Lucky Seoul miser

"You were born lucky. Whenever you need money, it somehow finds you. But be careful—trouble is always waiting around the corner."

That’s something my father used to tell me from time to time as I was growing up. I’ve always thought of myself as a lucky person. Maybe because I live with a positive mindset and try to be careful, I’ve rarely faced serious hardships.

One day, something happened that made me smile. Shoes! My child had asked me for a pair of shoes for prom. And during my usual morning walk, there they were—a brand-new pair sitting neatly inside a box. Simple black dress shoes.

"Try them on,” I said.

“Where did they got from? Did you found them on the street, didn’t you?”

“Of course.”

Whenever I need something, I don’t rush to buy it. I wait and wonder, "Is there another way?" And sometimes, like magic, things show up on my morning walk. I live in a neighborhood where young people from other states come chasing dreams of becoming artists—then leave when things don’t work out. Thanks to their great taste, the things they leave behind are often better than anything I could buy with money. Clean, neatly packed items. It’s even fun to look them up on Google to see their value. But that kind of luck is just small stuff.

One day, during my walk, I noticed a "For Sale" sign on a three-story building I had never seen before. It was in a great location, solid and spacious. As soon as I got home, I called a broker to ask the price. I couldn’t believe what I heard—it was much cheaper than I expected!

I set up a meeting and started thinking, 

“How can I get the money?”

I didn’t have enough cash right away. So I called two friends and asked if they wanted to buy the building together—each of us could take one floor. They came running once they heard the price. But a few days later, one of them made a deal behind our backs and told the broker she’d buy it alone! I was speechless. The other friend was hurt and disappointed.

The friend who bought the building later told us, “Good things happen when we follow you two around!”

She and her husband were kind to us. She often invited us over for meals, and gave me bags and bags of stylish clothes she no longer wanted. I didn’t need to go treasure-hunting on my walks anymore.

One day, both our couples ran into each other while walking. I waved excitedly. But suddenly, the woman turned her face away and walked right past me! My husband ran after her, calling her name. I stood there awkwardly, staring at her husband like a dog that just lost its bone. He shrugged, giving me a look that said, "You didn’t notice?"

It hit me. Maybe I had taken too much and given too little. Maybe I had unknowingly acted like a typical selfish Seoul woman?

I had already been thinking of leaving the neighborhood anyway. I decided it was time.

Now, I live in Manhattan and take quiet walks along Riverside Park by the Hudson River. I really am a lucky person.