No one is above having a bad day, but in South Korea, there's a specific phrase said to loved ones to acknowledge the bravery it takes just to show up. Often, when you're having a bad day, week, or even month, it can feel never-ending. The hits seem like they won't stop coming, and it can feel impossible to escape the dark cloud that decided to rain on any thought of a parade you could have.When these things happen, it can feel isolating, as if no one understands how hard you're trying to keep moving forward without falling apart. No matter how much money or security someone has, they're not immune to this very human experience. That's likely why the Korean phrase 수고했어, pronounced "soo-goh-het-suh," is bringing so many people to tears as they learn about it for the first time. Joyful embrace against a vibrant red backdrop.Photo credit: CanvaKorean actor and real estate agent Hana Kim recently shared the saying with her followers on Instagram. In the video, she tells a story about her mother's nightly routine of texting her before bed. She explains: "In America, people say, 'You did a good job.' In Korea, we say, 'soo-goh-het-suh,' but we don't say it because you've succeeded. This is what my mom texts me every night before I go to bed, and it makes me feel really supported."Kim explains that the phrase means, "You've carried your pain, but you still kept going." Saying it to another person acknowledges that you see both their pain and their perseverance in the face of it."So if today felt long soo-goh-het-suh," Kim says. "If no one noticed how hard you worked today, soo-goh-het-suh. If you wanted to give up everything but you said, 'just one more time,' soo-goh-het-suh. And you don't have to carry this alone." View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hana Kim |