'Follow dreams that make your heart beat'
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“A Life No Limits” by Kim Myung-june
By Kwon Ji-youn
As life reaches a peak and there’s nowhere to go but over and down the hill, it may appear as though the world has put you on the back burner and there’s not much else to do but grow old. But mountaineer Kim Myung-june began climbing at age 50, and conquered Mount Carstenszt (4,884 m), the highest peak in Oceania, in 2006 to complete the “Seven Summits Challenge.” Kim also ran marathons on all eight continents and still enjoys running and climbing at age 71.
Kim’s life as a climber is detailed in his book published by the Donga Ilbo, “A Life No Limits.” The pain he endured as he surmounted Mount Everest is meticulously described in this autobiographical recount, as he explains in depth how his dreams turned his downward life upward.
As life expectancy is prolonged, the elderly fear a finale to life without happiness, but Kim stresses that as you grow older, you have to seek new dreams.
Though Kim’s achievements have made headlines, he doesn’t think much of them. He knows that the road to any dream’s fulfillment is thorny and that any sense of accomplishment at the end of those roads is as valuable as his own success. Readers, as they embark on Kim’s journey, will become painfully aware of the need (and want) to dream new dreams and set new goals as the curtains rise on act two of their lives. These dreams needn’t be grand or extraordinary Kim says ― they just need to make your heart beat once more.
Kim’s recaps of his ascents up the Everest and McKinley are vivid, recounting his battles against the bitter cold and the fear of death. But Kim doesn’t stop and as readers climb with him, they will realize that they can be old and still be happy, that they can be old and still be young. Anecdotes about Kim’s encounters with the late mountaineer Park Young-seok and Oh Eun-sun add icing to the cake.
“A Life No Limits,” priced at 14,800 won, is available online and at local book stores including Kyobo Book Center, Bandi&Luni’s and Youngpoong Books.