books

Book Reads: Love for Imperfect Things (Haemin Sunim)

January 26, 2026


✨"In the same way that when you're in love and you want to spend time with only that person, try spending time on yourself. You deserve your care and attention. Treat yourself to a delicious meal, a good book, or a nice walk with a lovely view. Just as you would invest in the person you love, you should invest in yourself." ✨

This was the first paragraph that I highlighted when I started reading the book, "Love for Imperfect Things" by Haemin Sunim. The book was introduced to me by a good friend during a 4AM call when I was undergoing the most painful feeling of being heartbroken. I can't find the words to accurately capture my emotions back then. But simply put, I was not feeling okay. 💔

It all felt like a blur now. All I knew was that all of a sudden, I was in the dark. Pitch black. I was dumped into this dark, cold place. I didn't have a sense of direction, of where I was. I was scared and confused. It's as if all of the heavy emotions have been funneled into my chest, that's why it was feeling extra heavy. That phone call and this book served as the first light that I saw in that darkness, as if someone casted the Lumos spell. I walked towards this light, and that started my journey towards getting out of that dark place, back into the light.

I owe a lot from that friend, and from this book. It turned out that this was the perfect book for me to read during that time. As I highlighted words and paragraphs that resonated with me, I saw more lights being lit up, and soon enough, discovered a path for me to walk on through as I started that journey of healing.

✨"Shout out loud to your struggling self --  I love you so much." ✨

Those three words, "I love you", proved its magic to me during this journey. I recognize the gravity and magnitude of uttering those words. Losing the person you once said those words to made me feel like losing a part of me also. Where do I put all this love now? And suddenly, and this hit me like a truck, that I didn't even think of offering this love to myself. I depended on others to fill my cup, when actually, I can do it for myself. And so I said, "I love you, self. I feel you. You are struggling so much right now, and it's okay. Take your time. Feel all the feelings. Let the waves come in and go through it. It's okay. The storm will pass soon."

Here are some more quotations from the book that really resonated with me, serving as my glimmers that guided my way out of the woods. 

✨"We are worthy of being loved not because of what we do well, but because we are precious living beings."✨

✨"But if you hold on to the memory of it, you may let new opportunities and experiences pass you by. With a new heart, focus on the present, not the past." ✨


✨"Your life is difficult not because the past is holding you back, but because you keep thinking about the past and lingering there. Rather than haggling with your past, let it be so that it can flow like a river. Your true self is not the river of memory, but the one who stands beside the river, quietly observing its flow." ✨


✨"You try hard to obtain God's love only to realize that there has never been a single moment when God has not loved you." ✨


✨"Letting go is actually another way of expressing acceptance fully." ✨


Being able to read this book when I was the most broken version of myself felt like reconnecting with a side of my old self that I hadn't visited for a while. This book truly helped in my journey to feel better and become better.

When I finished the book, I sent a message to my friend, and in that exchange, I did a heartfelt discovery. She said she was so glad she was able to help me during that time of my life. She will never forget the time that I helped and comforted her myself during her own heartbreak experience 14 years ago. I cried so hard reading that message. I didn't realize the heaviness someone goes through when dealing with a breakup. All I remembered during that time with her was that she was always crying and we would go to the office's restroom and she would just cry her heart out. Our officemates did not look as kindly as her, unfortunately. She'd always ask to hang out with me during the weekends, and so we ended up eat out at Korean restaurants (even if I had to travel to the north LOL) and go to my campus and I'd tour her around. Little did I know that I was contributing to her healing. And now, she said she's so honored to return the favor. 🥹

These are wonderful lessons that can only be learned with time. I'm grateful to have that friendship that goes beyond time and distance. It was truly a full circle moment for both of us. ✨

 I am so happy, so blessed, and so grateful to God for allowing me to have this moment with my friend, allowing me to realize that despite all the pain, something beautiful came out of it. I am so happy and blessed to have a friend like her, and I will treasure this friendship that we have. 

And as for the book, it's obvious already that I do highly recommend it, 10/10.

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