Preparing for TED: What Does a Normal Life Even Mean?

Next month, I’ll be giving a TED talk. When I first received the invitation email, I was filled with gratitude and joy—after all, I’ve been watching TED talks since college, and now I’ll be the one on stage.

Today, while preparing for the talk, I put together some slides about the things I’ve done so far. Here’s one of them:

Technologies, Languages, and Frameworks I’ve Used in Production

Looking back, I’ve really studied a lot— C, C++, Java, MySQL, JavaScript, Python, GraphQL, MongoDB, Node.js, Meteor, React, React Native, Vue, AWS, Android, Swift, Dart, Flutter, CSS, HTML... Not to mention shell scripting, web protocols, sockets, module and version management—the list goes on.

Of course, for a developer, it’s not how many languages you know, but how well you use them that matters. Still, each logo on that slide holds deep meaning for me. C, for example, was a turning point—it taught me what programming really is, even in a short time. Java, Android, MySQL, and PHP were the foundations of my first game, Wall Street: Block Deal.

Each icon brings back memories—some feel like seeing old friends again, others stir up a quiet, nostalgic ache.

As I went through everything, I realized I’ve done a lot of side projects: Nickname generators, “The Sun is Crispy,” Don’t Stop Writer, “Send Me Somewhere Fun,” Dead Comedy, multilingual translators, comment crawlers, “China Gate” news comment aggregator, a Naver D2 clone, GraphQL boilerplates, Brunch subscriber search tools… Some were made just for fun, others with a vision in mind—but every one of them was a challenge and a memory I’m proud of.

I’ve also tried to write helpful content: Korean translations of Google API client libraries, guides on bad CSS practices, open-source roundups, game development tool reviews, how to use Google Analytics...

Looking back now, I’m surprised at the kind of life I’ve been living all these years. If I hadn’t written things down, I might have forgotten them entirely. None of these projects alone are particularly impressive—but stacked together, they start to look like something meaningful.

It feels like I’ve done a lot… and yet, I can’t help but think about everything I didn’t do. There were plenty of times I was lazy. But even so, knowing there are people who appreciate my small records and writings makes me want to keep writing. One step at a time, I’ve walked far enough to make friends out of people who used to just watch me from a distance.

I don’t have many friends. Maybe it’s because of my odd personality or unconventional lifestyle. Still, I’ve met people who like me for who I am, and now we share stories. All the hardships I endured over the years are slowly turning into joy. These days, I’m living with a heart full of gratitude.