~:[CH7 - Day 210]:~ The Uphill Climb

~:[CH7 - Day 210]:~ The Uphill Climb

It felt like the amount of work I had to do was endless, as I focused in and got some work done. I made progress and was quite impressed on what I was able to finish in the amount of time I had. I was able to organize most of my paperwork and catch up on some tasks I had been putting aside. It's weird how life throws you into these situations where you feel like you're in a deep pit and unable to get out. In many cases, we could see it as hopeless, but rather, we can see it as a challenge and an opportunity to learn and grow. As our athletes run up hill, they're challenged by the hills, especially when it's warmer like it was today in Irvine, however, the more you're faced with this situation, the better you're able to handle it and soon, that hill will no longer be insurmountable. I was proud of my team today and I just hope that they understand that they are capable of making that climb. 

~:[CH7 - Day 209]:~ Shoe Trek

~:[CH7 - Day 209]:~ Shoe Trek

While I was overloaded with paperwork and tasks all day today, our team made one of our treks out to Roadrunners to grab some new pairs of shoes for the season. The stack you see is what we didn't get, but our stack of what we ended up getting was about the same height and mixed about the same as this one. Picking the right shoe is always a fun process, as you want to try to find that perfect fit where you hear the angels sing in your head. It took us a bit of time to find what we were looking for, but ultimately, we made it through the process. While it does take a bit of time to go through the process, I think it's a good metaphor for how we find our perfect match in life. Whether it's your career, where you live or you better half, it's a process of trial and error, but once you find that match, you know it immediately. Regardless, by days end, I accomplished a lot and while there still is a lot to do, it feels nice sitting her at the end of the day with my to-do list a lot shorter than it was this morning. 

~:[CH7 - Day 208]:~ A Fairly Entertaining Day

~:[CH7 - Day 208]:~ A Fairly Entertaining Day

The pigs were off to the races and allowed the crowds to cheer as they headed around the track. This is one of my favorite events at the fair. I dislike the place because of the crowds, the prices, and how I feel after eating all the junk food, but in the end, it amounts to a fun and entertaining day. To see the fairgrounds from up above, to find success at the games, and just to experience it all, it ended up being a fairly entertaining day. Sure I am tired now as I write this, but it was worth all the energy, from food to animals, I soaked it all in and enjoyed it all. If you didn't get a chance yet, head on over and enjoy. There's a lot to entertain you!

~:[CH7 - Day 207]:~ The Quality of It All

~:[CH7 - Day 207]:~ The Quality of It All

It was so last minute that we kept it intimate. I cleaned and cleaned as my time frame was quite small, but I finished up and we had our mini-gathering. It was nice to celebrate this milestone birthday for my brother, as he has always given so much over the course of his lifetime. Now we has a wonderful wife and a amazing baby boy. It felt so weird being a small gathering, but I was fine with it and just enjoyed the moment, as I realized that while it wasn't as massive, the quality of it all allowed it to be a success. Of course, we were left with a load of leftovers, but that is a whole other story. 

~:[CH7 - Day 206]:~ A Day is Always Good

~:[CH7 - Day 206]:~ A Day is Always Good

The simple fact that you wake up each morning makes the day a good one, but what you face during the day and how you reacts, determines how the day ultimately ends up. Much like a flower could be considered beautiful or not, the weather perfect or not, or food delicious or not, we have the right to change how we view our day and how we allow things to change our view and perspective. After receiving bad news on the day, I tried to stay focused on the day and my laundry list of things to complete on the day. I slaved away, worked hard and was exhausted by days end but instead of considering it a waste of a day, I appreciate the fact that I had accomplished so much in a single day. The clean room and feeling of accomplishment kept my day from turning sour and while the news still lingered within me, I kept my mindset positive and kept the day from turning sour. Some days will be tougher than others, but if we work hard enough at our perspective on each and every day and allowing ourselves to remain calm and focused, we will see the beautiful in the flower, the perfection in the weather and the deliciousness in the food every day.

~:[CH7 - Day 205]:~ A Meal to Celebrate

~:[CH7 - Day 205]:~ A Meal to Celebrate

It was fun to watch the athletes celebrate a job well done. It's tough to run period, but to race in the warmer temperatures made it tougher. Luckily, it cooled off a bit before the races began. We collected a number of medals, but my favorite part of the day was just seeing everyone together. The battle for the last dumping (Kung Fu Panda) was fun to watch as the freshmen say who could take it. I was exhausted by the end of the day, but all the energy I spent was worth it. The sport takes a lot of time and a lot of energy, but it's moments like these that keep me wanting to do it. I always say that when the team doesn't show the dedication that I am looking for, the extra effort we hope for and the unity that we come to expect as an ohana, that's when it's time for me to retire. Whenever that moment comes, these are the moments that I will cherish the most. The titles and accolades are great to have, but the true reason we celebrate is because we are together.

~:[CH7 - Day 204]:~ A Day that Truly Rocked

~:[CH7 - Day 204]:~ A Day that Truly Rocked

If you don't have plans to watch School of Rock the Musical, find a way to catch the show, as it was quite entertaining. While I could nitpick about a thing here and there, the last few scenes drew the crowd in and captured their attention and their hearts. I never felt a crowd so into a show by the end (possibly Mama Mia) and I felt so alive despite being so exhausted. After practice, I ventured out and got my car serviced before Mammoth, then headed out to get poke. You know it's a good day when you're able to get some of that. I headed over to grab lunch and relaxed a bit before making some progress cleaning around the house. There's definitely a lot of work, but I was proud of what I did, mainly in terms of technological maintenance. By the time I finished that up, I headed out to dinner and the musical, which topped off quite a fabulous day. When you're productive and have a great day, there isn't much that can top it. While I am exhausted, my heart and soul will keep rocking on through the night to the sounds of this amazing musical. Don't miss it, just like you don't want to miss the opportunity for amazing days like these. 

~:[CH7 - Day 203]:~ Strikeout

~:[CH7 - Day 203]:~ Strikeout

A part of life is striking out. In fact, you may strikeout more times than you get on based, however, the key is that you keep on getting back up there and facing your own demons. You cannot allow yourself to back down and become defeated. With each opportunity, you must learn and grow, ready to get back up there even when you think you don't have a chance. While the Angels fell today despite a late rally, it was great to celebrate my brother's birthday at the ballpark and even more special to do so with Jordan attending his first baseball game. Today reminded me of all the times that I struck out in life and in many of those moments, my brother was there for me. Every year I talk about how he would dress up as Batman and thus, I would be Robin, which was just like how our lives were. In my life, I have followed in my brother's footsteps and have learned from him as he has guided me and watched over me. Jordan is so lucky to have him as a father, because I know he will look over him even more so than he watched over me. All the lessons he taught me early in life, helped make my own life easier when I struck out as life moved forward and it made it easier knowing that I had someone watching my back every step of the way. I know that in the future that I will strikeout again, but I also know that everything I've experienced up to now will help me regain my focus so I can get back into the batter box of life waiting for the day that I will rise up and show the world what I am made of. Happy Birthday Brother. I Love You!

~:[CH7 - Day 202]:~ Under Better Circumstances

~:[CH7 - Day 202]:~ Under Better Circumstances

My heart has been a little bit heavy as in two days, I've attended two memorial services. It's never easy to attend a service and even tougher to have two in a row. Regardless, it's nice to reconnect with many of those who you haven't seen in awhile. I guess it's interesting how even after their life is over, people have the power to bring people together, one final time. I always here I wish we were seeing each other under better circumstances and while I wish that was the case, I am also glad that we are all having the chance to reconnect at all. I will definitely appreciate the fact that we had more time to spend together, as while I was bogged down with a number of items on my to-do list, I was able to find some time to see my family and join them in remembering someone who impacted the lives of so many. Seeing so many come together on a Monday afternoon showed just how amazing of a man he was. Rest in peace Mao Yim. 

~:[CH7 - Day 202]:~ Our Precious Time on Earth

~:[CH7 - Day 202]:~ Our Precious Time on Earth

We often don't think about the limits of our time here on earth, but we all have one. We don't know when that clock will expire and in most cases, we don't know the reason why either. On a day like today where we mourn the loss of a beautiful soul, we also recollect the wonderful memories we have of that person over their lifetime and also begin to think about what more do we need to do with our precious time here on earth. I've always thought about what more I can do and what I want to accomplish and as much as I do, I also forget about that cap called time that keeps us contained. I often find myself putting things off and saying, I'll do it tomorrow, when I am not even sure that tomorrow will ever come. While today was a day of mourning, it is also a reminder to make the most of your time and never take it for granted. Do what you want to do and need to do today before it's too late, because you really never know when your time here will expire. As I looked far beyond through the window of the gorgeous chapel, I couldn't help but think, what more can I do with this precious time. It's a question we should all ask ourselves today, instead of waiting until our time is almost up. Make it happen and don't put it off until tomorrow. In loving memory of  Cụ Ông Trần Tuấn Linh.

~:[CH7 - Day 201]:~ Become a Champion

~:[CH7 - Day 201]:~ Become a Champion

In life we grow up thinking that there can only be one champion. We strive to be the best, to become the top in our expertise, to win, but really, what does winning mean? What does it mean to be a champion? I hung out with my friend as we discussed her ongoing project, trying to fine tune it as best as possible. How can you best reach out to a community and allow them all to become champions. In reality, we strive to be the best, but couldn't we also create a community where we all could share that title? It's not about appeasing everyone and giving a hand out to them, but to help people understand that they can play a role in someone else's life and become that champion that person needs in their life. We all struggle, we all need help, and we all look for a way to ascend to the top. As my athletes battled up the hill time after time, I couldn't help but think of how it was metaphor for life. I am always inspired by the work that my friend puts in and makes we work harder to strive to be a champion in the lives of others, much like she has in my own life and the lives of those around her. In a society where winning is such a priority, we need to understand that if we make an effort to raise those around us, we can all help each other come closer to becoming a champion. 

~:[CH7 - Day 200]:~ A Reflection of Us

~:[CH7 - Day 200]:~ A Reflection of Us

We may struggle and dislike certain things in our lives, but who we truly are is reflecting not when things are going right, but when things are going wrong. The struggles of going to the beach are always real and I always wonder why I keep holding bonfires, but when I think about it, doing so brings joy to others and that makes it worth it. After working almost 17 hours, I was burnt, exhausted, my stomach was doing strange things and worst of all, there was sand everywhere, however, I couldn't complain. It sounded like the athletes felt it was a day well spent and as I saw them huddled together around the fire, I agreed. Often time we live life going about things with our own ambitions and goals, whereas if we take a step back and live life the same for others, we will find so much more happiness and success and truly make the world around us a reflection of who we truly are. As the sun set on the day and when all I wanted to do was go to sleep, I completed one final detail to my day and crashed right when I got back home. With my body too tired to move, my mind still wandered and thought that as much as I dislike the beach, the day wasn't too bad at all. 

~:[CH7 - Day 199]:~ One Hill of a Day

~:[CH7 - Day 199]:~ One Hill of a Day

It was hill day and in the morning we hit Brookhaven and Central in the afternoon. Both workouts ended up being pretty solid and were the cap on one hill of a day. (Caption by Chris and Kevin) Regardless from quality time over lunch to both practices and a team dinner, it was definitely one of those days you cherish. I had a lot of cleaning and other things to do and I wasn't able to finish it all, but it was well worth the time that I got to connect with those around me. Sometimes you don't expect so much out of a single day, but then it surprises you and even when things are busy and get tough, when it's all over and you've crested that hill, you feel refreshed knowing it was one hill of a day. 

~:[CH7 - Day 198]:~ Let's Get Mooooovin'

~:[CH7 - Day 198]:~ Let's Get Mooooovin'

Every year around this time, I begin the process of getting ready for the Great Cow Run. Summer is suppose to be about rest and relaxation and the past few years, I took some of that to heart, however, the rest of the summer, I begin prepping for the year. Vacation is over, it's time to get mooooovin'! I guess in life, we have to put things aside in order to accomplish what we want to do. I can easily make this event into a bare minimum type deal, but that is not me at all. If I do something, I want to do it full force and today is the beginning of the process. In selecting the medal, we have a split vote on which to use, so I'm using a slightly varied version of this design for the t-shirt. Regardless, it's time to get ready for the school year and for those interested, jump on board, and sign up to support our program at the Great Cow Run!

~:[CH7 - Day 197]:~ A Little Routine

~:[CH7 - Day 197]:~ A Little Routine

It's funny how sometimes you find yourself falling into that routine. The one where you feel so comfortable that you realize you must break that routine so that you can grow. Routines are great for productivity but not necessarily for growth. You can do the same thing a million times, but in most things, changing things up will not only keep up your interest and motivation, but will also challenge you a bit more. I always catch myself in that routine in many things I do and it takes all of me to break out of it so that I can find more growth in my day. From planning and organizing to designing, I always have to kick myself to say, change things up. Sure, the routines can be effective for some, but in most cases, we need to find variations in the way we do things to find out if those changes can make ourselves better.

~:[CH7 - Day 196]:~ Expect the Unexpected

~:[CH7 - Day 196]:~ Expect the Unexpected

Never assume anything in life. Never doubt that something is possible, because right when you do, life will show you that it is and you should have had more faith. Today I provided a long overdue dinner to one of my recently graduated runners. Two years ago, you probably would have never thought it would be possible, but he proved me wrong and individually swept all the distance races. He was a pain early on, bur grew into a much more confident and SLIGHTLY more mature runner. My perspective of him changed and it created a moment that you hope for with every project that you have. Life is about expecting the unexpected. You shouldn't expect a miracle every time around, but know that if you put in the time and effort, it will pay off and even things that you never thought possible, soon can become a reality. I was taken back through so many fond memories today as I recollected many things of the past and it reminded me why I coach. I passed on a lot of things in my life to continue to coach and it's moments like these that remind me that every sacrifice was worth it. Life's a lot more difficult because I coach, but I must say, it's worth it. In sports and in life, the unexpected is something you strive for, as soon enough, the unexpected will be well within reach. 

~:[CH7 - Day 195]:~ Rivalry

~:[CH7 - Day 195]:~ Rivalry

I haven't been to Dodgers Stadium since college and haven't been to a game at Dodgers Stadium since I was a kid. All I remember was how bad the traffic getting out was and missing a fly ball that I should have caught when I was little. Regardless, spending time at the Big A all these years, it was an experience to go back for a game. It was nice to see a number of Angels fans among the crowd and even nicer to discover that the right pavilion seats come with free food and drinks. It was quite nice to be able to go down whenever I wanted to grab a hot dog, peanuts or a drink. The seats in right were uncomfortable, the sun was even more uncomfortable and sadly the loss was the cherry on top. Regardless, it's always fun to just enjoy a game especially when there is some action going on and it's not a 1-0 snoozer. With a split series between to the two teams, it was nice to see some good games going back and forth, but what do you expect in the freeway series where crosstown rivals collide? 

~:[CH7 - Day 194]:~ Learning to Accept What You Dislike

~:[CH7 - Day 194]:~ Learning to Accept What You Dislike

We started the day at the beach for our first Saturday practice of the year. Most people know that I strongly dislike the beach for a number of reasons, but I have learned to accept it because that's just a part of my job. We practice at the beach, we have events at the beach and instead of avoiding it, I've learned to accept it. Sure, there are opportunities for you in your life to discard what don't enjoy, but somethings, you have just got to deal. I always catch myself complaining and I try to remind myself of this. I need to discard what is cancerous to my life, but also be open to accepting things that I cannot avoid. I like to be around people who can turn the bad situations into good ones or who can overcome what they dislike when it's more of an inconvenience. It's not an easy thing to do, but those are the people I want to surround myself with all the time. Life is never going to be easy and we're always going to have the opportunity to complain, as we'll be uncomfortable more times than not, but it doesn't mean we have to go about our days being negative, rather, we just need to change our perspective and learn to accept those things that we dislike, as often, those things hinder our progress. As the heat and fatigue surrounded me the rest of the day, I tried to overcome it so I could enjoy the obon festival as much as possible. I didn't want to let that and other things impact my enjoyment of what is a celebration! 

~:[CH7 - Day 193]:~ Not Always Easy to Digest

~:[CH7 - Day 193]:~ Not Always Easy to Digest

Life is difficult. It's not always easy to digest. While there are moments and things that leaving you dreaming of the next time you'll have a chance, there are also things that leave a bad feeling in the pit of your stomach. Luckily, life provides us with ways to handle it. I always feel that life never makes things easy on us. Our bodies break down, those around us fall ill, things tend to not work out, however, these things become easier when we have someone next to us guiding us along. There was something about today that made me see that just being around is more important than anything else you can do. I hope that I continue to have people around me supporting me, much like I want to remind you that I'll be there for you. Life's not always easy to digest, but that doesn't mean we should be scared of all the sweet tastes it has to offer, as we'll always have those around us to help us when life is not easy to digest.

~:[CH7 - Day 192]:~ So It Begins

~:[CH7 - Day 192]:~ So It Begins

I always consider time trial as the start of it all. It's not the first day of practice, but it shows you what your team is shaping to look like in the future. With a school record broken and some improvements, this could become a great season, but as the season is long and arduous, you never really can tell. Cross country is a tough sport, because while skill is beneficial to have, hard work, training (physical and mental), and health are huge factors. It's always nice to complete this process with our ohana standing next to each other and I only can hope that this season is a success. At the beginning it's always hard to tell exactly where you'll end up, but if today's and indication, it will be a fun season.

~:[CH7 - Day 191]:~ Maybe a Little Cheesy

~:[CH7 - Day 191]:~ Maybe a Little Cheesy

It was my first alumni "boba meet up" of the summer, as I chatted with the recently graduated seniors. We didn't talk about anything specific, except for maybe Jefferson's cheese (or cheesy puns), but it was definitely worthwhile. We often have our own little quirks, weird things we enjoy, or funny ways we like to spend our time, but it doesn't make it any more or less valuable. How we spend our time may seem a bit cheesy, but it's something we should all respect in each other. Whether it's eating cheese, venturing off to KCON, dancing the night and day away, or wandering around the city aimlessly searching for Pokemon, it's something that pleases us and that makes it valuable. We all have our places that we allow ourselves to recharge and recover and the best thing is, that we all don't have the share the same outlet. As we chatted away the afternoon, we didn't talk about a bunch of random things and as cheesy as the puns were throughout, these are moments that I value dearly; moments that keep any day from being spoiled. 

~:[CH7 - Day 190]:~ Difficult to Spot

~:[CH7 - Day 190]:~ Difficult to Spot

Sometimes life has great moments that can be difficult to spot. The moment shared with those around you can be overlooked, even when they are quite special moments. I guess sometimes you don't realize the importance of time until time is running out. In a recent drama I watched, knowing the time remaining in one's lifetime made them realize what they wanted to do and pursue. Would our perspectives change if we had limited time to live and would we cherish moments that may not seem as significant, but can become those special moments you'll never forget. As I wandered through my day, having the ability to spend time with my athletes, time to enjoy leisure, and time to cook for my family, I saw a lot of these special moments though they were difficult to spot. As we dressed up to get our free entrees at Chick-Fil-A, people may laugh when they see what you're wearing or even cheer you on, however, regardless, that moment is for you to cherish, not allowing others to sway you from those amazing opportunities that lie ahead. Tomorrow is another new day of opportunities we may not easily see, so let's keep our eyes open so we don't allow those opportunities to slip on by.

~:[CH7 - Day 189]:~ Abnormally Normal

~:[CH7 - Day 189]:~ Abnormally Normal

It was a strangely abnormal normal day as we got back into the swing of things. Loads of freshmen joined us on our first day of practice, I was off while bowling, and I wasn't able to focus very well. The picture summed it up well, abnormally normal. I did many of the things my day consists of usually, but something felt a little bit off. Often times, it makes you worry about what you need to fix, but maybe the change of pace is not a bad thing. Routine can often be as deadly as change and thus, this strange feeling of abnormality may be the spice that you need to make the day even better. As I sat trying to recover and trying to get things done, I just thought, how strange of a day this is. I smiled and got back to it. Sometimes, instead of stressing out over how the day turned out, you just have to shrug and laugh because life just seems to be like that.

~:[CH7 - Day 188]:~ The Love of Being Abroad

~:[CH7 - Day 188]:~ The Love of Being Abroad

For a good number of us, if money wasn't an issue, we could live for awhile abroad somewhere. It always seems that when you start heading home, there is always this yearning to go back. I was definitely exhausted from the trip and felt like I was gone forever, however, I still had that feeling of wishing I was still abroad. Realistically, I couldn't stay any longer, but in my heart, I felt inclined to want to return back to the motherland. This trip was filled with an interesting mix of moments, a variety of different experiences and memories that I will remember for a lifetime. I met with old friends, made some new ones, and ventured off to places not really having a clue of what I would do when I got there. I planned as I went and it was actually kind of nice. While I may not have had an epic adventure, I had a variety of adventures that built up to something epic. A bit of sadness entered my heart as I saw Los Angeles from high above, but then again, it was nice to be home. I am not sure when I will be abroad again, but for now, I will live with the memories of the incredible moments I found while abroad this summer. 

~:[CH7 - Day 187]:~ I Scream, You Scream

~:[CH7 - Day 187]:~ I Scream, You Scream

It was a little cloudy overhead and the humidity was killer but we still wandered around Asakusa and the surrounding areas. It's always a pain to deal with the crowds in the area but nice to wander around and explore. The best moment of the day was coming across the ramune ice cream that is definitely heavenly. The streets of Asakusa are far different from the streets of Shinjuku. As we wandered through the area around Golden Gai, the alleyway of bars eventually led me to a meet up with an alumni and a final short chance to meet with people who aren't far away from me, but I only see when I am away (strange, isn't it?). On a trip where I was able to reconnect with a lot of people, it was nice to think about the fact that within these past few weeks, how many memories we shared and made. It will be nice to go home to the comforts of my own bed and finding familiarity with where I am, but still, there is a piece of my heart that always remains behind when I leave. To all those who made this trip special whether it was a short chat or a full day of adventure, thank you as those memories are the ones that make me want to scream at the top of my lungs, as it's these types of moments that make me the happiest. 

~:[CH7 - Day 187]:~ Beyond Cute

~:[CH7 - Day 187]:~ Beyond Cute

As we rolled into the Mitaka station, I saw two little kids coming back from school. They were so cute. It was amazing to see them venture through the station and find their bus accordingly. The independence they have at such a young age is incredible and impressive. As cute as they were, it also made me realize how different our societies are. Life in Japan is far from perfect, but to walk down a street with no trash cans and virtually no trash or to see how on point most things are in this country, remind me of how amazing it is. I love coming to Japan time after time to just explore and look around and to see things like this. From the way the advertise and animate things and keep things entertaining and even the way their food is prepared and decorated, this country is quite cute in so many ways. 

~:[CH7 - Day 186]:~ Continuing on the Path

~:[CH7 - Day 186]:~ Continuing on the Path

It was raining in Kyoto and while it made it a little painful because of walking through all these umbrellas and dealing with being wet, it also meant that the crowds were a little bit smaller. As usual, I was annoyed by the rain, but rain is also something that I normally don't like to make me stop proceeding with my plans or exploring even more. I may complain about it, but I also will deal with it if it means getting another shot or finding something amazing. We didn't end up exploring Arashiyama as much as I had wanted to, but we did wander endlessly though the Fushimi Inari Shrine. It was crowded at the bottom and while many people turned around with the rain and as the climb got longer and more difficult, we kept going only to find a more peaceful serenity higher above. We didn't quite have enough time to venture all the way to the top, as you'll need to allot a decent amount of time to do that, however, to keep moving forward when most had turned back reminded me that in life it's something that we must do. Even when we complain or think about turning around, we must remind ourselves that it's always crowded and difficult in the beginning. Everyone is trying to get on board with what is popular as they want a part of the thing to do, but ultimately, it's those who continue on the path that will find what they are looking for. The water trickled down the stairs and we had a trek back to get back to the main area and while there never was a WOW moment, I think this special moment was discovering the value of simplicity. I stood looking at the tori gates with the stream of water flowing through with no one around. You could hear the sounds of nature all around and that peace was the reward for continuing down the path. 

~:[CH7 - Day 185]:~ Striding Through the 4th

~:[CH7 - Day 185]:~ Striding Through the 4th

It was a little strange to come across the replica of the Statue of Liberty at Odaiba today, but I did on what is the 4th of July in Japan. I am a little sad that I will not be home for the 4th of July today because I love spending time with the family, however, I wanted to extend my trip just a bit and also get a better fare on my flight, thus, I am celebrating the 4th of July in Japan. I always appreciate how this day truly represents how our country was formed, climbing the uphill battle and creating a land we can be proud of. While many are disappointed in the direction that we are headed in our country, remember that it is our country and we have the ability to change things how we want them to be, even as much as it seems like we don't. There are many things that are out of our control, I think this day reminds us that we can overcome incredible odds in order to reach the goals we wish to achieve. Whether political or personal, let this day remind you that it is you who have the ability to make your days moving forward great and while there may be an uphill battle to climb, you are fully capable. To all my friends and family celebrating back at home, I miss you, I love you and I believe in you. Light up the sky, not with fireworks, but with the fire that rages inside of you and which the world is waiting to see. Happy Independence Day!

~:[CH7 - Day 184]:~ Slipping Through Your Fingers

~:[CH7 - Day 184]:~ Slipping Through Your Fingers

I woke up early in the morning and timing worked out that I was able to watch Japan's World Cup game before my flight. Since I was catching a flight to Tokyo, there was a huge contingent of Japanese watching the game with me so early in the morning. Amazingly, Japan jumped out to a 2-0 lead, however, the skill of Belgium and some defensive breakdowns allowed them to come back and win in the last minute. I was hoping for at least a shootout, but left on my flight disheartened. It was a loss that will sting for awhile. I guess life is like that. Just when you think you have something, it slips through your fingers. It disappears and you are left heartbroken. It's apart of life. Life is a roller coaster. The ups and downs of life are common and if you don't allow yourself to give up and keep a positive attitude, then you still have a chance to get back up so you are ready to take on the world. I love to surround myself who have that same positive attitude as while they may not have the words for you after a great disappointment, their positive actions and spirit is what is going to lift you up and allow that moment that your victory slipped through your fingers to become a mere memory. Tomorrow, the pain will probably still be there and the memory will still linger, but slowly, their support will lift you up and leave that moment in the shadows. I am proud of you team Japan and your effort and while you my be disheartened, tomorrow is another day. Gaman! 

~:[CH7 - Day 183]:~ On a Hunt

~:[CH7 - Day 183]:~ On a Hunt

I came to Auckland and a whim to do a little search. I was successful at it, but almost felt as if I could have done it in a single day. It was a little weird to have such a long flight for a quick trip, but alas, it is what it is. I forgot that it was winter in New Zealand so I wasn't too prepared for the cold. Luckily, it wasn't too bad and I was able to survive. It rained from time to time, but regardless, I still was able to venture out and explore. New Zealand is definitely a place of exploration and adventure and I should be back to visit eventually, but for now, I was happy with my stop over and my collection I gained during my visit. I discovered a cool and hip hotel and a few spots I want to hit in the future, but today I did what I had to before heading back on my last leg of this adventure in Tokyo. 

~:[CH7 - Day 182]:~ A Job Well Done

~:[CH7 - Day 182]:~ A Job Well Done

I actually did some work while in Japan and after finishing up with my work, I rewarded myself with Yoshinoya. I know what you all may be thinking, but Yoshinoya definitely is my go to place in Japan. Order the gyu don with natto and you've got yourself a meal. I had a pretty great day today and felt pretty happy as I made some progress and am excited for a quick little venture down under before coming back to Tokyo. Regardless, no matter what your go to food is, isn't nice to reward yourself with it after you successfully complete a task? Work hard, but don't forget to reward yourself.

~:[CH7 - Day 181]:~ A Whole Different World

~:[CH7 - Day 181]:~ A Whole Different World

As I walked into the stadium, you could already tell. My friend is a Hanshin Tigers fan and I loved their colors so it worked out that I became a fan. I stopped by the fan store which is located near the stadium and even though Hanshin is the visiting team, there was a line out the door. The stadium is divided in half and you wouldn't dare wear the opposing teams clothing to the game. I loved how the fans cheered the entire time the team was batting and how they even allow both teams to cheer on their team, sold gear for the opposing team in the stadium, and even had competitions between fans of both teams ... rock, paper, scissors on the video board between a child from Hanshin and one from Yakult. From the beer served from the legs worn like backpacks to the diehard loyal support on both sides, I realized that it's definitely not a spectator sport in Japan. In the end, we won 15-7 I'm what was a fun game to watch and helped me realize just how amazing it is. If you're ever in Japan during baseball season, buy some tickets, get some cheering sticks for your team and just follow along and you're sure to have quite an amazing time in this whole different world.