디시인사이드

I set out before dawn for the first time in a very long while.

A round trip of 200 kilometers —

my destination was the ginkgo tree of [Bangye-ri].

They said the tree is over 1,300 years old.

When you hear the number, it simply sounds ancient,

but standing before it, the tree itself

seemed to radiate the weight of time.

Each time the golden leaves shimmered in the breeze,

it felt as if time itself were flowing more slowly.

I felt the light of the tree seeing deep into my heart.

Standing before this great old tree,

life seemed endlessly small —

but that smallness didn't feel bad.

It felt strangely peaceful.

My heart grew lighter, my thoughts cleared.

I was glad I had set out early that morning.

There are surely days in life when one must travel a long, distant road.