The 2020 Tokyo Olympics was a turn of events, a unique experience for both the crowd and athletes. Despite indirect interaction, the heat of the enthusiastic crowd was more significant than ever through a familiar friend of ours: the monitor. I become rather dramatic when it comes to competition, so it is difficult to hide my exhilaration while finding the adequate words to describe this year’s games. Every moment was breathtaking and inspirational, but the high jump was particularly mesmerizing. Woo Sang-hyeok himself was evidence that “dreams come true” as he overcame his relatively short height and ended up breaking Korea’s long unbroken high jump record. However, it was not the glorious title that stole my attention. Woo was confronted with a task that he had never even attempted to try: Jumping over Korea’s unsurpassed high jump record. His world ranking indeed changed as he eventually failed to step up the Olympic podium. What didn’t change was his beaming smile and his words to himself “It’s OK.” Some earn a medal and yet show the expression of a person who could not make it to the preliminary match. Some may even apologize to their acquaintances for not being able to satisfy their expectations regardless of their notable achievements. These people equate their value to what they have earned or now own. They rejoice or despair, seeing their titles as an objective evaluation index of themselves. Woo’s innocent grin continuously emerged on his face throughout the entire event. In addition, his relieved expressions at the end of the game and unhindered behavior really did make him seem OK. What Woo won was not a medal but a personal discovery of himself as a man with brilliant talent. Aside from athletes, many identify their values from their belongings. The world changes rapidly, and many believe that everything moves forward while they still linger in the same area, not yet ready to take a step onward. This imbalance in the pace of maturation leads people to think that their value is degraded overtime, along with their static achievements. In fact, people begin to feel insecure and impatient. Cravings for easy solutions to anxious feelings introduce new behavioral patterns to society like sudden increases in expenditure on luxury goods or provocative discussions via online communities. These issues often decorate the headlines of major news channels and have become representative cases for displaying the negativity of modern people. Unlike the widespread recognition that such expressions of anxiety is a phenomenon to be eradicated, The Hanyang Journal would like to offer warm words of “It’s OK” to those who are suffering from pressure by pointing to the ultimate foundations of the dimness of modern days. Our editors have endeavored to embrace the stories of individuals who have long forgotten their true value within barren times by recognizing the agony and distress that they would have encountered. Personally, I hope our readers will always acknowledge their importance simply by who they are and learn to part from the obsession of what they earn or own. Everything will be OK.

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