. The wound was badly infected and re-infected, seemingly beyond repair..."

The novel "Please Look After Mom" by Korean writer Shin Kyung-sook, published by Ha Noi Publishing House in association with Nha Nam. Photo: Reader provided

Park So Nyo dedicated her entire life to meticulously caring for her husband's every meal and sleep, raising all her children to be successful. Unbeknownst to her, her severe headaches had gradually caused memory loss, making her less lucid than before. Despite this, no one in the family paid attention, not even her husband by her side — the careless man who rushed onto the train first, leaving his wife to struggle behind and get lost in the crowded subway station.

It was not until the wife and mother of the family went missing that the husband and children began to piece together fragmented memories, realizing how neglectful they had been towards their wife and mother. They had always taken her actions for granted, so they dismissed and easily overlooked them. Only after losing her did they understand the immense importance of her presence.

When I read the book 11 years ago, I worried that you, mom, cared too much for others and might forget yourself. I felt helpless when I told you to stop overworking and dedicate more time to yourself, but you wouldn't. Later, I realized you didn't need to change anything; you just needed to be yourself, and that was enough.

For all these years, carrying the book with me, I have always reminded myself of the profound lesson about the cost of taking things for granted. I fear that one day, the busy pace of life will sweep me away, and I will inadvertently consider what you do for me as inherent, with its value, gratitude, diminishing over the years. I dare not imagine such a scenario.

I will keep "Please Look After Mom" here to remind myself to cherish every moment I have with you. Even if you are nagging or difficult, it does not matter. I will quietly love you, just as you always do, without needing to prove it to anyone.

Because after all, I know, having you means having love.

Thi May