A Heavy-Snow Day Crash That Pushed Me Toward a Lighter Life

Daily · Published 2/5/2024 ·

It was one of those days with heavy snow. A heavy-snow warning — or advisory, I forget which — had been issued for Seoul and Gyeonggi, the whole metro area, and the snow had been coming down since before dawn.

I had to drive my Sienna, a front-wheel-drive car, to a hotel on Namsan in Seoul that day. So of course I drove very carefully and mostly stuck to the main roads.

The way up to Namsan went through a tunnel, and right at the start of the climb — where you exit the tunnel and turn right to head up — the snow had piled up thick and it was seriously slippery. I crawled around that right turn at under 20 km/h and barely made it up. After dropping off my passengers, I’d turned around to head back down and was sitting there waiting to make a left.

It really was snowing a lot… A four-wheel-drive SUV that was sliding on the snowy road plowed right into me as I sat waiting to turn left. The impact was substantial and the bumper flew clean off. No matter how much calcium chloride they spread, there was simply no way to dodge a car that couldn’t brake on a downhill.

I spent four days in the hospital with pain in my chest. As for the car, it lost so much of its appeal that I didn’t even want to drive it anymore once repaired, and its used-car value dropped even further. Just sitting there, I’d taken a loss of at least 20 million won — repair costs that didn’t even fall into the “diminished value” category. Well, an accident is a loss no matter how you slice it. I came to realize that the pleasure stuff gives you, the happiness an object brings, is really just like the taste of a single cigarette. It’s nice while you’re smoking it… but then there’s the bitter smell, the traces it leaves on your body, and the unwelcoming looks from everyone around you. If there’s a loss, there ought to be a gain too — and luckily, there was. I got the excuse and the chance to set off toward the minimal, lighter daily life I’d been craving for so long. I started clearing out my surroundings.

This time I went and bought an old used car — one I wouldn’t mind if someone crashed into it (though honestly, it’s precious to me).

Swapped out the not-quite-right wheels and tires it came with…

The good thing is the only real “problems” are buttons popping out or getting scuffed — it’s such an old-school clunker that I just diligently replace the consumables.

The camber is still overwhelming…

The war against rattles and squeaks never ends.

Tried swapping out a few bits and bones here and there…

And replacing the mounts too.

I’m clearing out the things I no longer need — the ones I’d kept around just because I was curious what they could do.

In the end, all that’s left is my body, my mind, and my family. The happiness things bring is so fleeting, and no matter how dearly I try to protect something, its value can vanish in an instant for reasons beyond my control — the meaning gone in a flash, like exhaled smoke. It feels a little late to be figuring out what matters most… but hey, life’s still long.

That row of gorgeous sports cars with their beautiful rear ends and ear-splitting exhaust notes — you can’t even enjoy looking at any of it if you’re not healthy.

I’ve hit pause on every direction I’d set my life toward, and now I’m checking, one by one, whether they’re really the right ones.

I hope the day comes soon when I can get back to writing posts that share solid fitness information.

After being discharged I went to the gym to work out, but I had aches all over. After a car accident, I think it’s best to rest for at least two weeks. In my case, it wasn’t until the third week that I could manage even half my usual weights. Working out through the pain might not do you any good, so please rest and recover fully before you get back to it.

Thank you.

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