After hearing my friend’s news, I fall behind at work
After hearing my friend’s good news, my pen keeps getting stuck on the same line. In the counseling room, Dalbit and I revisit the first moment of that…
That afternoon, after hearing her friend had bought a new home, Jiwoo tries to get back to work, then brings up what she said in front of her counselor.
At lunch, Jiwoo’s friend tells her she’s bought a new home. Back at work that afternoon, Jiwoo can’t focus, and even small mistakes start piling up. When Dalbit asks about that moment in the counseling room, Jiwoo starts to say something she swallowed after offering congratulations, then stops. When comparison comes up, you can look at what thoughts appeared when it began instead of rushing to fix the feeling. The story pauses just before Jiwoo says those words out loud.
When you compare yourself with a friend
Sometimes someone else’s good news can make your own day feel small. You can start by gently noticing where the comparison began.
After hearing your friend’s news, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?
The afternoon when her pen stayed on the same line after hearing her friend had bought a new home lingers. When comparison begins, thoughts that put down your own day can follow right behind someone else’s good news. If you’re carrying a similar moment, you can tell us about it too.
Scenes
- 01 · The news about the new home at lunch I bought a new home — Over lunch, Sumin shared the news that she’d bought a new home. Holding her spoon, Jiwoo said, “Congratulations.” Sumin: We bought a new home. Jiwoo: Wow, congratulations.
- 02 · Stuck on the same line The afternoon keeps breaking up — Back at her desk that afternoon, Jiwoo reread the same line in the document several times but couldn’t move on to the next sentence.
- 03 · More lines to fix Only the traces of what I erased remain — Erased sentences and revised ones overlapped in the document. Jiwoo stopped, the blinking cursor resting before the edits.
- 04 · Words caught at her lips What lay behind those words — Jiwoo said she couldn’t focus on work all afternoon after hearing about her friend’s new home. She’d said “Congratulations,” but other words lingered on her lips. Dalbit: Jiwoo, what was the first thing that came to mind after hearing the news? Jiwoo: I wondered if I was the only one standing still. But…
Stories by Dalbit
- Dalbit
- On Friday evening, I was left alone in a room with the light on.
- After saying you’re okay on your first day
- I get asked for favors every lunch break
- There’s someone you think of when you’re sick, but on payday, you hesitate.
- When I get back from a celebration, I start doubting the story I’ve made up about myself.
- At lunch on her first day, one chair was left empty
- On the way home, I keep thinking of the same old advice.
- While grocery shopping, I didn’t know that not wanting to wake up was different from what others felt.