1 “That Very Taste Made Today the Most True to Myself”

‘Taste’ refers to the direction or tendency one naturally gravitates towards. I first profoundly reflected on my tastes while reading the book, “A Day's Taste.”

The author argues that taste doesn’t emerge overnight but results from numerous failures and attempts. The critical point is that we continually confront ourselves through this process, and the values we choose become central to our lives.
Taste encompasses a vast array of elements, from favorite music, books, travel, and hobbies to preferences in people, love, dislikes, and even self-identity. Extracting one's tastes from this broad spectrum isn’t easy. The author emphasizes that we should design our days based on our tastes rather than following trends or others’ expectations. Our choices should reflect what suits us best in form and color.

Reading this passage made me reflect on what it means to have a ‘true-to-me taste.’ Until now, I have equated ‘ideal taste’ with my own. I tried tennis and Pilates, followed the latest hot spots among the Millennials and Gen Z, and looked for bags celebrities were carrying. In retrospect, was this really my taste? Perhaps I was trying to appear sophisticated to others. I enjoy lounging at home, watching casual dramas and variety shows, and prefer humble yet hearty soup restaurants over trendy spots that influencers frequent. At times, I hid these personal preferences; sometimes, I thought I had no tastes of my own, merely following others’ opinions.
However, during a solo trip filled solely with my preferences, I realized "I've been following others' tastes all this time." A few years ago, upon seeing a photo of Lake Hallstatt in Austria, I felt an overwhelming desire to visit. I impulsively booked a flight and embarked on my first solo trip. Choosing my flight times, meals, rest periods, and tourist spots solely based on my preferences was immensely fulfilling. It was a journey of discovering countless unknown facets of my taste. Previously, I was eager to boast on social media about my travels, but I often questioned whether I truly enjoyed them. Returning from a trip filled entirely with my tastes, I felt genuinely satisfied.

How about you? Are you chasing tastes that look good to others? Why not search for the taste that satisfies your personal joy, the most true to you? Let me introduce some methods that might help you in this exploration.

2 Exploring My Unknown Preferences #PreferenceJournal

There might be tastes we possess yet remain unaware of. How about documenting what you like daily? A quick search on #PreferenceJournal led me to a detailed tutorial on using a preference journal by the YouTube channel ‘JERO ARCHIVE.’

The YouTuber began keeping a preference journal to answer one question: “Am I someone with well-defined tastes?” Despite extensive contemplation, she struggled to identify her valid preferences. While she had likes, it was unclear if these exceeded mere preferences to become genuine tastes. This ambiguity prompted her to start a preference journal to become a person with distinct tastes. She labeled stickers with various preferences, such as tastes in writing, food, travel, books, and coffee, and stuck them on diary pages. As she went about her daily life, she recorded any thoughts that arose in the corresponding sections. For instance, under ‘preferences in coffee,’ she might write, “I like the creamy taste of milk in lattes but dislike syrup.”
Searching #Preference Journal revealed that others were also documenting their tastes. Some used images on iPads, while others shared posts on Instagram. Inspired by this, I started noting my preferences in my phone's memo app. Documenting my coffee preferences, I realized that while I used always to order an “ice vanilla latte,” I had gradually shifted to enjoying an “Americano.” Initially, I forced myself to drink Americanos to reduce my sugar intake, but over time, I genuinely came to appreciate the robust flavor of the coffee beans. This made me realize that ‘taste’ can change with our thoughts and environment, necessitating regular efforts to discover and document our preferences.

3 Experiencing and Expanding New Preferences #World of Tastes

Married friends often say, “The more relationships you experience, the better you understand your ideal partner.” Meeting new people helps us discover unknown preferences, like realizing what we like or dislike. This principle applies beyond romantic relationships. For example, if you only eat ‘Cherry Jubilee’ at Baskin Robbins, you might miss out on discovering other enjoyable flavors. Therefore, experiencing and expanding new preferences is crucial. I recommend exploring various one-day classes if you’re unsure where to start. Many apps offer such experiences, and I’d like to introduce ‘FRIP,’ which I’ve personally used. This app provides many one-day classes in categories like beauty, crafts, baking, culture, arts, and cooking.

In my quest to discover my tastes, I took classes in ‘painting’ and ‘flower arranging.’ I applied for painting, hoping I still enjoyed it as I did as a child. It brought me peace, allowing me to focus without distractions. However, the flower arranging class was somewhat stressful due to my lack of dexterity, and I felt awkward as the instructor did most of the work. Through these experiences, I realized that even though both activities involved using my hands, painting was more aligned with my taste, while creating something wasn’t. Recognizing what you dislike is just as important as knowing what you like. If you’re unsure where to begin exploring your preferences, starting with one-day classes is a good idea.
On the other hand, if you already have a sense of your tastes but want to expand them by meeting like-minded people, I recommend the ‘MUNTO’ app.

MUNTO offers more than just one-day classes; it features a "club" category where people with similar interests can gather. In this space, you can explore various interest-based groups that provide a sense of belonging beyond one-off events. You can even become a club leader and start your club. The platform hosts diverse clubs focused on shared interests such as reading, gourmet tours, photography, and financial investments. Unique gatherings like wine-tasting movie nights and Harry Potter-themed meetings are also available, offering experiences you won't easily find elsewhere. When considering joining such groups, it's natural to question the trustworthiness of fellow participants. MUNTO addresses this concern by allowing members to verify each other's reliability through a manner rating system similar to that used by Carrot Market. If you want to expand your interests and meet new people, MUNTO might be worth exploring. What do you think after reading about these two platforms? While they primarily cater to the 20s and 30s demographic, making it seem like the quest for personal tastes is exclusive to the Millennials and Gen Z, a scene in the popular webtoon “I’m a Fan, So What?” offers a different perspective.

In the webtoon, an elderly woman who led a busy life felt aimless when she finally had time for herself. Through an unexpected ‘fandom crash’—becoming an avid fan of an idol due to a chance encounter—she discovered joy and her true self. This reflects the growing market for taste exploration among active seniors (those aged 50-60 who actively engage in social and leisure activities post-retirement).

Unlike the younger generation, the 50-60 demographic often feels lost when they have free time post-retirement. Welfare programs cater to those in their 70s, cultural centers target the 40s, and hobby clubs can feel exclusive. Reflecting these concerns, tailored leisure curation platforms are emerging. Among them is ‘ONEW,’ meaning ‘newness’ for those aged 50-60). ONEW offers a program called ‘Starting a Hobby,’ encompassing 12 activities like painting, gourmet exploration, travel, movies, sewing, and picture books, advocating ‘one hobby for a better life.’ In Seoul’s Bukchon, ‘ONEW House’ serves as a venue for seniors to share their tastes and engage in various gatherings. Finding and sharing your ‘true taste’ might be a lifelong source of joy, not just a momentary endeavor.

4 My Unique Tastes: "Please Respect My Preferences!"

Have you heard the phrase, "Please respect my preferences!"? While others must honor our tastes, it is equally essential for us to respect our own. We've explored various ways to document and experience preferences through platforms, but these efforts are meaningless without the ‘willingness’ to understand our tastes. You might be thinking, "I don’t have time for that. I can't do it." We often show interest in what others like but neglect our interests. Perhaps it's due to being busy earning money, raising children, or considering others. There could be countless reasons. However, if we continue down this path, we might lose sight of what we genuinely enjoy and end up following others, leading to regret. Knowing our tastes means understanding what our hearts gravitate towards. Instead of assuming we know everything, we should look within and discover anew. Starting today, why not pay attention to your preferences, even in the most minor ways? "Listening to this music on my way to work lifts my spirits. I do enjoy this genre." "This kimchi stew is truly delicious! I love this kind of well-fermented kimchi broth." You can rediscover your unique tastes by tuning into your preferences in everyday moments. Just as everyone has their preferences, you have yours. So, please respect them. Respect my tastes!