No one is above having a bad day, but in South Korea, there's a specific phrase said to loved ones to acknowledge the bravery it takes just to show up. Often, when you're having a bad day, week, or even month, it can feel never-ending. The hits seem like they won't stop coming, and it can feel impossible to escape the dark cloud that decided to rain on any thought of a parade you could have.

When these things happen, it can feel isolating, as if no one understands how hard you're trying to keep moving forward without falling apart. No matter how much money or security someone has, they're not immune to this very human experience. That's likely why the Korean phrase 수고했어, pronounced "soo-goh-het-suh," is bringing so many people to tears as they learn about it for the first time.

Joyful embrace against a vibrant red backdrop.Photo credit: Canva

Korean actor and real estate agent Hana Kim recently shared the saying with her followers on Instagram. In the video, she tells a story about her mother's nightly routine of texting her before bed. She explains:

"In America, people say, 'You did a good job.' In Korea, we say, 'soo-goh-het-suh,' but we don't say it because you've succeeded. This is what my mom texts me every night before I go to bed, and it makes me feel really supported."

Kim explains that the phrase means, "You've carried your pain, but you still kept going." Saying it to another person acknowledges that you see both their pain and their perseverance in the face of it.

"So if today felt long soo-goh-het-suh," Kim says. "If no one noticed how hard you worked today, soo-goh-het-suh. If you wanted to give up everything but you said, 'just one more time,' soo-goh-het-suh. And you don't have to carry this alone."

Commenters were moved by the simple phrase for acknowledging life's struggles and the willingness to keep going. Several people said it brought them to tears, with one sharing:

"Not me suddenly bursting into tears. I've been so overwhelmed and struggling with balancing my life since my mom passed. The thought of getting a text or message from her saying that is both heart wrenching and comforting. Thank you for sharing this."

Someone grieving a loss welcomes the message:

"THANK YOU, omg you had me in tears, it's been so hard for me since we lost our girls after fighting so hard to keep them alive, I still can't believe we lost them and sometimes is even hard to leave my bed, every day I get up I feel like I overcame my pain, my anger, my thoughts, my anxiety. So, yes your words felt like an act of kindness where we recognise that for some circumstances, the simple things become an achievement and a sign of success."

A mother and daughter share a joyful hug by the window.Photo credit: Canva

Another person writes, "Wow! I'm crying at work. I needed this!!!! Thank you for sharing," while someone else adds, "Now I'm sitting in my car crying. That's so much more fitting than any phrase in English to acknowledge someone's struggle and see that they keep carrying on."

Someone else chimes in to share their appreciation for the newfound phrase, saying, "This is the most beautiful praise, recognition, and supportive message that truly means so much yet could seem small to some. Thank you for sharing."

One person simply declares, "I have no words to explain how this made me feel."

This Valentine’s Day, we're bringing back our favorite giveaway with Ocean Wise. You have the chance to win the ultimate ocean-friendly date. Our recommendation? Celebrate love for all your people this Valentine's Day! Treat your mom friends to a relaxing spa trip, take your best friend to an incredible concert, or enjoy a beach adventure with your sibling! Whether you're savoring a romantic seafood dinner or enjoying a movie night in, your next date could be on us!

Here’s how to enter:

She’s up before the sun and still going at bedtime. She’s the calendar keeper, the lunch packer, the one who remembers everything so no one else has to. Moms are always creating magic for us. This Valentine’s Day, we’re all in for her. Win an eco-friendly spa day near you, plus a stash of All In snack bars—because she deserves a treat that’s as real as she is. Good for her, kinder to the ocean. That’s the kind of love we can all get behind.

Special thanks to our friends at All In who are all in on helping moms!

Grab your favorite person and get some much-needed ocean time. Did you know research on “blue spaces” suggests that being near water is linked with better mental health and well-being, including feeling calmer and less stressed? We’ll treat you to a beach adventure like a surfing or sailing class, plus ocean-friendly bags from GOT Bag and blankets from Sand Cloud so your day by the water feels good for you and a little gentler on the ocean too.

Special thanks to our friends at GOT Bag. They make saving the ocean look stylish and fun!

Love nights in as much as you love a date night out? We’ve got you. Have friends over for a movie night or make it a cozy night in with your favorite person. You’ll get a Disney and Hulu subscription so you can watch Nat Geo ocean content, plus a curated list of ocean-friendly documentaries and a movie-night basket of snacks. Easy, comfy, and you’ll probably come out of it loving the ocean even more.

Soak up the sun and catch a full weekend of live music at BeachLife Festival in Redondo Beach, May 1–3, 2026, featuring Duran Duran, The Offspring, James Taylor and His All-Star Band, The Chainsmokers, My Morning Jacket, Slightly Stoopid, and Sheryl Crow. The perfect date to bring your favorite person on!

We also love that BeachLife puts real energy into protecting the coastline it’s built on by spotlighting ocean and beach-focused nonprofit partners and hosting community events like beach cleanups.

Date includes two (2) three-day GA tickets. Does not include accommodation, travel, or flights.

Stay in and cook something delicious with someone you love. We’ll hook you up with sustainable seafood ingredients and some additional goodies for a dinner for two, so you can eat well and feel good knowing your meal supports healthier oceans and more responsible fishing.

Giveaway ends 2/15/26 at 11:59pm PT. Winners will be selected at random and contacted via email from the Upworthy. No purchase necessary. Open to residents of the U.S. and specific Canadian provinces that have reached age of majority in their state/province/territory of residence at the time. Please see terms and conditions for specific instructions. Giveaway not affiliated with Instagram. More details at upworthy.com/oceandate

We live in a society that prizes ambition, celebrating goal-setting, and hustle culture as praiseworthy vehicles on the road to success. We also live in a society that associates successfully getting whatever our hearts desire with happiness. The formula we internalize from an early age is that desire ambition goal-setting doing what it takes = a successful, happy life.

But as Harvard University happiness researcher Arthur C. Brooks has found, in his studies as well as his own experience, that happiness doesn't follow that formula. "It took me too long to figure this one out," Brooks told podcast host Tim Ferris, explaining why he uses a "reverse bucket list" to live a happier life.

Many people make bucket lists of things they want in life. Giphy

Brooks shared that on his birthday, he would always make a list of his desires, ambitions, and things he wanted to accomplish—a bucket list. But when he was 50, he found his bucket list from when he was 40 and had an epiphany: "I looked at........

© Upworthy