★Rights sold: Traditional Chinese, Thai, Russian and Malaysian
★The author, "Dancing Snail", is not only a best-selling author. Her work "The Appropriate and Intimate Distance" was voted as the "Book of the Year 2020" in South Korea. The copyrights of many of her works have been sold to places like Chinese mainland, Russia, Thailand, Japan, Indonesia, the Philippines, etc. Especially in Japan, the sales volume of her illustrated essays exceeded 150,000 copies. She is also an illustrator. One of her illustration works, "Although I Want to Die, I Still Want to Eat Spicy Fried Rice Cakes", has resonated with countless people. Meanwhile, she was once a depression sufferer, so she understands those unhappy people better and is more aware of the longing for happiness. This book is her latest illustrated essay, in which she brings a new philosophy of life about only putting in 80% of the effort.

In our pursuit of perfection, we frequently find ourselves mired in the quagmire of self-torture. However, it's essential to bear in mind that we are our own most steadfast supporters. As the author puts it, "I resolutely determine that from this moment on, I will only devote 80% of my energy to every endeavor." This seemingly simple approach is, in fact, the most straightforward way to wholeheartedly embrace and love our present selves.

This book holds a distinct charm, as the author fearlessly and openly shares a multitude of personal and private stories. Unlike her previous works, which expounded viewpoints through relatable events and solutions encountered in our daily work and lives, this time, the author engages with readers in an intimate and gentle conversation, revealing the deepest recesses of her heart. This approach effectively bridges the gap between her and the readers, allowing us to vividly and clearly glimpse into her inner world. The tales within the book mirror the commonplace and familiar trifles and troubles that we experience each day.

Daily life often entraps us in a web of struggles and bewilderment, filled with a profusion of thoughts and mounting anxieties, as depicted in Chapter 1. Nevertheless, to seize the happiness that lies within our immediate grasp, we establish a benchmark for happiness, which forms the crux of Chapter 2. We refuse to remain stagnant; instead, we strive to identify our current needs on the long and winding journey of life, as emphasized in Chapter 3. With unwavering courage, we march resolutely towards tomorrow, embodying the belief conveyed in Chapter 4. There are moments when we might feel a sense of dislike for ourselves, but the author imparts the wisdom that we should resolve to love our true selves unreservedly in the here and now. The stories chronicled in the book not only trace the author's personal growth but also mirror the transformative journey that each of us undergoes.

As the author eloquently states, life is akin to walking. "It doesn't follow that one must tread an extraordinary path simply because they have walked for an extended period, nor does it imply that perfection must be attained merely because a significant amount of time has been invested." "Just as when walking, we should lay down the burdens weighing on our shoulders and direct all our attention to the very act of walking. By doing so, we can execute any task with greater ease and consistency." Life doesn't invariably demand that we achieve remarkable feats. What it truly requires is the courage to "try again tomorrow" and an unshakable belief that "come what may, we will continue to progress forward tomorrow." Even if we meander through each day in a state of confusion, we can still stride towards tomorrow without hesitation. The trials and tribulations, as well as the efforts, that the author pours out onto the pages of this book will metamorphose into an inspiring force, accompanying us steadfastly on this singular journey of life.

Dancing Snail

She is an illustrator, a writer of illustrated essays, and also an expert who learns about life through American TV series. She has the temperament and fate of a homebody. She enjoys unearthing the humor hidden in depression and presenting it through her illustrations.

She has experienced burnout, depression, and anxiety for a long time and would question herself every day, "Am I the only one who's so strange?" For her, she just needed a bit more time than others, but not many people could understand that. In order to comfort herself and pour out her inner thoughts, for such extremely personal reasons, she embarked on the path of drawing and writing. She hopes that these stories can bring comfort to all the "grown-ups" in the world who never really grew up: "It's okay. You're not the only one who would be like that."

She has illustrated the pictures in many books such as "Although I Want to Die, I Still Want to Eat Spicy Fried Rice Cakes", "It's Okay to Spill Over Like This", and "Wanting to Be Alone but Hating Loneliness". Her works that she both wrote and illustrated include "Not Lazy, Just Recharging", "The Appropriate and Intimate Distance", and "People Who Easily Become Happy: 58 To-Do Items for Saying Goodbye to Negative Emotions".

Prologue: I Want to Live Slowly Every Day as if I Were Taking a Walk

Chapter 1: Was it easiest for me to hate myself?
“Every time my thoughts multiplied, I moved my body and went outside.”
The phrase "I don't have time"
Turning off the switch of emotions
Probably because I want to be loved
The saddest thing when there's no money
The closest people are the most difficult
Love is not just anyone
Our hearts are of different sizes
The correlation between lunch and getting off work
Real advice from adults
Nights when you scroll through your phone for no reason
A simple way to gain peace of mind
The secret that people who laugh a lot know
Chapter 2: I want to be a happy person, not a good person to everyone
“I'm fine as long as a few people believe I'm right.”
I decided not to pretend to like
The art of resting without doing anything special
The one thing that doesn't change
People who take a long time to open their hearts
Growing pains should be just painful enough to be medicinal
Even if I can't fill every day with things I love
A person who lives simply and plainly in the present
At the end of a chaotic day, try picking up a pen
Using your body well to use your mind well
Why adults like flowers
Knowing that a few people understand me is enough
A blind date without a follow-up
Even if no one understands or expects anything
I decided to just look at me for one day

Chapter 3: I live today at my own pace
“What I needed was something that would wait for me.”
I decided to live by doing only 80%
The reason we turn on the happiness circuit
Is it okay to just exist as I am?
I sent a package to an old friend
Not noticing beautiful moments at all
The censor in my heart
What color is filling my closet now?
On Friday nights, the unreturned feelings come to mind
You can't see the forest in the forest
Still, I will walk tomorrow
A relationship that truly lasts
When nothing feels important
A free and stable life is like a simple yet gorgeous design
People who make me feel okay just as I am

Chapter 4: For a freer tomorrow
“I want to live by looking at the world as it is.”
It's not always possible to succeed
Imaginations scarier than reality
60 seconds, 60 minutes, 24 hours, 365 days
At least I want to live like a human being
Anxiety will be your compass
Why think so complicatedly
I don't want to get married
How to be free from work
No one wants to hear uncomfortable truths
You don't cherish me anymore
People who will all pass by
The reason to leave photos
Among money, love, and freedom, which is the most important?
No one owes you empathy
The freedom to see things as they are