How My Daughter Introduced Me to BTS…and it Changed Everything
If you’re ARMY, this might hit a little closer than you expect.
I didn’t discover BTS on my own, my daughter did. What started as me simply trying to connect with something she loved turned into something much deeper. Because the more I paid attention, the more I realized this wasn’t just about music, and what I was witnessing in her, and in them, was something most people overlook.
What started as me showing interest in her world turned into me genuinely falling in love with them too. Not just the music, but the message, the discipline, the heart, the way they carry themselves with intention and responsibility. Before I even realized it, I was drawn in. And as someone who teaches women how to show up and use their voice, I couldn’t ignore what I was seeing. They don’t just perform, they lead. They don’t just exist in the spotlight, they steward it well. They show up with purpose, and they shine.
Watching my daughter take that inspiration and run with it has been one of the most powerful things I’ve ever witnessed. For her, this was never surface level. She didn’t just love the music, she embraced the culture, the food, the history. She learned the language with intention. She’s applying to colleges in Korea like it’s a regular day, no hesitation. Last summer she spent seven full weeks in South Korea, not just visiting, but living, observing, immersing herself, and dreaming out loud.
And then there’s the part that still stops me in my tracks. While BTS were away fulfilling their mandatory military service, she drew them every single day for over 550 days. Every day. That wasn’t about being a fan. That was discipline. That was devotion. That was her sharpening her gift in real time while staying connected to a dream that hadn’t manifested yet. From January 15 to April 2, she committed to analyzing one BTS song a day for 77 consecutive days, from the moment the Arirang world tour was announced to the week she left for Korea to witness it. Each post reflected her insight, creativity, and intention. And her dream is clear, she wants to photograph and interview them in concert one day. Not “if,” but when.
If you’re ARMY reading this, I want you to hear me clearly. What you do matters. The way you show up, the way you support, the way you create, the way you stay consistent, that’s not small. That’s not “just being a fan.” That’s discipline. That’s identity. That’s practice. I’ve watched it up close.
I’ve watched my daughter commit to something day after day after day, not because someone told her to, but because it meant something to her. And that kind of consistency doesn’t stay contained. It spills over into who you become.
So don’t downplay it. Don’t dismiss it. Don’t let anyone make you feel like your passion is insignificant. What you’re actually learning is how to commit, how to stay connected, how to show up for something you believe in even when there’s no immediate reward. And those same skills will build your life if you let them.
There was a moment that brought everything full circle for me in a way I will never forget. She took my very first book, Show Up & Shine, all the way to Korea and sat in RM’s sister’s café reading it. As a mother, as a woman, as an author, that moment meant more than I can fully put into words. The very message I live and teach was sitting in her hands, in a place connected to the very group that inspired her. That wasn’t coincidence. That was alignment. That was legacy in motion.
Watching them and watching her helped me put language to something I already knew in my spirit. This is what SHINE really looks like. It’s showing up no matter what, even when no one is watching. It’s honoring the process, even when it’s slow or unseen. It’s building impact through consistency. It’s staying connected to your mission. And it’s using your influence in a way that lifts other people.
This isn’t just about BTS. And it’s not just about my daughter.
It’s about you.
Because if you’ve been showing up, supporting, creating, learning, and staying connected to something that inspires you, then you’re not just watching greatness.
You’re being shaped by it.
You’re building discipline.
You’re building identity.
You’re building something that can carry into every area of your life.
So don’t stop at being inspired.
Let it transform you.
Let it stretch you.
Let it grow you.
Let it call you higher.
Because you don’t just support greatness.
You’re becoming it.
And that?
That’s what it really means to show up…
…and shine.