If we had met four months ago, there is a good chance that you would not have liked me. At all. And to be brutally honest, I did not like myself very much either. 

If you have ever watched an American comedy about a self-proclaimed businesswoman living the Big City life while trying to balance a successful career with a healthy diet, who attends weekly yoga classes while moaning about a non-existent love life with their best friends – that was me. Only that I lived in London and not the US, my career was pretty much mediocre, my diet was not all too healthy, and who the heck has time for Yoga, a love life, or time with their best friends after a thirteen-plus hour working day, excluding commute? Needless to say, I was racing towards the worst burnout at a million miles an hour. Utterly and thoroughly. 

Constantly angry? Easy to wind up? Complaining like a curmudgeon? Yes, yes, and double-yes. That was me. I lived like I had purchased a grey raincloud and was now permanently wearing it like a non-removable hat. 

And funnily enough, it took me a while to truly realise how miserable I was. The awakening was a tough one. I do not want to go into details here, but to sum it up, the aforementioned raincloud turned into an ice-cold hailstorm. Changes needed to be made, but where to start? In the end, I decided on the all-or-nothing approach and did what every self-proclaimed movie heroine would do: I quit my job after a fifteen-year-long steady career, got rid of my apartment and said goodbye to my friends without a Plan B in mind. 

All I knew was that I needed to break free from this cycle. 

And what better place was there to pick up my pieces than Seoul?

This choice turned out to be easy: I drew up a long list of pros and cons, thoroughly researched the living standards and quality of life of every place in existence and…

Of course, I did none of that. I went where my heart told me to go. Simple. 

A few months later, I was finally ready to leave my old life behind. It felt weird to see my workplace for the last time, weirder still when I told everyone goodbye. My apartment no longer looked like the home I had made with all my belongings gone. Yet, when I dragged my suitcase down the stairs… got the train to the airport… boarded the plane, I got a strong dose of cold feet. Was leaving my life on a whim really the right decision? 

This was no long-term plan. I very much said goodbye to everything I had built for myself for a three-month adventure that I had booked on impulse. And that was going to eat up my last savings. 

Objectively, I admit, this may not sound like the sanest choice in life. But I must also add that in my forty-plus years, the things I decided on a whim remain the best decisions ever made. So, it should be no surprise that the decision to come to Seoul now tops this list. Because I discovered the most incredible human being while I was there: Me. Not the version I used to be in the months (and maybe even years) leading to my burnout, but the Real Me. The non-stressed, non-depressed, non-miserable version of myself who remembers how to laugh, likes to be spontaneous and enjoys being surrounded by people. Or, in short, the person I had long forgotten ever existed. 

It felt like I found a city specifically designed for me and my needs. 

From walking down bustling Myeongdong Streets surrounded by the latest K-Pop beats to discovering tranquil walks along the Han River to Sunday morning runs along the stunning Cheonggyecheon stream, the city offers the perfect backdrop for every mood. Oftentimes, I found myself relying on my own two feet rather than taking the bus or the metro, because you never knew what sort of treasure one could stumble into on the way. 

As a self-proclaimed couch potato, nerd, and coffee addict, among the things I fell for the most were the plentiful, perfectly curated, artfully decorated, cutest cafes. These are usually open until late a vast number even come equipped with nooks designed for remote working (PLUGS!!! Plenty of them!!!) and offer a generous drinks menu alongside eye-pleasing and mouth-watering treats. 

I had been in the city less than a week when my fingers started to tingle with the need to take my laptop along for a long and intense writing session. There are no words to express how truly rejuvenating that felt. Being able to leave my babies (my laptop, my secretary (phone) and my favourite book) lying around while exploring the artfully displayed treats allowed for time leisurely enjoyment. Even I was surprised by the hours that passed while fully immersed in my creative work. 

Before arriving in Seoul, my creative flame was all but extinguished, and my writer’s block compared in size to the Grand Canyon. Yet, here I found myself spilling words at a speed my fingers found hard to follow. Anyone who ever experienced an adrenaline spike understands what I am referring to. 

It took me less than three months to write approximately 100,000 words. (Not only random words but a coherent story). To put this in perspective for non-writers, this is the average size of a standard novel. And somehow, I managed to accomplish all of this while sightseeing, attending language school, and participating in an array of activities I would not have had the energy or time for in the place I no longer call my home. As one would expect, Seoul left such an imprint in my soul that I could not resist the urge to include this wonderful city in my story. 

Now, if asked what makes Seoul such a captivating city, I would say this is very hard to pinpoint. There is not just a single thing, but rather the motley collection of contrasting architecture, incredible food, and some of the most fascinating and marvellous people I have ever encountered that create an addictive vibe one cannot help but crave to be part of. In every nook, every cranny and every side street live scars and wrinkles to tell a story of pain, crooked backs and labour, but also determination and burning victory. These serve as a reminder that everything is possible if one believes in themselves and their dreams hard enough. And has the drive and willpower to work hard for their success. 

This city, and most predominantly, the wonderful people I had the fortune to encounter, serves as reminder that instead of constantly trying to overachieve, it is more prudent to focus on the steadfastness and joy of work and creation. 

I feel I made a pact with this city to thrive and to make the most of the opportunities offered.