~:[CH7 - Day 59]:~ By Chance

~:[CH7 - Day 59]:~ By Chance

I took my walk around Heritage today and ran into this little fellow. He was just a little one, but sure was brave when I went in for the photo. It made me think of all my adventures I've had, as by chance, I met people along the way. Sometimes the issue was forced, sometimes I was introduced and other times, we just came across each other for one reason or another. I'm not big on talking to someone first or holding a big conversation when I don't know them, but over time, I've been able to establish solid friendships all around the world that I cherish so much. Much like my preference at home, I always prefer to meet in a small group with just a handful of people around, if not a one-on-one. I think that my experiences abroad would be so much different without all these people in each of these places and am just thankful that by chance, we were lucky to meet. As I plan my future trips, I always think about where I can meet someone I know, as those are the places that now bring me joy. As while at first it was by chance, now it's all a matter of ensuring that we meet together. While chance may have drawn us together, it is our job to keep our friendships strong as we head forward on this road of life. 

~:[CH7 - Day 58]:~ In Control

~:[CH7 - Day 58]:~ In Control

Life throws all sorts of things at you and while you cannot control everything that happens in your life, you can control in what direction you steer yourself. Life will sometimes throw you all sorts of bad within a short span of time and the question is, how will you react? Many blame these series of events on how their life is or how they feel and they may not necessarily be wrong, however, you can also take control and direct your life where you want to be headed. Yes, I know what you are thinking and there are limitations, but it doesn't mean you cannot force things to go the way you want. Honestly, it's not an easy process and by looking at the switch board for Sergestrom for the King and I, it will take some time to learn how to push all the right buttons, but when you ultimately do by spending the time to learn about how all this works, you'll be able to put on a production worth a standing ovation. Life definitely sucks sometimes, but whether or not it stays that way, is within your control. Keep a positive mindset, believe in your abilities and be courageous as you move forward. It's not easy to overcome obstacles and the loads of people trying to get in your way and drag you down, but also know that all the effort you put in, will be worth it in the end. So pick yourself back up, analyze what sits in front of you and take it step-by-step, as you find your way back on your feet and you take back control of your life. as great things are awaiting you on the stage of life.

~:[CH7 - Day 57]:~ Counting Down

~:[CH7 - Day 57]:~ Counting Down

As the days go by, the countdown to my departure to New York is quickly heading towards zero. While a few weeks ago, I said I had a lot of time, now I am wishing I had more time. I spent the evening designing and printing and getting ready for my adventure to New York - me and 41 students. Luckily, I will have a few other trusted chaperones with me, but as we get closer, I get a little more pressed for time. I took a break midday today, however, to catch up with a friend and to hear out another situation later in the evening. No matter how casual or serious these talks are, I love them, as it gives me a face-to-face with someone one-on-one, a combination I don't mind. Despite the pile of work I had to do, I felt pretty good by day's end and left feeling happy because of my friend, accomplished because of what I finished, and motivated to do all I can, after my evening chat. While it was such a strange collaboration of things going on today, there is one thing that is for sure, the countdown to New York 2018 is quickly heading to zero, so I better get on my game and ready to go! 

~:[CH7 - Day 56]:~ Welcoming Love

~:[CH7 - Day 56]:~ Welcoming Love

You can sometimes take for granted the love that surrounds you constantly, but when you think about it, it should be the thing you treasure the most. While we often go out and search for the "love of our life" and try to welcome love, the reality is, love never left us. As while around, there are people who care and love you, much like I've been lucky enough to have. While our whole "crew" was not present, it was nice to get a picture with the cousins, as we celebrated together, the delivery of love. As I took a picture with them, I can recall the trip to Six Flags, the camping trips, spending the summer at each other's houses and more. We've shared so many great memories together, that I cannot imagine what it's like elsewhere. I know it would be great to be rich and famous, have actor-like looks or to be the smartest person alive, however, without the love that I am lucky enough to possess, we are nothing. I must make an effort to better appreciate the love that my family (especially my cousins) in my life and there's not a single doubt in my mind, that I'm hoping for many more years to come. Tomorrow is just another ordinary day, however, each of these days is important because the outpouring of love has arrived. The road ahead is long and challenging, however, when you welcome love, it just seems that everything tends to fall into place.

~:[CH7 - Day 55]:~ Let the Games Begin

~:[CH7 - Day 55]:~ Let the Games Begin

We still have a long way to go before we get into the meat of our training schedule, but the season begins and the athletes get thrown into the fire right away. It's not an easy thing, but at the same time, there's not much you can do about it. I don't go into Downey with high expectations because it's so early, but that also means that it often leads to results that are pleasing. I was pretty happy with how things went and while there is a lot of room for improvement, we had some pretty solid performances letting me know, there is a great season ahead. While most of my day was spent at the meet especially since I had to go back to pick up most of the medals, it was well worth it. I'm excited for the season ahead and I hope that today was a sign of things to come, if so, it will be a great season.

~:[CH7 - Day 54]:~ Guarding Oneself

~:[CH7 - Day 54]:~ Guarding Oneself

It was a little eerie on campus today. Everyone seemed to be on edge and everyone walking a bit cautiously. As I rolled into school, the extra security was visible and present and the day went off without a hitch, aside from the empty seats in each class. In life, there will be those who threaten us and try to stop us from going about our day. For some reason or another, they want to strike fear in our lives and we cannot allow ourselves to do that. Sure, we should protect ourselves, but we also shouldn't allow that to make us run in fear. Life is about standing up in those situations and not backing down, knowing that you will not be bullied into going about your day. It's a scary world these days and while we must always keep our guard up, it doesn't mean we should stop living. It was definitely a strange day, but by day's end, it was  day that reminds me that we cannot let those who seek to bring terror into our lives win. The battle has already begun and it's time for us to stand up for ourselves and not let others decide where we are headed, rather we must stand strong and show them the way to the door, so they never bother us again.

~:[CH7 - Day 53]:~ The Window to Happiness

~:[CH7 - Day 53]:~ The Window to Happiness

There has been a lot of craziness going around the past week and it's strange to think about how close to home the chaos has come. With people raising their voices for gun control and mental health support, you can help but agree that something needs to be done. However, I also think that this is an opportunity to reflect on our own lives and to help us consider if we have covered our own bases. As while we need to raise our voices and move on to the political battlefield, we also cannot forget our own lives and the battlefield of our own. Within my mind this evening, the quote that kept ringing in my mind is, "the only thing we have to fear is fear itself." - FDR. I'm not sure why this particular quote, but I do know that it relates to my lack of fear of what could happen. It's not a lack of concern or even an acceptance of the likelihood of it happening again, but a thought that within my own life, I have lived a life without regrets. I have asked this question in a blog before, if you left this world today, have you taken care of all you need to? Within my own life, there are many things that I want to do still and things I need to take care of, but honestly, I have allowed myself to crawl through the window to happiness, as I have surrounded myself with good people, traveled around the world to many destinations and have had experiences that have left me breathless. Much like the many amazing lands and stories that come from Miyzaki, my world has become this dream-like place where at some points, thing simply seem unreal. Sadly, I still am list with a to-do list of things I need to complete still, however, I still stand at the window of happiness, as I have been able to find much of it during my lifetime. You never know might happen tomorrow or days down the line, but what you do know is that you can find peace by not putting of taking care of everything you need to. It's been chaotic, but as I look up and prepare to open the window that lies before me, I find that among all of the chaos that I don't fear what tomorrow has to bring, because I took care of all I needed to today. Procrastination is so common these days, but we cannot afford to procrastinate with life itself, as that is truly scary. 

~:[CH7 - Day 52]:~ Just a Sampling

~:[CH7 - Day 52]:~ Just a Sampling 

The day didn't end well. It was difficult driving home after watching the girls fall to Flintridge Prep tonight. I was already tired and a little hungry, but overall, it was just a sampling of the buffet that we call life. There are so many things that we get to experience in life and just like a buffet, there will be things that we enjoy and some that we would rather avoid. I've always been a big food guy who enjoys exploring all these various restaurants and as I sat and ate lunch, I thought about the opportunities that life provides us. It was nice to have a little bit of a chat as I ate, but that chat also got me thinking about my own life. It made me think about the things that I want to go back to in that buffet line and the things I have yet to try. I wonder if my confidence in some areas held me back, I thought about all the great things that came about when I did something on a whim, and I just began to recall all the wonderful memories that my food adventures have taken me. I stared at a blank screen on my phone, but in my own mind, that screen was anything but blank, as the memories surrounded me. With all the craziness going on in the world today, it was nice to have a lunch and just to reflect a bit on where I am in life, what I need to work on and what I still need to try. In life, I have discovered that I am lacking in a number of areas, yet I hope that life can give me the confidence to go up and to find my way through this buffet of life, as I slowly discover all the things I've been looking for. For a split second, for some reason, I smiled and maybe because today I realized that I've only had a sampling of all the things that life has to offer. If life tastes this great so far, I'm excited for what I will be able to scoop up next. 

~:[CH7 - Day 51]:~ Blessings

~:[CH7 - Day 51]:~ Blessings

Sometimes things that seem like they may be troublesome are actually truly blessings. As while at first glance, you may think, it'll just be more work, somehow, it leaves you with lifted spirits and a smile that won't go away. While I wish I had taken this picture when everyone was around, it captured a moment that summarized my day. I was tired and I had a pile of work to catch up on, but somewhere among that pile, was something that made me smile and re-energized me for all the work that is ahead. Somehow, life can bless you with things when you least expect it and it might just be exactly what you need when you need it. As we had a new athlete enter our team, it was a perfect day, but it was uplifting and got me excited for things to come. As sometimes, you must be willing to welcome things that seem like they may be taxing in order to help you discover some of the blessings that life has to offer you. I am grateful for this opportunity as it is a gift that I will use to motivate me moving forward. My plate is full right now, but taking on that one extra bit of work made all the difference in my day. Whether or not you've uncovered that blessing, keep at it and have faith that the blessing is waiting for you to discover it. 

~:[CH7 - Day 50]:~ Quite Taxing

~:[CH7 - Day 50]:~ Quite Taxing

I was crunching numbers most of the day, as I wrapped up my taxes and filed them. It's always a pain to get all that together, but at the end of the day, it can be quite satisfying, especially when you're expecting a return. Throughout the day, the wind swirled outside and I dreaded the idea of going out, but I did. I caught up with an alum before heading to wander a bit around, as I watched the dramatic shift in the sky from the sprinkles to a blue fresh sky that was determined to show itself. As while some days may be taxing to you, there is always a blue sky awaiting you if you let the storm pass. Keep your focus and bear through it and at the end, you may find the blue skies you were looking for. 

~:[CH7 - Day 49]:~ Silent Night

~:[CH7 - Day 49]:~ Silent Night

I had a few things on my to-do list today, but I deleted them. I felt that I should take some time for myself and not worry about anything. I feel guilty when I do this, but sometimes when your schedule gets too busy,  it's necessary. No need for responsibility, no need for interaction, just a day for you to recharge and think about all that you haven't had time to think about. It gives you time to tidy up the chaos in your own life and to avoid the day-to-day schedules that seem to be planned down to the minute sometimes. Tomorrow, I will get back to work, but today, today I will take as my day off and right now, it's my silent night. We all need these once in awhile. Don't forget to make time for it, even if it means you have to put it in your schedule to do so. I feel so great right now and I'm ready to tackle the many busy days ahead. Are you?

~:[CH7 - Day 48]:~ Never Stop Working

~:[CH7 - Day 48]:~ Never Stop Working

After a late night working the game, I woke up early to organized our annual Security Council conference. While it's a very small conference that we organize, a lot of work still goes into the process from lunches to preparing crisis and making sure that things run without a hitch. There always is a hitch, but we always try to minimized them as best as possible. One of the issues that came up, ended up being a good thing in some senses, as one of the committees ended up being super competitive. It was great to see such good solid debate, but also resulted in a lot of good delegates just missing out on an award. Regardless, the work that they put in and the performances that they had really showed their progress and how well they have been doing. I know it is disappointing and discouraging to not receive an award or not to receive the one on you were hoping for, regardless, it's not a reason to stop working. You always have to keep grinding it out when you have the opportunity, as you have to keep hoping for that breakthrough. I was exhausted at the end of the conference, but I had to do a quick refuel before heading to the gym to announce for the fourth straight day for basketball. It was such a pleasure to see our team take the W despite being out-sized, they never kept working and ended up pulling off the win. My night ended with a highlight shot just behind the half court line. It took a while to make, but eventually I made that shot. Much like the challenges in life, we keep shooting those long shots, hoping that they will go in. The more we practice, at a short range, the better our chances will be as we continue to practice and slowly move further away from the goal, because we can. While some will make that half court shot without effort, when you put in the work and eventually find success, it is quite satisfying. It's easy to let a missed shot deter you from continuing to try, but if you don't keep working and don't keep shooting, how will you ever make that long shot. I was proud of a lot of things today, as in many instances and in many different ways, today we drained that long shot.

~:[CH7 - Day 47]:~ Celebrate

~:[CH7 - Day 47]:~ Celebrate

It was frustrating. To finish the season in a game where you don't get an opportunity to compete is tough. With a total foul count of 35-14, it was an uphill battle to climb against a good team and while we also could have played better on both sides of the ball, to be put in such a disadvantage early, made it tough. I was perplexed at the type of things that were happening besides the fouls and by games end, it was hard to stay level-headed. However, what I've learned from the ups-and-downs of life is that ultimately, there will be many disappointing moments in your life like this, especially on the biggest stages, but ultimately, as disappointed and upset as you may be, you also need to celebrate the fact that you were there. Not everyone is as lucky as you to have arrived at that stage and even more so, not everyone is lucky enough to be as healthy as you are or even alive. Life is precious and simply living within these precious moments must be celebrated. This experience also made me think about our Olympian Nathan Chen. His disappointing short program probably left him with the same feel as we felt tonight; upset and frustrated at how his performance went when it mattered the most. However, while he did not fulfill expectations of making it to the podium, he didn't back down and took a second opportunity at a long program, to set a record with six quads, as instead of putting his head down, he welcomed the opportunity by celebrating his moment on this Olympic stage. As today is a day of celebration for many (Lunar New Year), it's a day for us to reflect and think about how we go about our days. Do we walk around daily with a dark cloud overhead or do we celebrate all the moments that we are given. Being far away, I created this graphic to send to my friend since I could not be there to celebrate, however, rather than being sad, I celebrated this opportunity to design something I could put my heart into so I can send it to at least feel apart of the celebration. The circumstances in life will rarely be perfect, if ever, however, it doesn't mean that they cannot be celebrated. Tonight, our players looked sad after the game, but their accomplishments this season and over their careers need to be celebrated, much like the many moments in our lives where we fell just short or even failed miserably. As there is a moment in our lives that we shouldn't celebrated. Treasure each moment, as each of these moments are precious. Gong hei fat choy!  

~:[CH7 - Day 46]:~ Introducing ...

~:[CH7 - Day 46]:~ Introducing ...

I don't quite enjoy being in a room with a bunch of people I don't know. It's not that I don't like them or have anything against them, but it's just that uncomfortable feeling that I like to avoid. However, the past two days and the next two days, will not only be wearing on my throat, but also on me. I was so happy that we won our first two CIF games yesterday and today and luckily, we have two more home games tomorrow and Saturday. While it's fun playing with the mic, that same room of people I don't know is what tugs at my emotions. I guess that's the case for a lot of us. If we think about our current group of friends, how many of them did we start out so awkwardly with? Over time, someone stepped up and built a bridge and slowly, you inched closer together and eventually became good friends. As I think about many of my closest friends, I wouldn't necessarily say it happened over night. As I announce every night, I think about the various challenges I faced over my years and wonder how I got to this point of announcing at a gymnasium full of strangers. In the end, getting past the introduction allows you to open up more and get to know the people around you and hopefully you'll find people you can connect with and move forward with. While I often get stuck at the introduction, I am glad for the handful of people who have walked with me on this uncomfortable journey and who I still talk to today. Life always loves to throw challenges at you and this is one of them for me, however, just like anything else, if you put in the effort, you can overcome it. As I announced the final score and gave a sigh of relief knowing that it was done, I knew I was further along than before and what else can you do but smile. 

~:[CH7 - Day 45]:~ A Life Full of Love

~:[CH7 - Day 45]:~ A Life Full of Love

I forgot today was Valentine's Day. With my schedule as busy as every, I was running around trying to keep up with everything. It became more of a work day than anything else, as I checked things off my list as I finished task after task. Then I heard the news of the school shooting in Florida. Maybe I should be arguing that we need to take a stand in support of gun control, but rather, I was thinking, what would have caused this person to carry out this shooting. The gun is often what is blamed, but can we look closer at the individual and see what is lacking in their lives and what could have stopped them from carrying out such a vicious attack? In many cases, we will never know the reason, but often times these people are isolated, bullied, or an outcast. The answer could easily be no, but would a life full of more love be something that could have stopped this incident from occurring? These kinds of questions filled my mind on a day of love. I reflected on my own actions and how I must change myself and my reactions so that I may react differently to lend a helping hand, rather than distancing myself from those who may just need a little love in their own lives. Those who received flowers or chocolates or who had a beautiful dinner with their significant other, probably felt the special love shared with them. A smile probably radiated from their face, as they paced as if they were walking along the clouds. These small gestures go a long way and maybe if we can make an effort to not only share these gestures with loved ones, but with those who we see may need our help, maybe we can reduce the number of these cases from happening. On this day, the hearts of many were broken, but could it have taken just a little more love on our part to help prevent something like this from happening. I am not here to stir up a debate, but rather to insist that we each make an effort each day to show love to those around us, family, friends, but also those who may be distant to us, but we see may just need a little bit of love. It may have no chance of working, but what do we lose by making an attempt to love those around us more? No matter what you think we need to do from here to stop things like this from happening again, at the end of the day, we can also take it upon ourselves to take an action that only requires ourselves to carry out and while it may not make a bit of different in the world, it's worth a shot. Today, I forgot it was Valentine's Day, but that does not mean I forgot how important a life full of love is. 

~:[CH7 - Day 44]:~ Back at it Again

~:[CH7 - Day 44]:~ Back at it Again

We're back here grilling, preparing for NHSMUN. As I told the group, we're not where we need to be. Of course, it's not the time to throw my hands up and give up, rather, it's time to get focused and back to work. It's easy to take on a challenge, but it's difficult to see it through until the end. Even when we face difficulties, we must try and face them straight on so we can figure a way to get around it all. Even when you've done something so many times, as easy as it seems, there is always a new wrinkle that tries and keeps you from reaching your end goal. This group has had it's share of struggles, but slowly, they are finding their way to the light and I am hope that eventually, they will find the breakthrough before the conference arrives. Much like in all things, if you keep at it, even if you don't reach your end goal, you'll find a way to grow and find success. As we rolled into the evening, I saw more and more that we're taking small steps towards this larger goal and I just hope that they don't back down and know that they have to pour all of themselves into this effort in order to have it be a success. Only time will tell where we go from here, but my hope is that they begin to see that they have the ability, they just got to tap into their potential. It's time for the grind as the countdown to NHSMUN begins.

~:[CH7 - Day 43]:~ The Real Adventure is Home

~:[CH7 - Day 43]:~ The Real Adventure is Home

I've been out of town over half of the days of 2018. It's exhausting, but there is something around every turn. Most people would say that I am lucky to be out and about, but the real adventure to me is being home. As much as I love to explore new places, being at home gives me a comfort I can get nowhere else and experiences I would not trade for an adventure anywhere else in the world. The comfort and feel of home far surpasses any spectacular view that you can find or experience you can have. I appreciate the fact that I can go to many places, but also am so appreciative when I get to come back home. As I look towards a long stretch of being home coming up in a month from now, I'll soak up all the energy I can and experience the real adventures I can have here surrounded by my family and friends who I appreciate so much! Tomorrow, I get back into my normal daily routine, which I know will be a hassle, but at the end of the day, I'll take it, because being able to come back to a comfortable home, is something I never want to take for granted.

~:[CH7 - Day 42]:~ Knowledge is Power

~:[CH7 - Day 42]:~ Knowledge is Power

One of the things which I can be so proud of is that when our team ventures off somewhere, I know that the majority of them will be well-researched and know what they are talking about. As freshmen, when they enter my class, many of them look lost and the amount of work that they must do is quite overwhelming. As seniors, their comfort with the material is evident as they can talk for a long time about a variety of topics. It's no wonder why I am always so proud of them when we go to conferences even before the ceremony starts. I know that conferences are quite subjective, so there is no way to evaluate a conference performance on awards and our style doesn't always fit what chairs are looking for, but our style is also what I am most proud of. Our seniors spoke well, but they also delivered content that was detailed and researched. Conferences are so focused on how to make these experiences "fun" for the delegates, but the reality is that a conference shouldn't need to entertain delegates, rather to help guide them to use the knowledge they gain through these experiences to empower themselves. I avoid the ridiculous committees like Oregon Trail and the like for a reason, because Model UN isn't about "fun," it's about enjoying the process of learning about the world, its problems and how to deal with them and while many of my students will not become politicians or even deal with something in this regard, the experience and knowledge they gain will be immense. From learning how to research and write, to negotiation and work with others, to learn how to deal with people and keep your cool, to experience disappointments and also success, to speak up and orate their thoughts, but most importantly, learning how to do what they do well and to the best of their abilities. I find it the most fulfilling when one of my students gets upset when they final session of committee becomes a joke when they do superlative (joke awards) or introduce a ridiculous crisis topic because ultimately, they want to use the knowledge because ultimately that is where their true enjoyment will come. Ultimately, I have no control over a conference, but at least I know that with my students, we've grown to take this organization called Model UN seriously. They've used it to gain experience, grow their knowledge and ultimately develop themselves from naive little freshmen to confident and knowledgeable seniors. Today, they were recognized with a delegation for all the work that they put in today, but ultimately, the true award was not in the form of any certificate or plaque. We ventured home and ironically at the security check, they did not allow three of our five gavels through. As I thought about it when I finally arrived home, exhausted from this long trip, I guess it was quite symbolic. Regardless of whether they had those gavels or not, whether taken away by security or never given to them at all, I would have been equally proud of them all, as the greatest award they received, will never be taken away.

~:[CH7 - Day 41]:~ Training for Parenthood

~:[CH7 - Day 41]:~ Training for Parenthood

I guess my job is training for parenthood. As I took my delegation to the delegate dance, they compared the moment to a parent dropping off their kids at a dance. It felt that way. As I jokingly told them that they needed to keep 12" away from all others and that anyone they dance with must pass through me first, the reality of my job is, I have to be a parent for a week. You take them to eat, you discipline them, you show them things they may never have seen and then you try to deal with their complaining and see them face their struggles. At the same time, you see them excited for something new that they discover, you see them grow and learn and ultimately, you create memories with them. Tomorrow, I will be more than happy going home, only having to worry about myself for once, however, I must admit that this weekly training for parenthood has been quite memorable and something that I hope to use one day. I've learned how to plan, how to watch over them while allowing them to learn and grow, and also have created so many memories over all the years as an advisor. Tomorrow will be the final day of my trip, however, the experiences I had while on this trip will be with me for the rest of my life. 

~:[CH7 - Day 40]:~ Your Voice

~:[CH7 - Day 40]:~ Your Voice

With the conference in full swing, the committees reminded me of our voice. For MUN, the students prepare by collecting document after document and spending hours writing their papers. They collect ideas and practice their speeches, but in the end, if they do not speak up, all that work is pointless. In a place where majority rules, you can be the smartest and most prepared, but you need to use your voice combined with all of that, to make people listen and sway them to your side. I think that many of us have great ideas and have a lot of great points to make, but we also have to have the confidence in ourselves to use our voice. While some speak too much, there are many more who speak too little and who should be the ones standing behind the microphone. At conferences, I always hope that our students use their voices and that is the one thing I usually say to them, be involved and speak up, not to win awards, but to allow all of the work that they put in, not go to waste. You are more powerful that you ever could have imagined, but that voice is only powerful if you speak loud enough for those around you to hear you. Share your message and find out just how amazing you truly are. 

~:[CH7 - Day 39]:~ Transparency

~:[CH7 - Day 39]:~ Transparency 

We dragged ourselves through the morning and rolled back out of bed just before noon. We wandered to the Boston Public Market and later on through the North End. In between, we made our long stop for the day at the New England Aquarium. It is always one of my favorite places to visit and while I may have given them too much time, it still was quite enjoyable. I especially loved the jellyfish exhibit, which I think I also highlighted last year. I think it's incredible how they move and just how amazing they appear, yet at the same time, the exhibit is hidden in the corner and not necessarily the highlight of the museum. As I had some time to rest and relax as I watched the start of the Olympics, I kept thinking of those jellyfish. They swim through the water carefree and while I will not ever know what (and if) they are thinking, I can help to think, what if humans were as transparent as these jellyfish. I think one of the most challenging things in life is reading people and trying to figure each of them out. We as humans don't always say what we want to say or don't show our true selves to the world and sometimes that tears us up inside. Whether it's the fear of being judged or an attempt to protect something, it always has seemed to me that transparency would be the best way to go for us all. Sometimes saying everything on our mind, might be too much for others to handle, yet at the same time, it could also settle a lot of misunderstandings that we face. However, as I stared at the jellyfish, I thought, it would be that nice to be that carefree. Personally, opening myself up to others hasn't always been the easiest thing in world, however, as I analyze my past, I think about how my inability to be transparent has hindered myself from progressing as far as I probably should have. Regardless, as I take baby steps towards my goals of being more open and to be clear where I stand, I see that we all have to make strides if we all want a world where we can float around carefree. The world is already a challenging enough place, my hope is that we can all find ourselves and not be afraid to be who we are. Instead of being an onion, with layer after layer surrounding ourselves, maybe, just maybe we can all try to be jellyfish. 

~:[CH7 - Day 38]:~ Creating a Masterpiece

~:[CH7 - Day 38]:~ Creating a Masterpiece

I've heard it said that good things come to those who wait. However, while patience is important, you also cannot simply sit back and do nothing. As we ventured to New York for a day trip, we hid from the rain by stopping off at MOMA to see the various styles of art, as our adventure was our own part of creating the masterpiece of our lives. The greatest artists, politicians, and inventors of our time, didn't simply wait for things to happen, they often forced the issue and took it upon themselves to create a masterpiece that they imagined in their mind. While we never may make the masterpiece we imagine, we each have the opportunity to paint on the canvas of our lives. Think clearly about what you want on your canvas, as while you may feel you want to quickly fill the empty spaces of your canvas, you have your whole life ahead of you in order to fill it, as once you put something on it, it will be there forever. While you may be able to cover it up, below the pain, it will forever be. Regardless, in the end,  you'll have a chance to take a step back from this crazy process to see exactly what you created and you have to ask yourself, are you happy with what you created? Is it close to what you imagined? Whether you want to star in the headlines of a newspaper, to give a helping hand behind the scenes, or to simply have the goal of happiness, at the end of the day, it is your masterpiece and you should be proud of it. I hope we all get up and take steps forward to begin our own process as within each of us, we have our own masterpiece to share. 

~:[CH7 - Day 37]:~ Choose Happiness

~:[CH7 - Day 37]:~ Choose Happiness

Our unalienable rights are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. No where within these rights are we granted happiness, rather the pursuit of happiness, thus it is our job to choose happiness and pursue it. In life, we have that choice and it is sad to see when that choice is not happiness. Like a person shopping through a slew of books, in each situation we face, we have the choice to welcome happiness or not. However, happiness cannot enter when we do not open the door or it cannot cross when there is no bridge for it to pass. Thus, we must make the effort to open the door to happiness and to be the bridge in order to connect ourselves to happiness. Too many times in life do we make trivial things into something greater than they are and ultimately figure out that they were misunderstandings or begin to realize how unimportant of an issue it actually was. In order to choose happiness, we must shed ourselves of as much negativity as possible, allow ourselves to experience things, be a bridge between people and accept others as well as ourselves. I thought of these things as we ventured through Boston from the beautiful art of the Boston Public Library to the frozen lake of the Boston Public Gardens or while skating along Boston's Frog Pond. As we sat in front of the hot pot, eating together, I only hoped that as each of us, as we moved forward would choose happiness. That we could become the bridges for those around us and be ready to open the door of happiness each and every day moving forward; however, that is a choice that we have to make, as we are only guaranteed the pursuit of happiness. As I took one last look around, I hoped that at every opportunity, we all would choose happiness and not allow ourselves to keep ourselves from smiling every day of our lives moving forward. There will seldom be a day that is perfect in our lives moving forward, but that does mean that happiness is in our future, as it is within our abilities to choose happiness. No matter how hard life tries to bring us down, we have to try harder to ensure that we don't just pursue happiness, but rather, that we actually find it. 

~:[CH7 - Day 36]:~ A Part of the Whole

~:[CH7 - Day 36]:~ A Part of the Whole

In 1990, thieves came in and stole 13 valuable pieces from the Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum. The pieces were from renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Vermeer, Manet and Degas. These pieces which total more than $500 million are important pieces to the museum and without them, it seems as if a valuable piece is missing from this place. However, just like in our own lives, there are many other amazing pieces to display within the museum. Those pieces are valuable, but there is no reason why you will not be in awe still because of this museum. As I stepped into the courtyard, my breath was taken away so quickly. Each room was like our lives, each enclosing a different part of our lives and while those pieces were important pieces, it did not take away from the whole. The museum itself will live on as an important museum in Boston and we, despite all we lost along the way, will also be an important part of this world, if we choose to do so. You see, we all face difficulties and heists in our lives, some greater than others. With each heist, a piece of us is stolen and while we may never get that piece back, we can always continue to fill our galleries and maintain the quality of the museum that is us. Some of us center our gallery around a single thing and a loss of such a piece could be devastating, but sometimes you just need to start anew and figure out how you can once again build your museum to be you. Life has a strange way of giving and taking away from us and it will happen to all of us, however, when we realize that what we lost is just part of the whole that is us, it is likely that we can keep moving on, doing our best to ensure that we do not let what is missing consume us, rather, allow what we still have to continue to set the theme for our life moving forward. Our day in Boston including the difficulties of the wind, some closures, and a late lunch, but the memories such as the escape room and this museum overcame what we lost and made the whole day into something even more special. Focus on what you have and while you can always search for something that you lost, don't allow that to define you moving forward. 

~:[CH7 - Day 35]:~ Rain on Our Parade

~:[CH7 - Day 35]:~ Rain on Our Parade

We headed out to the fine arts museum and enjoyed the Murakami exhibit among other things. It was pretty nice to see the exhibit and lead me into buying a few Murakami souvenirs, even though I said I wouldn't get any. We ventured from there to the Museum of Science since it was raining and the zoo wasn't going to quite work out today. We then ventured out eat before spending the day in, watching the Superbowl and getting work done. After watching a close gymnastics dual meet (UCLA vs Oklahoma), we watched another close game, the Superbowl. Sadly, as the rain continued to fall overhead, the Eagles also ruined our chances at seeing another parade. The come back was not to be this year and it was a sad walk for a late night meal before heading to bed. However, while life may rain on our parade sometimes, you can't let that get you down. You cannot forget all the good that came out of the day, even if it's the simplest of things. Today, there were many things to be grateful for and these disappointments are no match for all that we can celebrate. As while things could have worked out much better, I think back to the happiness I felt in Murakami's piece and all my troubles get washed away. As while the rain may fall overhead, I will never let it ruin my day. 

~:[CH7 - Day 34]:~ Day of Deception

~:[CH7 - Day 34]:~ Day of Deception

It was a day of deception. As I sit here at the end of the day, I think to myself, there is no way today was a single day. Just like the moment I looked out the window and saw blue skies and though, it'll be warm when it actually was freezing, this so-called day, was not actually a single day. Regardless, that also means we accomplished a lot in our first 18 hours including an early check in, meaning rest, a stop off at Harvard and MIT, meeting a number of alumni, adventures in Back Bay on top off a stop off in Chinatown. Top it off with late-night games in the lobby and you got yourself a day of deception - deceptively long. Regardless, there is no way you can complain about a day like today, as I explored the dining hall, ate some delicious places, walked through the Harvard Art Museum's impressive collection and more! I am exhausted and if every day feels like this, I won't make it through the week, but for now, I'll rest and hope that tomorrow, recovery is headed my way.

~:[CH7 - Day 33]:~ A Little Too Wild?

~:[CH7 - Day 33]:~ A Little Too Wild?

One of my students left her coat on the seat, so of course, I naturally picked it up, put it on and posed for the cameras. The look was a little too wild for me, but of course, it was nice to have a little fun with it. Today we set off on our venture to Boston. I almost made it through a week with being home, but fell just short of that goal, as I head out once again. As crazy as the schedule is, it keeps things interesting and I am not sure if I would change much about that, at least for now. I look forward to what the days ahead bring, but for now, at least I feel a little bit stylish, even though it's a bit too wild for my tastes. 

~:[CH7 - Day 32]:~ Starting Fresh

~:[CH7 - Day 32]:~ Starting Fresh

It's the first of February and it's time to start fresh. No, it's not a time for another new year resolution, but rather, another opportunity to make the most out of the day. In class, it was one of my favorite days, as we covered some of the writings of Brene Brown and some spin offs from that. As good or as bad as a year is going, today is a day where I try to right the ship or keep the progress moving forward. I always hope there will be a lot of takeaways from the day and that each student will find a way to start fresh and better themselves moving forward, not by focusing on test scores or resume material, but by learning to be themselves, to challenge themselves and love themselves. They need to see what they are capable and gain the confidence to take on the road ahead and starting fresh on a day like today, was a good start. On the first, it was also a day to celebrate my BFFs birthday and while I still have to get things together, I at least got to spend a few moments with him just relaxing before he had to get back to his class. As the chaos of prepping for tomorrow's trip continued, I knew that in just about 24 hours, I would get to focus on this next task and come back to another fresh start. It's the first of February and while I am not going to wipe the slate clean, I definitely know that today is an opportunity to evaluate myself and figure out where I want to go from here. I'm headed towards failure, but that's alright, as while the sign on my board says, "I'm going to fail ..." the response to that question is "... because I am ready to challenge myself and test my limit; I'm ready to learn from my mistakes and grow; and I am ready to pick myself after those failures, as I inch closer and closer to success." Be yourself, don't worry about being judged, don't let others stop you from chasing after you dreams and don't allow yourself to be held back, as you are great and wonderful and with this fresh start, you've got a load of opportunities waiting for you as you truck along the long road ahead.