~:[CH11 - Day 212]:~ Bubbly

 
~:[CH11 - Day 212]:~ Bubbly

We ventured to the "other" park, California Adventure today and the start seemed similar for the nephew. However, it only took some music and bubbles to get him going. That's how it started and it ended with bubbles as well as they played with their new bubble makers in line of our last ride. I'm not sure what it is about bubbles, but they seem to have some magic healing power. When you see it, you want to reach out and grab it, but then it pops. Instead of being sad that your goal disappeared before your eyes, you reach for the next and keep at it. We learn it as a child, but still somehow find ourselves doing it as adults (at least I do). I wonder how different our lives would be if we approached our life like we do with bubbles. If life itself brings a smile on our face. Then even when our goal disappears before our eyes, we reach out and try to grab the next one and then the next. Who knows how different our lives would be and if we'd be carefree, stressed out or simply unaccomplished, however, if we can just capture that perseverance of a child trying to catch those bubbles and the joy that comes along with it, I'm sure that our lives right now would drastically feel different. In the end, we accomplished most of what we aimed to do, I got home and got half the work done I had hoped, and then prepped a little for the week. As I worked through the night, I thought of those bubbles and smiled. I hoped that one day, I could successful capture one of those bubbles, but even if I didn't, I hoped I would never lose the joy of chasing those bubbles. 

~:[CH11 - Day 211]:~ Feeling Crabby?

 
~:[CH11 - Day 211]:~ Feeling Crabby?

I knew it would be a busy day so I didn't quite have that jump out of bed energy that I might usually have. Of course, exercising often helps you work out that crabbiness and today, it truly did. I still was a bit hangry, however, as the day went on, I felt better little by little. We drew a small group today, but I felt like the practice went well and we enjoyed a little time on the beach before heading back. As always, I grabbed a little poke, headed back, but today, I focused in on finishing up the work I didn't finish yesterday. There's still a bit to go, but got the majority of what I needed done. Even when you get off to the wrong start, work out those kinks and try to find a way to make the day itself better. By days end, I did things I didn't even have on my to-do list and even enjoyed the Angels finally pulling off a comeback win despite blowing another lead. I sometimes catch myself saying, "this is not going to be a great day," but sometimes it's simply our mindset that can change an ominous day into one that ends up being a good one. In the end, we released the crabs and they burrowed back into the sand and along with it, my own crabbiness burrowed itself away. 

~:[CH11 - Day 210]:~ Eggs in a Basket

 
~:[CH11 - Day 210]:~ Eggs in a Basket

It wasn't the best day. My insta360 got stepped on, so I had a scratch on the lens, I couldn't quite get all the work I wanted done, and of course, the biggest issue of the day was, I didn't win the Mega Millions and my one billion dollars was stolen from me. You read that right, stolen. Of course, it was fun to read the responses to what I should spend my one billion dollars on. I guess, just like the watermelon relay we had today, you can't always depend on everything going as planned. I always set aside watermelons to enjoy after the event, assume that most of the watermelons will meet their demise. I guess it's what makes the day memorable as we often get a good amount of alumni showing up on this day as well. Often times people say to invest all your time in what you are working on to make it successful, however, I always take the approach to find joy in a number of things to avoid having all my eggs in one basket. It's not that I am afraid of failure, but understand that, at least for me, variety will not only help me stay focused, but will also bring me greater joy. I always seem to not depend on one thing, but have a variety of things in place just in case the inevitable happens. With investments, I often do the same and while I tend to favor one investment over a number, diversifying has helped me find greater success and kept me engaged. Strangely, it also aligns to how I've invested my time. For all of us it's different and some will go full force in one area. I have a lot of friends who invest all their time and energy in music, family, business, athletics and more, and that is the right decisions for them, but for me, I never leave my eggs in one basket. They often say, a jack of all trades, but a master of none and a lot of that has to do with the fact that my portfolio of life is do diversified. There were a lot of things that didn't go right today, but I just stepped into the kitchen, cooked up a good meal and enjoyed watching some shows. It didn't correct what didn't go right today and couldn't ease the pain of losing a billion dollars, but I found things to bring joy to my day. I may never find that single golden egg, but at least I can find comfort that even on the worst of days, they'll be an egg waiting in one of my many baskets. Are you single-basket minded or multiple-basket minded?

~:[CH11 - Day 209]:~ A Little Break

 
~:[CH11 - Day 209]:~ A Little Break

It's never easy to wake up at 5am every morning for practice five days a week and at 6am on Saturdays, but walking up and being at school at 6am or 7am, makes the days longer and more productive. At times, however, it wears on your body and you need to give yourself a little break. With less people signing up for the extra workout, we canceled our afternoon workout and just stuck with the morning. It was a good decision, as my body was telling me, I needed to rest and I'm sure the athletes felt the same. I used most of the time to catch up on work I needed to do as I sent some of the photos over to my friend in Japan that she's been waiting for. I felt bad because I got so backed up, but glad that I finally could send the links to the albums. Although I was doing work, it felt nice because I enjoyed something a little different and it helped me re-energize a bit. It was a wonderful workout this morning and tomorrow my alarm will sound at 5am once again, however, just a little break will go a long way to help me get ready for the days ahead. Take that break when you get the chance and find a way to recharge for that road ahead.

~:[CH11 - Day 208]:~ Connection

 
~:[CH11 - Day 208]:~ Connection

People often refer to cross country as a cult. That word has such a negative connotation that I don't necessarily celebrate that comment, but I do recognize that reference as a good one. People often ask why we have such a tight-knit community and often times, I reference that it's simply that we give opportunities for them to spend as much time together as possible. Sure, not everyone will know everyone and not everyone will get along, but we open the door for people to connect and often times, proximity is what brings people together. It's amazing to hear of weddings of former ohana and to see them still hanging out, whether running races or just hanging out. Not all of them will stay in touch, but for those that do, they often built a connection that will outlast time. The pandemic definitely was tough, but I think the connections the athletes had helped them survive although it did impact many of the things we typically do. Slowly, we have to rebuild and rebuild those connections we lost in hopes that we can find our way to where we were. In life, sometimes our world can crumble around us and while that was not the case this time, we do have a few renovations that will help maintain the program for future generations. Of course, it will truly take the entire ohana to do so and I look forward to every piece that our ohana will piece together to create the new look of the ohana. As time passes, I wonder how many connections will still be in tact, but even if that connection feels as if it's been disconnected, for me, there will always be a place in my heart for my ohana. 

~:[CH11 - Day 207]:~ Across Time

 
~:[CH11 - Day 207]:~ Across Time

It's amazing how quickly time flies by. I remember these two as babies celebrating a birthday together and today they were running side by side at our afternoon workout. We talked about "when they get older" when they were young and before we knew it, we were here. I guess life is like that. We talk about the future and soon enough, that future becomes the present. How much do we change over that span depends on so many factors, but across time, how much do we actually change? As much as dramas are fiction, there is a lot of reality tied into their stories including one that talks about how our surroundings often guide us towards a certain future. On our journey though, we are given the opportunity to make these final choice to decide where we end up. While at times, some face more obstacles in reaching those higher plateaus, for all of us, our decisions of the past bring us to today and will help us determine our tomorrow. No matter how our journey has been, I hope that we can find our way to great victories and moments. Surely there will be moments we will struggle and will shed tears, however, as we move through time, I hope that the joy and success we find can outweigh those things that try to weigh us down. As we talk about "when we get older" I hope that our future holds great moments that we can share, moments we can love, and of course moments to celebrate, however, in the meantime, let's make the most of today as we work our way across time day by day. 

~:[CH11 - Day 206]:~ Development

 
~:[CH11 - Day 206]:~ Development

Freshman year, I almost cut this athlete. Almost every race, he fell and didn't finish the race. During the pandemic, he was one of the few frosh-soph athletes in distance so we had to run him in more races than he should have, but he didn't complain. Today, he ended up running the longest run in his career and did so in a decent pace. One of my alumni asked me why I don't cut too many athletes and it's because of things like this that I try to keep an athlete around. If an athlete is making and effort and doesn't cause a ruckus, I try to find a way to keep them around. He almost caused too big of a ruckus freshman year, but I am glad he stuck around. There are those moments for a student, an athlete or everyone for that matter where you suddenly find a moment where you surprise yourself. A moment where you figure things out after a long struggle and find that moment of exhilaration. He was exhausted, but I also know there was a lot of satisfaction at the end of the day. Saying I was proud today would probably be an understatement as when you see the development of someone right in front of your eyes, it is truly satisfying. For each of us, there will be those moments of struggle, those areas we have to work super hard just to reach where others are already, however, I hope you keep striving and never back down as just like today, you're bound to find that moment of true satisfaction. A moment that although you may be exhausted, you can't help but smile. 

~:[CH11 - Day 205]:~ After Some Time ...

 
~:[CH11 - Day 205]:~ After Some Time ...

I wasn't particularly excited to wake up early again. I had not slept past 6am this whole week. Similarly, I wasn't too excited to go to Disneyland as I knew it would be warm and the park would be crowded. However, going to the park with my whole family for the first was something to be excited for. I used to have a Disney pass until they started to toy around with this current reservation system. Never having to have to pay for parking, I was astonished that it is now $30 to park. I'm sure that the last time my parents went, parking was $10 or less. Regardless, I didn't think about much other than simply capturing and experience these great moments with the family. Since we stayed on the rides for the children, the lines weren't terrible and we got on a good number of rides before the little ones fell asleep (almost at the same time). It's been some time since we've been here together, however, some things never change as sharing this experience with family is truly magical. While it felt weird to walk out of the park so early, as we walked out after enjoying our Dole Whip, I was happy to have a fulfilling day where some great memories were made. 

~:[CH11 - Day 204]:~ Grind

 
~:[CH11 - Day 204]:~ Grind

This two day combo is always the toughest. Waking up for an early AM practice after a late night bonfire makes me wonder what am I thinking. After talking to the athletes, a few of them still wanted to go and so we went out and took on Glavinich. It definitely is one of the tougher workouts and every time we are there, someone passing by always awes as how steep and tough the hill is. My athletes keep grinding through it. Most teenagers want to be sleeping on a Saturday morning, but these athletes volunteered for this extra workout. While today's group was small, I was still proud that a few of them decided to come out and I just hope that the athletes are rewarded for grinding through this difficult combo weekend. All of us have these challenges we face that we know what's coming and I hope that we all face it head on and show them that we overcome the difficult circumstances in order to reach the goals we are striving towards. It's not easy now, but at the end, I'm sure the satisfaction will be worth every ounce of energy spent during the grind.

~:[CH11 - Day 203]:~ Sacrifice

 
~:[CH11 - Day 203]:~ Sacrifice

Most people know how much I dislike going to the beach. Year after year, however, we end up here for our annual bonfire. It's days like these that make me appreciate parents and others who go through these same kind of days. I see so many around me driving their children around, cooking, cleaning, washing and more for the sake of someone they love. We don't do everything in life just because we like it, but we also sometimes sacrifice our own comfort for the benefit of those around. I am always impressed about how many athletes turn up to these events, not only because of the athletes, but the parents who helped sacrifice their time to get them there or help them get something that they needed. I absolutely support the idea that we need to do a lot for ourselves and ensure we don't forget to take care of our needs, but in the process, we also need to learn to sacrifice when it benefits others as well. The balance between the two is integral. This event always reminds me of all those special people around me who have sacrificed in one way or another and as I look around at the athletes enjoying their day, my distain for the beach tends to disappear. The next day, that disdain returns as I smell the scent of a bonfire or feel the sand that was left behind, but at least for that moment, I don't mind, as it's something that so many have done for me through my lifetime and for that, I am forever grateful.

~:[CH11 - Day 202]:~ Value

 
~:[CH11 - Day 202]:~ Value

I remember when I was younger, I ran in a track event. I had to compete against my brother and cousin since nobody was in my age group. I got dusted. I teared up as I finished far behind them albeit the only finisher in my group. I remember crying more when they didn't give me a medals since they combined divisions. My family gave me a trophy after the race, but I wonder the value of that trophy. I appreciate that my family gave me an award that I probably should have received since technically I finished first in my division (as the only competitor), but at the same time, I wonder what the value of that trophy is. In some divisions for our time trial, every athlete that may finish might get an award, but does that make it less in value than the races that were hotly contested? Every person has their own view of the value of it. Some are overjoyed, some may not receive any satisfaction from it, but ultimately, I see that these medals all hold value. Although my trophy was not given by the official organization, there was comfort in receiving it knowing that my family was thinking about me, pouring in love when I felt shortchanged. For my athletes, I hope that they appreciate any medal they receive. The value of it is not only the place or the time, but also the story that comes along with it. Much like my trophy has a story, each one of the medals these athletes receive has a story as well and because of it, it holds even greater value. Beyond just awards, there are so many things that we may possess that have this type of value and I hope that no matter how cheap or expensive the item is, we see the value of it which may not be visible to the naked eye. As we wrapped up the time trial and later headed to Central Park, I found value in all of these wonderful experiences today, knowing that they are worth much more than they seem and only time will allow its value to be revealed. 

~:[CH11 - Day 201]:~ What a Catch

 
~:[CH11 - Day 201]:~ What a Catch

I forgot to set my alarm today. Luckily, I still woke up at my normal time. I was lucky. Sometimes in life we make this very catch. As I watched one of my athletes try and catch a pop fly, she struggled to do so, but eventually caught it, twice. It happened twice because the first time, I didn't catch it on video, so we tried again. Some are lucky and would catch it on their first try, some are skilled and can do it every time, while others work at it tirelessly and reach that goal of catching the ball and ultimately, there would a handful who would give up all together. If I showed you a reel of all four of these scenarios, what would your reaction be? Would you be disappointed in the one who gave up? Proud of the one who caught it on the first try? Unaffected by the skilled player? Would you relate to the one who kept failing, but ultimately caught the ball with excitement? I often tell my athletes and students, I don't mind seeing you fail, because it also means you're giving it a shot. You're grinding, you're persistent, or you're laboring and for doing that alone, you should be applauded. We get so caught up in the highlights that we often miss out on what it took to get someone to make those highlights. The hours in the sun, the aches and pains, the fatigue and more are not always shown when in reality it's what it took to get there. Sometimes we get lucky like I did with my alarm and we just figure it out, but more times than not, we have to work to reach a goal we wish to reach and I hope that for all of us, we make that very catch even if it takes us one hundred tries. 

~:[CH11 - Day 200]:~ Just Gliding

 
~:[CH11 - Day 200]:~ Just Gliding

Tuesdays and Thursdays always are long days. With morning and afternoon practice, we end up spending a lot of this day together with our ohana. Regardless, it's been nice to get into the grove of things and just glide along. Waking up hasn't been a challenge and even going out into the heat seems much easier when the humidity is lower than Japan. Although I was a bit sore today from golfing, it felt nice to have things go so smoothly after a rough day on the course. As the athletes finished up their workouts, surviving the heat, it was nice to just watch them enjoy their time on this "playground" of workout equipment. 

~:[CH11 - Day 199]:~ Out of Control

 
~:[CH11 - Day 199]:~ Out of Control

Even before I set foot on the course, I knew it would be a bad day. I didn't have the feel and my shots were all over the place. Whether it was from moving the day before or just not playing for awhile, I didn't feel comfortable and it carried over to the course. Strangely, from time to time, I would have a good moment, but for the most part it felt like everything was out of my control. Sometimes in life, you do everything you can, you make adjustments and it still doesn't work out. You try and try again, but ultimately, things just don't pan out the way you'd hope. In fact, sometimes your efforts, only make it worse. At some points, you are discouraged and even give up. I am not sure if I have had a day this bad out on the golf course, but it made me think about the struggles that people face. The feeling I had today on the course is magnified in life and the question is what can we do when things feel out of control. There's no answer that will satisfy everyone. For me, I try to stay calm and collected, keep things in perspective and find ways to figure things out. Most problems have a solution and while it may not be perfect or easy to discover, there are ways if you make an effort to find them. Today, I will try to move on and forget all that went on during those 18 holes, it's much easier to do with a round of golf. In life, when I find myself in that same situation, I hope that I can figure out a way to make it all work. As in life though, some days will feel out of control and you can focus on what you can control, yet at the end of the day, you can reflect, recover and look forward to the next day where you can hopefully regain control. Let's aim for those fairways, but when we find ourselves in a hazard, let's be sure to focus so we can figure out the solution that will help us stabilize. 

~:[CH11 - Day 198]:~ The Tides of Life

 
~:[CH11 - Day 198]:~ The Tides of Life

I woke up early and headed over to help with the move. I knew it would be a pretty big haul, but it was a little more than I had anticipated and so I had to adjust my seats a bit to maximize the space available. At times, I felt a little useless as two people were all that could really maneuver items such as the coach down the tight corridors. I was amazed at how they maneuvered it through and ultimately, we were able to get the larger couch down and everything else in the process. The manual labor isn't anything new as from time to time, heaving lifting is part of the job, but it's not as common as paperwork. Regardless, just a week ago, I had to move my luggage from place to place, which was a common theme throughout my time in Japan and so I was a little prepared to lift a few heavy things. I ventured off to meet a friend after and in my mind, I kept wondering why I was sore. While I didn't do as much lifting as these two, I realized that I did lift and so my body was probably rebelling just a bit. I refocused and finished up the paperwork I needed to do for Monday as my body reminded me that we should head to bed soon. I felt accomplished by day's end. From hard labor to planning to organizing, it was full of such a diverse list of tasks. The last week has been filled with a few days of unproductivity and thus, today was refreshing and helped motivate me to get as much done in a day of work. For all of us we have these days and while the days of unproductivity may have been disappointing, however, sometimes those days are just for recharging yourself so you can have days like today, where there is so much accomplished. The challenges of life will come in waves so enjoy the times when the tide is low and be ready to ride when the tide comes calling your name. 

~:[CH11 - Day 197]:~ Pulling Back

 

~:[CH11 - Day 197]:~ Pulling Back

I'm sure jetlag has played a role in my sleeping schedule. As I woke up just after 2am, I decided to watch some Kdramas and then head back to sleep. I ended up staying up until practice. I actually was tired, but also wanted to see the end of the drama. I paid the price. When we arrived at the beach, the water was pulled back as far as I could ever remember it being. It felt a little eerie as it was overcast and almost as if a tsunami was coming soon. The water began returning to normal as the athletes ran back and they ended up playing around a bit. It was a fairly new group to this and they seemed to enjoy the time they had there. After getting home, I vowed not to lie down, but I did and that was the end of the story for Saturday. While I had planned to finish so many things today, I guess sometimes you just have to allow yourself to step back and find some time to rest. I didn't want to waste the day, but after not sleeping when I should have, my body reminded me that sleep was necessary. I put aside the work that needed to be done and adventured off into dreamland allowing myself some much needed rest.

~:[CH11 - Day 196]:~ A Little Chaotic

 
~:[CH11 - Day 196]:~ A Little Chaotic

Schedules, plans and organization are definitely keys to staying on top of things and finding success, however, sometimes in life, you need to allow things to get a little chaotic. One of the games we have in our collection is a game called footsoccer where we mix up ultimate frisbee & football with soccer. We don't keep score and the athletes run around chasing whatever implement comes their way. When I watch it, I always think chaos, but I also think, it's what we need. When we play a game, it's often a goal to "win" the game, but why can't we just play? Yes, there are rules to the game, but do they have to be rigid and enforced? It's great to do so, but once in awhile, having that flexibility allows you to explore and discover more than what you would have found if you simple stayed within the lines. I always think of coloring as while it keeps things nice and neat, going outside the lines sometimes allows you to create something that you never would have imagined otherwise. Stay on top of things, keep organized, but every once in awhile, enjoy a little chaos, color outside the lines and see what you create. 

~:[CH11 - Day 195]:~ Shaken, Not Stirred

 
~:[CH11 - Day 195]:~ Shaken, Not Stirred

Even when we don't noticed, we often fall into a routine. Day after day, doing the same thing. Day after day, becomes week after week, month after month and year after year. While we make adjustments and things here and there change, the overall structure, especially after much experience in the trenches, remains the same, sometimes without noticing. Whenever I see someone post tangsuyuk on their story, I always ask them if they dip the tangsuyuk into the sauce or pour it over the dish. Most people respond with a definitely answer for this and often with an, "of course." Similar to our morning routine whether it be breakfast at home or a coffee at Starbucks, we fall into that pattern. As a coach, I have the structure engrained in my mind and so I can just go through the motions of what is next, but every once in awhile, that structure needs to be changed. This is one of those years where we saw that need and how this year could be different from most. Sometimes we need to mix it up and find the right formula with the group we have and the situation that we are dealt. It was fun to watch this group have a few fun moments after a tougher workout. I've loved the energy and effort of this young group and so far, it's been a fairly smooth start. As we rolled through our routine, I thought of the adjustments and what we can change to make this season with this group the most effective. The past few years were different than this season and so it will take a little fine tuning to the right way to approach this situation. Like all things in life, we want to be efficient, but routines, while efficient, may not always be effective and thus, I definitely will be finding ways to adjust as much as I can to find efficiency, but also effectiveness. As we think back to James Bond and his famous line, "shaken, not stireed," similarly, even if we're used to stirring, every once in awhile, we need to shake things up a bit. As we closed the night, I enjoyed my shaken bowl of pho from Sup and smiled as I knew that this season would have such an original quality about it and I am excited to experience this new and refreshing season ahead. 

~:[CH11 - Day 194]:~ Until Next Time ...

 
~:[CH11 - Day 194]:~ Until Next Time ...

I was sad to hear that one of my students is moving, yet at the same time glad to hear it before it happened. In a field where we have to part with a group of students we connect with over the course of their four years, you get used to goodbyes. Some come back and visit and stay connect and some, I just hear about randomly. Unexpected departures are sometimes sad because you never really had an opportunity to say goodbye, however, I'm glad I got that chance today. It's never an easy to move in the middle, however, I am confident that he will be able to connect and make friends wherever he goes. A few days ago, I was just thinking about how we all will part ways with so many people in our lives. Sometimes we get these precious opportunities to say goodbye, while others may be so sudden. While in these cases, it's easier as we can stay in touch, I always think about how one day we'll all have to say goodbye to a loved one. It always makes me wonder, have we all said all we've wanted to say? While in many cases, we have time to prepare, in some cases, it happens so suddenly and I hope that in our lives, we give ourselves the opportunity to share all we want before we part ways, temporarily or permanently. Year after year, I will have to continue to say my goodbyes and over time, I'll face the pain of losing loved ones, however, I'll always be sure to remember not to leave those parting words until next time. 

~:[CH11 - Day 193]:~ Aged

 
~:[CH11 - Day 193]:~ Aged

It's great to see so many young athletes join us, but also fun when alumni come back. My entire coaching staff are alumni as well and during introductions today, it was great to hear how far back they go, making me realize how fast time has gone. They enjoyed a little time after as we setup a makeshift gym outside the shed as we figure out how to do things without the facilities we had before. We played a little basketball after and instead of just hearing how old I was, I felt it as my body seemed upset for making it jog up and down the court. Regardless, it was another smooth day and a great way to kick off this year's summer workouts.

~:[CH11 - Day 192]:~ OHANA

 
~:[CH11 - Day 192]:~ OHANA

Because of my nap, I wasn't on the best sleep schedule, but I woke up and made it on time. Due to construction, we had to "figure things out" when we got there, but pin pointed where we were going to practice and do what we needed to do. It was a pretty good turnout for a first day and while there is a lot for me to catch up on this week, it was nice to be back in the habit. As much as I long to go back to Japan, I definitely enjoyed seeing the ohana again. I made the grave mistake again and laid down after finishing some work, but still had time to get a few things done. Let's home my cycle gets back on track soon.

~:[CH11 - Day 191]:~ Flavors of Japan

 
~:[CH11 - Day 191]:~ Flavors of Japan

Even when I left Japan, I am still eating Japanese food at home. It's funny because everyone I met in Japan asks what I eat at home and it's actually not much different than what I ate in Japan. I guess I get the flavors of Japan on the daily even when I am home. While the picture may not have been the best, the food was absolutely delicious, but made me miss Japan a bit more. Regardless, instead of a very productive day. aside from unpacking, laundry and cleaning up a bit, I did the unforgiveable and laid down only to take a nap and throw off my sleep cycle a bit. I hope that by this week, I can get back into rhythm while still enjoying the flavors of Japan.

~:[CH11 - Day 190]:~ Fulfillment

 
~:[CH11 - Day 190]:~ Fulfillment

Time and time again, I canceled my flight to Japan wondering when the next time I would be able to return. It was a little challenging emotionally as I longed to see my friends and had a load of work for a project that I needed to get started. Finally, the paperwork cleared and I was on my way. My excitement was beyond anything I could imagine and the trip itself did not disappoint. While I didn't always have the freedom to do whatever I wanted as there was work to do, I still had the freedom to do most of what I wanted to in the span of time that I had. I saw my friends and family, visited places I wanted to see, and made new connections that I did not necessarily expect to make. The beauty of city and nature, the love of friends and family, and just the ability to appreciate a place I've gone to so many times, but learned to cherish even more. I could have stayed another month time permitting, but responsibilities called me home. As I flew back, I was sad, excited to be back home, yet longing to see my friends again. I'll be missing stopping at the convenience store on the walk home from the station, stopping at a restaurant for a quick bite or taking the train anywhere I needed to be. It will be wonderful to hold a regular conversation, but will miss the discomforts that motivate you to work harder to understand and find a way to overcome obstacles. As I look back, I realize how busy I was as each day I came back exhausted, rarely having downtime, but part of it was because I forced myself to explore as I didn't want to take my time there for granted. My friends and family sent me messages as I left, leaving me with a greater longing to return again soon. Flights home from Asia always create the longest days, as I arrived home before noon on the same day I left. I enjoyed lunch and boba before unpacking, doing laundry and settling back in. The piles of work await me this week, but my batteries are recharged and for now, I'll enjoy the lasting memories I made during this trip. For everyone, there is that one place where you feel the most content, whether at home, a local vacation spot or a place far away and for me, that place of fulfillment has always been Japan. To my friends and family who made this trip special, I am filled with gratitude that we had the opportunity to meet and I look forward to seeing you again soon. Until then ...

~:[CH11 - Day 189]:~ Music in My Heart

 
~:[CH11 - Day 189]:~ Music in My Heart

The day didn't start with good news. As I explored around the National Stadium and headed towards Asakusa, I heard the news of the assassination of former PM Abe. Strangely, I was a station away from where the shooting happened a few weeks ago and a few minutes from the house of the shooter when visiting Nara. It was a pain to think about the senseless killing that we've experienced at home also coming to a place where guns are not allowed. Even in the place where you least expected it to happen, it could happen, which is a reminder to live each moment to the fullest. As I think back through this trip, I wasn't sure how I would fill up a month other than the work that I did and now looking back, I realized that I may have needed a few more weeks. I've been treated so well in almost ever moment that I was here and was glad to reunite with so many people while making a large group of new friends and acquaintances. As I finished up my last shoot, I ventured over to meet Paruchan and hear my final performance before I left. As she sang, I didn't know all the words that she was singing, but you could feel the music uplifting me as I recollected all the great moments that came throughout this trip. It was weird to be standing in the middle of a square in a place so foreign, but feeling as if I was where I should be at that very moment. My heart was full as I said by goodbyes. My friend stopped by and hung out for a bit before I had to pack up and go to sleep, but as I laid my head down, I already knew that I was living the dream. There is so much work left to do when I return, but for now, I know that I will head back with music flowing through my veins.. I wish I could extend this trip for another day, week, month or even year, but at this very moment, I am content. It was a bittersweet day between the news and departure versus the precious memories created, but knowing I made the most of every moment allows me to leave with that music in my heart. Farewell Japan, it's been incredible. 

~:[CH11 - Day 188]:~ The Stars Align

 
~:[CH11 - Day 188]:~ The Stars Align

Had I gone to Senso-ji a day earlier, it would have been packed. July 7th is Tanabata or the Star Festival. It was definitely a day to celebrate as I made my final few treks around the city exploring all the places I wanted to visit before I left. I started packing my stuff and planned to mail out a package, but ran out of time. I headed to my shoot, explored a bit more before meeting up with my friend for dinner for the last time. It was great. Sadly, my time was counting down, but the stars aligned so that I could make it here and although I am sad that the packing has begun, I am happy that it even happened at all. I discussed final business details with my friends as we made plans on next steps for our project, but otherwise, it was mainly, let's do what we can before we must go. There was much reason to celebrate today even if I didn't make my way out to true Tanabata celebrations. 

~:[CH11 - Day 187]:~ Cuddly

 
~:[CH11 - Day 187]:~ Cuddly

As the days started to get closer to zero, I finally got to meet my friend. I ended up making a video and advertisement for her and one of them included her dog Pua. I finally got to meet Pua. As I walked in the door, Pua ran next to me and laid down. Pua stayed there until I left. It was the cutest thing ever. I enjoyed just chatting before heading towards Skytree to find a few new angles to shoot it. I finished the night hanging out with my friend and doing a last little shoot. There were so many things I wanted to do and while I didn't check off all the boxes, at least I got to see most of the people I wanted to see while I was here. I was sad as I packed one box and got it ready to ship, however, as I did, it helped me recollect a lot of the memories I had while here, things that will last much longer than anything I put into that box. As while object can look and feel so cool, sometimes the most precious things can only be felt within. 

~:[CH11 - Day 186]:~ Floating Along

 
~:[CH11 - Day 186]:~ Floating Along

The forecast was bad and today was the day I was suppose to go to Disney. Of course, the timing would work out like this, but for the most part, the weather actually held and although I was dripping sweat through the day, it was a daily occurrence that I've grown accustomed to. As I entered Tokyo Disney, I was a little worried as the lines for security made me think it would be crowded. Some rides were, but for the most part, things were actually pretty mellow. I tried figuring out the app, not realizing that the only special access pass you could get were for a few rides and it wasn't too cheap. Regardless, the line for one ride at Tokyo Disney was long and so I decided, what the heck and bought it. It was 100% the right decision. The ride recently opened so it has a lot of new elements to it not seen in other rides and honestly, Tokyo Disney hasn't made too many changes. The castle itself is amazing and while I was worried since the word teacups was used in the description, it isn't a dizzying ride at all. It actually makes you feel part of the scene and that you're dancing, especially in the final room where you are floating as if you are dancing along as well. While it's a bit awkward to see the passengers of the other five teacups face-to-face, it gives you a feeling of being at a party, rather that enclosed in your own separate pod like other Fantasyland rides. Regardless, the whole feel of the ride is quite amazing and sad that it's not one they have at home. I ended up riding ALMOST everything I wanted to, as while I was next in line to ride Big Thunder, it had technically difficulties right before closing. Regardless, I enjoyed both Disney Sea and Tokyo Disney and even got to eat at the Blue Bayou. Although my body was sweating when I got into the train and it started drizzling on my walk back to my hotel, I could only thing about this wonderful day floating along to the music. 

~:[CH11 - Day 185]:~ Freedom

 
~:[CH11 - Day 185]:~ Freedom

I'm always a little sad to be away on this day. To see the stories and posts of others celebrating this beautiful day makes me sad that I am not home, but apart of me still feels how special this day is. I luckily got to meet one of my older friends who visited the US along time ago. They home-stayed with us awhile back and we've kept in contact here and there. It was wonderful to be able to see each other, meet her daughter who is about the age when she visited us in the US, and just wander around. It's funny how many memories pop up when we chat about those days and makes me realize just how much time has passed by. I then ventured to do a shoot with my friends as we explored a bit after taking some basic shots. We ended up at Shibuya Sky. Originally, only the indoor area was available due to weather, but luckily, by the time we entered, we were allowed to go out to the deck and it was beautiful. To see Tokyo from above and just be able to rest on the rooftop was quite amazing. While they are pretty strict and always watching you to ensure you follow the rules, if you do, it's definitely a great moment you can soak in. On top of it all, the bad weather allowed the rooftop to be fairly empty, which was even more amazing. As while I thought we might only be there for a short while, we ended up hanging out there for awhile, feeling the wind that cooled us off from the humid day. The breeze made me feel the freedom and just looking around made me feel as if I could fly. It didn't necessarily replace the fireworks I would be missing and the celebrations ongoing with family and friends, but today did give me a little sense of that celebration I would miss to celebrate the home that I will soon return to.

~:[CH11 - Day 184]:~ Risk = Reward

 
~:[CH11 - Day 184]:~ Risk = Reward

Originally I wanted to trek back to Kansai today, but my pass had expired and it was going to be a bit expensive to head back. I also added a shoot at night so I had to decide what to do with the remainder of the day. I've always wanted to visit this spot as I've seen so many post about it, but knowing how far it was, I wasn't so sure. I made the trek anyways and risked the five hours of travel it would take to get there and back not knowing if it would be worth. The weather was a bit gloomy and made touring around the area a little more challenging, but when I stepped into the display, I knew the decision was right. It's such a gorgeous piece and I just wanted to soak it in for awhile. It was definitely a risk to make the trek, but saw such amazing views during this trip and know that it's a place I'll need to return to again as there is much more to explore in the area. It was a little bit of a risk, but sometimes when you're willing to put in on the line, there is a reward waiting for you and today, this was it.

~:[CH11 - Day 183]:~ Where the Journey Guides Us

 
~:[CH11 - Day 183]:~ Where the Journey Guides Us

I made a trek down to Yokohama to grab some ramen and explore the area a bit more. It was a more open day today as I changed my schedule around a bit so I could explore a bit. I was trying to leave to stop by and catch my friend before she left for work, but I heard this music carrying to the port where Gundam is located. At first I thought it was a street singer, but as I drew closer, I realized it was an event. Somehow I was drawn to that place and it ended up being a wonderful journey as I got to meet the artists after their performance. My minimal Japanese didn't help much, but I did enjoy the music and although I realized later that I had stayed far too long, it was worth the detour in my schedule. I quickly trekked back and met my friend for dinner as we enjoyed Korean food and relaxed the rest of the evening. When we lay out our journey, we often try to stay on track for efficiency sake, however, sometimes you just have to allow yourself to let the journey guide you to experiences you never expected, but needed. It was definitely a refresher on a day where the heat was overwhelming and I'm glad I followed my instinct and followed the music that guided me.

~:[CH11 - Day 182]:~ Timing is Everything

~:[CH11 - Day 182]:~ Timing is Everything

I worked in the day and had this awkward gap before I was going to meet my friends. I just wanted to rest, but then I knew I was a bit hungry and should eat a bit. I didn't want to go to a restaurant and wanted to take out, but it is a bit more challenging to take out aside from the convenience store (it has become much easier though). I stopped by the department store knowing they had some bento boxes and other foods and realized it was almost closing time. Timing was everything. As I stopped by a shop that had some good food, the worker was putting on the stickers and I knew I had scored. Discounted food, but also something that I actually wanted to eat. I snagged two items before others could, grabbed some karaage and zoomed back home out of the sweltering heat. It was nice to relax and had a lot of extra food to share with my friends before we headed out. I could have had a quick fast food meal, but ended up but ended up with a mini potluck and I couldn't be happier. In this case, timing was everything and on those days, instead of asking how it happened, let's just appreciate that it did and soak in all the good that came along with it.