~:[CH11 - Day 243]:~ Finding Peace

 
~:[CH11 - Day 243]:~ Finding Peace

It was boiling today. The key, survival. As the temperatures rose, all I could think about it, how do I survive this. The answer, one minute at a time. I focused in on the task at hand and survived through the heat that blasted through the Homecoming Premier. I was impressed that those in the show moved through it without showing much distress, however, at the end, you could see just how difficult it was for them. It was chaotic to have this so early, as Homecoming will take place early, however, they did a great job piecing it together and the setup it self was wonderful. As practice rolled around, we did our new routine on Wednesdays, stretching and yoga. Our workout focuses on building strength and flexibility and I am hoping that it will pay some dividends in the end. It's tough to try and do it with so many athletes, but we managed. I am not sure if it was the heat or they are starting to like this, but they survived the two minutes of breathing and relaxation without having to start over. I got home and finished up the work I had to do today, enjoyed another win for the Angels and even connected with a few friends in Japan before wrapping up the day. As miserable as the heat was today, things seemed to go well and for that, I am grateful. As while chaos may surround us, if we can focus on what is important to us, we can often find peace even in the most unlikely of places. In a drama I am watching, they had a quote, "you will not arrive in paradise when you run away." Often times, people run away from tough and chaotic situations. In some cases, it's warranted, but in many, there are opportunities that people run away from in hopes of finding something greater. Instead of always running away, find the solution with that chaos, as it might just help you find the peace you were searching for all along. Instead of trying to find the paradise elsewhere, take a deep breath and focus, as the paradise you've been searching for can often be found within you.

~:[CH11 - Day 242]:~ Keep Pumping

 
~:[CH11 - Day 242]:~ Keep Pumping

I love to see athletes who battle through tough conditions and also commit fully when they take on a challenge. More and more, I've seen kids just disappear from the team without an email or any word, however, despite those few, I've also had a core group that nags me to open the weight room or to have an extra practice. The contrast between the two is amazing. It's actually been great, because we've had a young, solid core grow and learn as they work towards their goals they're aiming at. Today's workout was even more impressive as the warm temperatures were something that I thought would lead to complaining and a terrible workout. Rather, I had a larger group of athletes pushing towards a higher group and looking fresher through the workout. Sure, we had some tap out early, but overall, the group did push themselves a bit more and you wouldn't even be able to tell how challenging the weather was. As usual, they asked me if I could open the weight room and so I did before I headed back to the warzone to get work done to prepare for Saturday. As I sat and reflected on the day, I hoped that my entire team can take on the attributes of this strong core and work towards going above and beyond so that they can find greater performances on the road ahead. As when everyone else packs their bags and heads hope, I hope that they stick around and keep pumping iron in the weight room until I force them to go home. It's something I do daily and I look forward to when the number I have to do that to grows. In our own lives, let's all keep pumping as we look towards reaching our dreams.

~:[CH11 - Day 241]:~ A Day at the Park

 
~:[CH11 - Day 241]:~ A Day at the Park

Mondays are always a little tougher, but I rolled out a bed and got to class. It was nice because we are listening to speeches. I am always excited to hear their first speech and begin to figure out, who are the natural speakers and who will find improvement through the year. With the heat turning up this week, I was a little worried about the warmth, but it did cool down a bit as we ran to see the new course design. I had to run around the park to direct everyone since nobody knew this course, but in the end, they rolled through the workout. I enjoyed being back at the park and while it looks like we're only going to be able to use the county-side of the park since we're still having issues with the city, but it's exciting to think that we hopefully will finally be able to race there at least for district and maybe league. At the end of the day, I had to refocus and get work done as this week will be one of the craziest, but at least before all of that, I got to enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the park. 

~:[CH11 - Day 240]:~ A Change in Direction

 
~:[CH11 - Day 240]:~ A Change in Direction

I could very well be editing somewhere in the industry had fate not redirected me towards education. How would my life be different had I chosen that path rather than take a chance at what I am doing now? It was a discussion I had as I talked about how Jessica ended up writing music for groups like Enhypen. For those that don't know, this album ended up on the Billboard chart and was #4 on Billboard's World Album chart and #11 on the main one, ranking 13th in current album sales. Strangely enough, I know two people who wrote / produced in this album. It was great to bring up old memories and then talk about what is going on now. However, I think the most impactful was this idea of how we have a general plan in our lives, but how quickly it can get uprooted. While at times it can be a drastic change and create challenges, it can also create opportunities. Both our lives would have been so different without that change of direction and I can assure you, another change of direction will hit us at some point moving forward. Whatever that change is, I am ready and after today, I know she will be as well. I'm looking forward to many more spectacular albums I can promote and many more songs I can listen to that I know were created with so much love and passion from someone I am lucky enough to know. What does the future hold for us all? I know we'll never be able to foresee that, but if we're open for change, I'm sure we'll find greater opportunities than we could have every imagined. 

~:[CH11 - Day 239]:~ Childhood Friendships

 

~:[CH11 - Day 239]:~ Childhood Friendships

After a great Saturday morning practice, our team ate, then we checked out the course for Cow Run for next week and then I took a quick shower and then headed out to a birthday party. It felt a bit nostalgic to see all the little kids running around as it reminded me of the days when I did the same. In most cases, I would be doing that with my cousins as I was lucky to have spent a lot of time with them growing up. I had a few solid friends outside of it, but much of them time was with them. From our sleepovers to campouts, cooking and more, we had so many adventures and when I look back at our albums, so many memories of mine were with them. As while we cannot go back and time and relive those days we were carefree running around and  having someone take care of everything else, it's always nice to think back to those days as you watch the little ones do the same. Ultimately, it was fun to watch the movie and enjoy a little time together afterwards. I was pretty tired so I did doze off a few times, although the movie was good, me and theaters have this type of relationship. I was supposed to head out to Santa Monica to see my friends, my in the end, I decided, I needed a little rest. As I move forward this week, I think I will look back at a few old albums and reminisce. I hope these kids can treasure these moments or at least remember them so that when they become my age, they'll have memories to share with each other. What are some of your favorite childhood memories?

~:[CH11 - Day 238]:~ Perfect

 
~:[CH11 - Day 238]:~ Perfect

We wrapped up the week. It went fairly smoothly, although the tasking of remembering names is the challenge at hand. Regardless, it will happen. After listening to some solid speeches, I was able to get a load of work done today from moving boxes to sending out paperwork. We did our normal Friday food run before I headed home to get a bit more work done. With weight room, it's a little tougher getting home at 7 almost every day, but I'm getting used to it. With Pokemon Fest on, I got invitations to join in on some raids in Japan. It made me miss Japan a bit, but it was fun to raid through the night. It was a little too fun as I didn't get to sleep until late, but ended up with this perfect Xurkitree. In the end, survival was the name of the game this week and in that regard, it was a near perfect week. Let's home for many more ahead. 

~:[CH11 - Day 237]:~ Heat & Hills

 
~:[CH11 - Day 237]:~ Heat & Hills

Life often piles on challenging moments on top of other challenging moments. As I navigated through the day, I addressed this problem and that problem as we prepped for our upcoming Great Cow Run. I rerouted the course, finished ordering things and almost feel like I wrapped up most of the work for it. As I headed back to school, we did our normal Thursday hill run and the heat didn't make it any easier. As I watched the athletes battle the conditions, I loved seeing so many athletes work hard and even seeing new faces adding more and more to their workout. I think the workout simulated how life is. All of us face these difficult moments on top of others and it's easy to give up when these times get tough. However, I am hoping that these athletes can find it in themselves to push them through these difficult times. It won't be easy, as life makes it easy to give up than to push through, but I hope that through all this work, these athletes will realize that once they break through, they'll gain the ability to do it more often than not. The heat and the hills are a tough combination much like the many situations in life, however, when we prepare and focus, we can get through most challenges in life we face. As I look back on my life and I see all these moments where things piled up on me, I recall many of those moments I can be proud that I pushed through and survived. I hope that these athletes see that these tough challenges are not ones they should immediately back down, rather face and see what they're capable of. We are all capable, but we have to give ourselves the opportunity to learn, grow and then prove it to ourselves. 

~:[CH11 - Day 236]:~ Battling Fatigue

 
~:[CH11 - Day 236]:~ Battling Fatigue

I was pretty tired. I've been staying up late working on this and that and I felt the impacts of it today along with the fatigue of the first week of school. I wanted to sleep by 11am, but I powered through and got a lot of the work I need done completed. I was tired, but became frustrated as I got stuck in the parking lot backup even though I arrived twenty minutes early. Luckily, I managed to park, but had to carry everything to our practice spot. Regardless, our practice today focused on yoga stretching and ultimately, it helped me relax a bit. Although I did not do it, I focused on deep breathing and exhaled the stress away. I gained even more energy in the weight room as I watched the athletes work so hard. In the end, I was definitely tired by the time I arrived home, but definitely felt better after the exhausting day. I know there will be more days like this, like many of you will also experience and I hope that you'll find a way to inject yourself with a bit more energy. When all else fails, take those deep breathes like I did today and you just might find your second wind. 

~:[CH11 - Day 235]:~ That's a Wrap

 
~:[CH11 - Day 235]:~ That's a Wrap

When you host an event or when I do a photoshoot, it never really is over when the actual event finishes, just as the planning didn't start on the first day. As I work on a few projects and continue planning a few events, I realize the cycle that continues time after time. While I am still wrapping up editing for Japan, I took a quick break and wrapped up the album for Head in the Clouds from the weekend. Although it was recent, the album allowed me to relive some of the great moments and not so great ones. Dealing with the heat was a pain, but having your phone overheat at the moment you wanted it, was definitely disappointing. Before I left my house, I told myself to bring my backup phone in case something happens and of course, I left it in the charger. Overall though, it was quite the enjoyable experience with a setup that worked well with I needed to do, met some great people, and enjoyed the performances as well. My main purpose was to capture the moments while I was there, but I also took some time to enjoy those moments and soaked them all up. I wrapped up most of the uploads and now, I can focus on the other projects I have ahead. Day by day, the schedule is laid out in my mind and I am ready to execute the plans, hoping that I have taken care of everything I need to. There will be stressful days ahead, however, I look forward the feeling of that moment when I can say, that's a wrap. 

~:[CH11 - Day 234]:~ More of the Same

 

~:[CH11 - Day 234]:~ More of the Same

After all of these years, you can imagine how many students have walked into my classroom. While I have not always been in this room, a majority of my time has been spent here and walking into this room again this year, felt like more of the same. Setup is quick as I know where everything is and where it goes and I just roll with the punches now. We have to adapt lessons to the changing times, however, most of what I have is fairly consistent as the years have gone by. It allows for creativity and flexibility and the time crunch is there, but not like it was when I first started. They often say that the you lose the most teachers after the first few years and there's no doubt in my mind that those were the most challenging for me in terms of work. It's fun on these first few days to have old students pop in and to think about all the students that have walked into my class on the first day of school or any other day for that matter. As days go by, it may seem like more of the same, but every interaction with everyone that passes through these doors or across the campus has a meaning in my life, just like those you cross paths with have meaning in yours. I will treasure many of the interactions I have had and will support them whenever possible. As while it may seem like more of the same, each of these interactions will have their own variations and more importantly their own purpose. Let's do this!

~:[CH11 - Day 233]:~ Battling Through

 
~:[CH11 - Day 233]:~ Battling Through

I was a little worried that Jae wouldn't be able to perform today. He kept his bottle of tea with him to keep his voice in check. The only thing that didn't work was his mic. Regardless, he dealt with it and enjoyed the stage and most of the comments online that I received were proud of how he did. Earlier in the day, I ran into one of his Twitch mods and another fan who I hung out with most of the day. Of course, while yesterday was the preview, I had to spend three more hours under the hot sun, but at least I had separation from most people and a rail to lean on the entire time. Bibi was awesome as always as well as AG! I stepped out to grab a quick bite and refresh myself and came back to watch Jackson Wang from the back. My choice paid off as I ended up watching next to Arden Cho and also got to take a photo with Kyedae and TenZ which was pretty awesome. Ultimately, though, I was proud of Jae as he battled through and had quite the amazing performance in front of the huge crowd. You're not always going to feel 100%, but when you're able, you can do all you can to make sure you're ready and when it's time to hit the stage, you give it your all. The fans were understanding much like those around you will be, in fact, they'll be even more appreciative of the effort you put forth. I know that the past had some rough patches, but I'm hoping that this is the first step for Jae as he battles through these challenges on his road towards his goals. A big shoutout to the Jars who have always had his back.

~:[CH11 - Day 232]:~ The Preview

 
~:[CH11 - Day 232]:~ The Preview

Part of me wanted to stay at home. After getting some work done, I slowly made my way to the festival mainly to check out the grounds for Sunday. It took awhile to pick up my credentials, but when I finally did, I headed in and scoped everything out. I was happy to see that I wouldn't have to work so hard to position myself for some good shots. I enjoyed the performances and was most impressed by Chung Ha. Of course, there were some good performances on the day including Jay Park and Keshi, but it's always great to gain appreciation for another artist. It wasn't as hot when I got out there to check out Dabin, but it still was a little tiring and so I headed out to get some food from the lounge before heading home a little early. I wanted to get some rest before tomorrow. Of course, with a day going so smoothly, something was bound to happen. On the way home, I decided to try the drink I picked up. It must have gotten shaken up, as I had juice carbonation all over my lap and car. I'll have to clean it up this week, but it definitely could have not ruined this great day. As while I was dreading it at first, there were definitely so many pluses today for dragging myself out in the world today. Let's just see if my body makes me pay for it tomorrow.

~:[CH11 - Day 231]:~ Growing Together

 
~:[CH11 - Day 231]:~ Growing Together

When the team is new, it often takes a little while longer for the team to mesh. This group has had a core that connected well together immediately and as the new athletes come, they begin to melt into the group as we grow into one. One of the days that this happens is on food run days where they most get to lounge around and get to know each other better. Originally it was a reward, but as I thought about it more, it also was an opportunity as most of these athletes sacrifice those afterschool stops with friends for practice. I am always encouraged by that thought and just hope that this team progresses as we hope, growing together on this journey ahead. 

~:[CH11 - Day 230]:~ Energy is the Key

 
~:[CH11 - Day 230]:~ Energy is the Key

Last year I stumbled across Atarashii Gakko waiting for performances at HITC. Their energy is what caught my attention and so this time around, when given the chance, I took the ticket to go see them before HITC in a smaller setting. I am not sure how many of their fans will make the trek to HITC for their set, but it will be a joy for me to watch this again on this bigger stage, even if the heat tries to take me down. With our first official day of prep being today, tonight was a reminder that energy is a big key in trying to hook in the students. If you bring positive vibes and energy, the students may also carry that same energy. With friends, I try to surround myself with people with the same positive vibes and energy and spend my time them, as these positive vibes are more infectious than those trying to bring us down. Even when things are in disarray, just to keep that positive spin on things and while you don't want to sweep things under the rug, try to stay hopeful and keep pushing forward. For these four, I almost feel like they dance as if nobody is watching, then again, they soak in the energy of the crowd and bring it up another level, as they go back to doing the same. I only hope in the coming days where school begins, I can do the same.

~:[CH11 - Day 229]:~ Twilight

 
~:[CH11 - Day 229]:~ Twilight

In the end, I survived training. It was worth the time, although my summer ended a little earlier. After a long day, I went home to rest. Since practice would be easy, I gave the team the day off to also have one of their last few days of summer. I got some work done after all those meetings and then headed out to the golf course for a twilight round. Initially, I was suppose to go to a concert, but because of meetings, I decided to not rush out there and just relax before our first official day of work. While I watched stories from the show, I had a bit of envy, but at the same time, enjoyed the relaxing night on the course, playing until the lights shut off. It was a full day from morning to night and is similar to how my schedule usually is. I always like to make the most of my days whether at home or away traveling. Today was one that balanced work and play, as we head into the final stretch of our summer days. 

~:[CH11 - Day 228]:~ Not Too Bad

 
~:[CH11 - Day 228]:~ Not Too Bad

After an exhausting day a few days earlier and even a game the night before, I dreaded having to wake up early to go to a full day training. My body was telling me to stay home, but my mind said, get up and get paid. In the end, I got up and enjoyed seeing people I haven't seen in awhile. I even ran into my best friend. As while I know the training would be a little exhausting, it ended up flying by and the format made it fairly comfortable. Although, I still wished to be a home relaxing or even doing work I needed to do, it wasn't too bad and at the end of the day, I smiled knowing that it was worthwhile. We relaxed a bit after practice and just enjoyed the rest of the day. Sometimes in life we face situations that we are dreading, but sometimes when you tackled them, it ends up being manageable. While at times we need to make that hard choice to cut things out, when the opportunity comes, face up to it and maybe you'll just fine that it was worth it all in the end. 

~:[CH11 - Day 227]:~ Keep It Simple

 
~:[CH11 - Day 227]:~ Keep It Simple

It didn't end well. They tried to control the damage, but instead of taking the simplest route, they took some risks and it backfired. Risk-taking is a part of life, but sometimes you need to decide in what situation is it best to keep it simple. Had they got one out or tried to turn the double play, they could have pulled tonight's win out, but it was not to be. Regardless, I got the seat I wanted with a great view of Ohtani warming up again. Sometimes in life we try to hard to get the most out of a situation or to find the quickest routes and in the process of trying to fix things and end up making them more complicated. However, in in life, sometimes the best route is keeping it straight forward and simple. If you feel as if every time things just don't work out, analyze yourself and think, am I just trying to hard or trying to do too much? I always tend to be the one to make things more complex than they need to be, which makes me appreciate even more the times where we just keep it simple. In the end, things didn't work out today, however, even still, there is so much to appreciate even when you keep things simple.

~:[CH11 - Day 226]:~ Wishing on a Star

 
~:[CH11 - Day 226]:~ Wishing on a Star

It was a long trek. Looking at my schedule tonight was probably the only night I could check out the meteor shower, but I realized that the moon would pose a problem. We did get some darkness earlier in the night just before the moonrise, but as the night went on the sky became too bright. Regardless, it was nice to chat, be in perfect temperatures in nature and even enjoy the car ride there and back listening to music. We hope for so many things in life and just like the dark skies we hoped for, we may not always get what we want. Out of the billions of stars in the skies, we always seems to wish on one for good things to come in our future. As we discussed what's ahead, it made me hopeful that those things I wished for would come true. As we discussed all these possibilities, we settled in the idea that having just enough would often make you the happiest. A comfortable life with everything you need and amazing family and friends could bring you more than having everything you want in life. As we took one last peak in the sky, there was disappointment as the spectacular meteor shower was overcome by the bright and might moon, however, just the few meteors we saw, made us content along with the simple fact of being together enjoying the beauty around us. Keep wishing on those stars hoping those wonderful dreams of yours come true, but in the process, don't miss out on the fact that sometimes the things we really need and should enjoy are already there around us. 

~:[CH11 - Day 225]:~ A Full 180

 
~:[CH11 - Day 225]:~ A Full 180

I knew it would be hot at today's practice. I always drink about 100oz of water during a day and usually more, but it wasn't enough for me today. After racing one of my freshmen up a hill, I could sense that my body wasn't doing so well. It was strange how I figured out what my body needed as I got worse. It was nice to have people pitching in and helping and kept it from becoming an issue as after a few minutes, I felt okay. It was a rough start. However, with a little AC, breakfast, and some downtime, I felt good enough to still go to the game. I had BFF time as we struggled to enjoy a lifeless game. We looked doomed before the homerun in the 8th that looked like it got snatched, then came an incredible comeback that almost was a walk off, but at least tied the game. A mistake in the 10th looked like it would doom us, but we battled back in the 11th allowing for that dramatic finish. Many determine how things will go based on the initial few moments. If I determined that by today, I would have expected the worst, however, the day took a full 180 and I was celebrating by day's end, topped by a late crypto rally. As I watched the players celebrate on the field, it was refreshing to watch as they've had a rough few months. Although this season is hanging by a thread, I hope they keep pushing forward and even if it doesn't end well for them this season, maybe they can carry this energy into the next. Even if you start off on the wrong foot, find those who you can trust to help pick you up, figure out what you need to do to recover and hopefully you can turn things around and find yourself celebrating sweet victory. 

~:[CH11 - Day 224]:~ FOMO NOMO?

 
~:[CH11 - Day 224]:~ FOMO NOMO?

Someone asked me today what the kids were like these days. We ended up with a smaller group than normal for our bike ride today and I guess overall, we've faced a bit lower numbers and consistency at practices and events. I guess you could say that some of it is lingering from the pandemic, but could it be a change in them? At times I think that they are stretched too thin, they are too focused on games and their phones, or they just can't push themselves to get out and do something. I am not sure if in the past, there were a fear of missing out and if so, if that's disappeared or if it's just temporary with this particular group. We have begun more normalcy this year, it just that it's been with a smaller group than we've done in the past. I'm sure over time, things may change, however, I am hoping that these athletes realize that they should take advantage of these opportunities they are given, as they are what make the team. Sometimes it's just timing, but at other times, I know these athletes can put themselves out there more if they really wanted to. I'm hoping that they do this as it's definitely one of the things that really makes the most precious memories for the athletes on the team. In the end, for those who attended, we had a great time and I just hope that more and more of them will take these opportunities.

~:[CH11 - Day 223]:~ The Chase

~:[CH11 - Day 223]:~ The Chase

With our normal summer time trials at Gahr not happening this summer, we decided to hold a modified version of our time trial course due to construction. The day itself turned hot pretty quickly and so I was worried the times would be a bit slow. In the end, there were a lot of athletes had wonderful improvements over the summer. With construction and an array of issues, it was a bit more challenging this year than in years past trying to grow the group, but I did have a nice core of dedicated athletes who worked at improving themselves. In a year where you graduate a lot of your veterans, it's important to have a nice core who dedicates themselves and while there is some work to do, it was nice to see them in this chase. Even though they all are not varsity caliber to start, one thing I enjoy seeing are those athletes who make that leap especially because of the work they put in. With no afternoon practice today (thank goodness), I was able to get some errands done and finish up the paperwork I need to do as we get closer to the school year. 

~:[CH11 - Day 222]:~ Design in Mind

 
~:[CH11 - Day 222]:~ Design in Mind

Someone asked me today, how do I come up with the theme for a year. As we discussed themes of the past, some were a bit more obscure and others more common. I try to avoid super common themes, but also want to make it relatable. The same goes for the Great Cow Run themes as I have to think of clever puns to tie in to a cow theme. This year, I took a fairy "tail" theme and used it for this year's race. Designing has always been something I've done. Like most artists, the block is definitely a think. It took me a while to layout this year's design and I didn't like it because the colors were too similar, but I still went with it and am fine with how it came out. In our lives, we may have a plan or struggle in creating it, we may have a goal or may be lost, but we have to trust ourselves and the process as we think about what we are trying to do and how we are going to do it. We need to keep working at it and even wipe the slate clean and come up with something new if it doesn't work out. I am not sure if  you know how many times I had to do this over the years, but this year was one of them. Ultimately, I submitted both the team and Great Cow Run shirt designs in as my artist block disappeared. Don't lose faith and have full faith that you have it in you to create that design for your life that lies within you! 

If you're interested in signing up, you can visit the link. 

There is also a race for the young ones who can only run about 100m. Register by using this link.

~:[CH11 - Day 221]:~ Beating the Heat

 
~:[CH11 - Day 221]:~ Beating the Heat

I knew it was going to be a warm day and afternoon practice would be a challenge. When it's hot, surviving is very dependent on if you're prepared or not. Obviously, there are other factors out of your control, but 9/10, you find yourself able to handle these difficult conditions when you take the proper steps to prepare. These practices are doing the same. Venturing up the challenging terrain, these athletes prepare themselves for what's ahead. If we don't prepare, we can't expect to be prepared to tackle the situations that lie ahead of us. In the end, our athletes survived the day and our cherry on top today was having visits from a good number of alumni who joined us on today's adventure. I am hoping that the days ahead will cool down a bit, however, even if they don't, I know that we'll be prepared to handle them as we do what we can to be ready for whatever comes our way. When the time comes, the time and effort we put in, will help us tackle those difficult moments ahead. 

~:[CH11 - Day 220]:~ Lost in the Shadows

 
~:[CH11 - Day 220]:~ Lost in the Shadows

I am not lost in the shadows, but I did think back to the various times that the days were difficult. As fatigue sets in and life feels overwhelming, sometimes it's hard when you're stuck in the shadows of life. It feels as if you're a shell of yourself and you don't know how to fulfill yourself even the slightest bit. As discourage and difficult life is, there always is a light that can help guide you through these shadows. As the sun started to peek through, instead of these dark shadows, I saw these beautiful silhouettes. Darkness brings anxiety and a feeling of being lost, however, even the slightest bit of light, can change those shadows into beautiful visuals for us to soak in. I was talking to a friend in Seoul who was dealing with the chaos from the recent downpours and I know that times were difficult. I tried my best to reach out to those who I knew were facing some of these troubling times as I know many of us do. As busy as our days may be, let's keep making that effort to even shine a little light in the direction of those around us, especially when they need us, as instead of the anxiety of darkness, we can show them the beauty that our shadows actually possess.

~:[CH11 - Day 219]:~ Fun & Games

 
~:[CH11 - Day 219]:~ Fun & Games

I woke up early to catch the Nikkei track & field event. This year's event (at least for me), left better memories than the past as I enjoyed seeing friends and of course family. We may not have the fastest runners out there, but today, they walked through the finish with style. Regardless, it was nice to see the community out enjoying a day together despite the heat. While some see this event as a competition, I was glad that it was fun and games for us as we celebrated their success, no matter how they placed on the leaderboard. I wonder in ten or twenty years what stories these little ones will tell about this experience, but at least I feel that they'll be better ones than I had experienced as a child. Regardless, now my memories of this even are filled with more joy because of this day full of fun and games.

~:[CH11 - Day 218]:~ Timeout

 
~:[CH11 - Day 218]:~ Timeout

Since I returned and even during my time in Japan, I have been working pretty heavily. I've caught sleep when my body was too exhausted, however, there weren't too many "days off." Something always popped up and I think that is the story of most of our lives. However, we all deserve a much needed timeout. Yes, I still ended up doing some work and the family stopped by, but today truly felt like a day where I called a timeout and allowed myself to recover a bit. It's been a busy few months and while I am back logged and needed to work, I decided to give myself a break. Knowing when to do this is a big key in keeping ourselves healthy. I am one who cannot sleep until everything is done, but I've learned to also make sure that you get the time to spend on yourself. Even if it's just for an hour, give yourself a timeout and allow yourself the time you need to let yourself soak in the beauty that life has to offer you. It may be hard to forget about what you need to do, but this is something that needs to be put on that "need to do" list. 

~:[CH11 - Day 217]:~ I'll Pack ... aaaah!

 
~:[CH11 - Day 217]:~ I'll Pack ... aaaah!

One of the best things I did this week was to visit this farm. Although I wasn't sure how it would go, the adventure around the property was amazing. The alpacas and llamas were so cute. I was amazed at how soft their fur was and although they did spit a few times, overall they were pretty friendly, even trustworthy enough for a little (almost) kiss. They were attracted to the sound of the shutter as they always seemed to come closer when I was taking photos. Maybe it was because they could see their own reflection, regardless, it made for some good photos. Although I wasn't familiar with this place before, I know that this will be a destination I'll aim at trying to visit again. As the day wrapped up, we stopped at Santa Monica and ventured around to avoid some traffic and just soaked in every last bit of time. I was definitely tired when I got home but how can you not smile when you look through your camera roll and see this beautiful creature staring back at you. 

~:[CH11 - Day 216]:~ Having a Ball

 
~:[CH11 - Day 216]:~ Having a Ball

We got turned around a bit on our hike, but found the end and by the hike's end, it was burning up. We worked our way back down and took some shelter for a bit before heading out and exploring. It was fun to walk around a new environment as we trekked a little further away today. We always have a lot of outdoor activities, so it was nice to step indoors and have some fun times bowling. No matter how good or bad everyone was, it looked like they all enjoyed just being together and trying their best or laugh and their own failures. It was nice to see them worry free and just having a ball. By night's end, we were all exhausted, however, it definitely was a memorable day. Sometimes you get started in the wrong direction, but things can change quickly and today definitely was one where we found our way down a successful path. 

~:[CH11 - Day 215]:~ Exploring

 

~:[CH11 - Day 215]:~ Exploring

They decided to built a shelter so they scoured the beach and explored. There is so much focus on learning in the classroom and through books that sometimes we forget that sometimes they greatest lessons that people learn are through exploring. As a child, I always roamed and learned how to transverse the challenges of the outside world. Whether it be how to get from point A to point B or simply buying something at a store on my own, the growth I learned through independently exploring was priceless. As an adult, exploring the world teaches me new things every day as I uncover things I never knew or realized. As the athletes scoured the beach, they did just that. They explored and figured out a variety of things using their problem solving skills. While they may never built a beachside shelter ever again, the process may be something they carry with them as they tackle challenge after challenge. It was fun to explore all these different areas and in the end, I know we'll all have grown because of it. What is your favorite exploration story?

~:[CH11 - Day 214]:~ Spread Your Wings

 
~:[CH11 - Day 214]:~ Spread Your Wings

Most know what they are capable of, but as a teacher and a coach, I see so many who don't. Sometimes they have these massive wings, but don't realize just how high they can fly. As I watched the pelicans and other wildlife, it made me reflect on my own life of when I didn't see what I was capable of or when I did and allowed myself to spread my wings. As a mentor, I think your own goal is to see those who you work with soar. Some days may be frustrating and a feeling of hopelessness may arrive, but I hope that everyone can see that the day where you spread your wings will be coming. I look forward to the magnificence that I will see on that day and I hope that each of you realize just how high you can soar. 

~:[CH11 - Day 213]:~ Change of Environment

 
~:[CH11 - Day 213]:~ Change of Environment

We continued our tradition of shifting our practices elsewhere today we had a little fun at the beach, exploring and just playing around. It was a pretty good sized group that took part and glad we were able to have a solid day. With a week full of different locations and activities, I know it will be nice as we've had a group of first-time participants who seemed to enjoy the day. We cleaned up, grabbed a meal and called it a day, however, it was definitely a memorable one. It's always nice when you get a change of environment and today definitely brought a new energy into our ohana today that I know will help us as we move into the season, starting the wave of momentum.