I am grateful for all the moments that I have, and I'm moving

In the words of Park Bo-gum, "I am grateful for all the moments that I have, and I'm moving forward one step at a time to the future," we are invited to embrace the twin forces of gratitude and progress. This sentiment speaks to the core of human existence: we are often caught between the pull of the past and the pull of the future, but it is in the present moment that we find our greatest power. To be grateful for what we have, while moving forward with resolve, is the key to living a life that is both fulfilling and purposeful.

The idea of gratitude for the present moment is not new. The ancient Greeks understood the importance of recognizing the value of each day. Epictetus, a Stoic philosopher, taught that the only thing truly within our control is how we respond to the present. In his view, the past cannot be changed, the future is uncertain, but the present—how we live in this moment—is what defines us. To live with gratitude, to accept the present as it is, is to cultivate wisdom, and peace within the soul. In this way, Park Bo-gum’s words echo the timeless teachings of the Stoics, who saw gratitude as a powerful way to find joy in the face of life’s uncertainties.

Take, for example, the life of Socrates. His life was defined by a commitment to the present moment, to constantly questioning and seeking understanding. While he could not control the circumstances of his life—his eventual trial, imprisonment, and death—he found peace in the knowledge that he had lived in accordance with his values. His gratitude was found not in the grandiose, but in the daily acts of seeking truth and living with purpose. Socrates, like Park Bo-gum, showed us that the future is uncertain, but how we approach the present moment shapes the path ahead.

Similarly, in the story of the Buddha, we find a man who sought enlightenment not by dwelling on the past, nor by worrying about an uncertain future, but by embracing the present with mindfulness and gratitude. His teachings on meditation and mindfulness call us to appreciate each moment for what it is, without attachment or fear of what might come. The Buddha’s journey was about moving forward, step by step, letting go of the past and not fearing the future, much like Park Bo-gum’s commitment to take one step at a time toward the future. In this way, the present becomes the foundation of all that we seek, and it is in accepting it fully that we can move forward.

The act of moving forward with gratitude is also reflected in the resilience of Nelson Mandela, who, after spending 27 years in prison, emerged not with bitterness, but with a deep gratitude for the lessons he had learned. His commitment to peace, forgiveness, and nation-building was rooted in his understanding that each moment, even those spent in suffering, had value. Mandela’s ability to embrace the present, without being bound by the bitterness of the past, allowed him to lead his country into a new era. Gratitude for what he had, even in the darkest of times, fueled his capacity to move forward into a future filled with hope.

Park Bo-gum’s message is one of hope, resilience, and balance—qualities that are universally human and deeply necessary for navigating the complexities of life. To be grateful for the present, while moving forward, step by step, into the future, allows us to live not in the shadow of the past or in fear of what is yet to come, but in the full power of the present moment. It is in this balance that we can find peace, for we are not paralyzed by regrets or fears, but empowered by the gratitude for each day, and the courage to move forward.

The lesson we must take from Park Bo-gum’s words is clear: gratitude and progress are not mutually exclusive. To embrace the present with thankfulness, while walking toward the future with determination, is the key to a life of purpose. In practical terms, we must learn to acknowledge the value of each moment, to let go of the past, and to trust that each step we take will lead us to a brighter, more fulfilling future. We must learn to be present, and in doing so, we build a future rooted in peace and purpose, one step at a time.