~:[CH12 - Day 273]:~ A Little Bit of Rain

 
~:[CH12 - Day 273]:~ A Little Bit of Rain

I was talking to the bus driver on the way to Central Park and she mentioned how beautiful of a day it was. It was nice. There were clouds, but the beautiful blue sky made it feel like it would be a beautiful day. Midway through the race, the clouds covered the sky and suddenly it started to rain. There wasn't much I could do in the middle of coaching, so I continued to run around throughout the course. The weather allowed for some solid performances on the day. A few top tens, a few good team performances and overall, a good feeling amongst the athletes. Our clothes and our stuff was a little wet as we headed home, however, that little bit of rain could not dampen our spirits. We ended up having to squeeze on one bus, allowing the other to go to Whitney, however, I thought it ended up being a good thing as the team, for once, was all together on this ride home. I was definitely exhausted as we arrived home that evening and even though it wasn't too late, the day left me a bit exhausted. However, as much energy as the day may have taken, it injected a lot of good things into my heart and soul today. The weather didn't end up being as good as we had hoped, but it didn't mean that it didn't end up being a good day; in fact, it was a great one.

~:[CH12 - Day 272]:~ Living Free

 
~:[CH12 - Day 272]:~ Living Free

It's Friday! We had our first potluck of the year and enjoyed it in an incredible space. It was great for the team to enjoy their time together as they were able to space out and enjoy different activities. Some played Twister and other board games, some played with a VR, while others just jumped and danced around. One thing I noticed though is that they were enjoying the night, in such a carefree manner. I know the strains of school can often be challenging, so it was quite the pleasure to see them worry free and focused on spending time with each other. In this competitive world in which they live, it's always nice when they can let off some steam and feel like they can just be themselves. Tonight was one of those nights and even though we had to wake up tomorrow for a race, I was fine with it as I got to see them truly enjoy the day and look so carefree. 

~:[CH12 - Day 271]:~ We Got Spirit

 
~:[CH12 - Day 271]:~ We Got Spirit

Our team ventured into day four of our spirit week. Our senior-organized week has turned into a success as so many of the team joined along with the fun. Today's twin day brought out a number of matching athletes. Even if they were as simple as the team shirt, it required at least a little coordination and communication for it to work out. Often times our days are so full of things that are routine that something as simple as this can mix it up a bit. They proceeded to have an excellent workout as they close in on the final day of this year's spirit week. We got spirit, how about you?

~:[CH12 - Day 270]:~ Time to Shine?

 
~:[CH12 - Day 270]:~ Time to Shine?

I walked in today in full western dress. I had my boots on I got from Tennessee, my hat I picked up from somewhere, and an LV belt since I couldn't find the belt my dad gave me from Oklahoma (it's somewhere in my house). Regardless, it was fun to dress up and even more fun to celebrate our team's third spirit day, which was bring anything but a water bottle. To avoid clashing with the school's event, we did a spirit day with something suitable for practice. We had various types of bottles, bowls, bags and even a cereal box for this spirit day. One of the best ones (that arrived after judging) was a hollowed out watermelon with ohana written on it. It was another fun day of seeing the creativity of the students and with over half the team participating daily, it's been quite the success. After wrapping up our yoga day, I headed to the MUN room where we were hosting our tryouts for Nationals. A group of eager students gathered in hopes of qualifying for this year's team and me and the seniors were quite impressed with what we saw. There were so many who improved and were impressive. It was exciting to see that it was time for some of them to shine and I am just hoping that everyone that end's  up on this year's team learns, grows and find that opportunity to shine. I'm definitely exhausted after a long day, but looking back, I am so happy how today panned out, as from start to fnish, I was left with so many reasons to smile as I look back at all of the day's wonderful moments. 

~:[CH12 - Day 269]:~ Let's Celebrate

 
~:[CH12 - Day 269]:~ Let's Celebrate

It's nice when you wish somebody a happy birthday, but even better when you can do it in person. While it was a little late, it was great to be able to say happy birthday outside the virtual space. We often are confined by the box that is technology and to be able to break free from it back into the true world of interpersonal relationships is quite satisfying. A few of my athletes organized a spirit week for our team and it's been a great addition to create that interaction. More people planning and talking about what to wear and spurring up more conversations between team members. With today's fun hat day, it made for great fun just as we began our interval day. It ended up being a much better day, in part due to my meeting with them and the other part due to the ongoing events that has people excited. In the end, the birthday celebration was truly the cherry on top of the day as even though we were sans birthday hat, it still was a great night with a simple dinner to celebrate a great moment. Everyone celebrates and enjoys life in different ways and I hope that we all get to experience a variety of celebrations and I hope that most, if not all of them, are outside the digital realm, face-to-face, the way that celebrations should be. 

~:[CH12 - Day 268]:~ At the Core

 
~:[CH12 - Day 268]:~ At the Core

We didn't have the best day at practice today. I had to talk to a number of people as everyone was kind of off today. Many may have been exhausted from the weekend, however, it was a bit frustrating to see some walking at this point in the year and others running less than they should have. Of course, even when things are going haywire, there always is a core group who keeps focus and keeps pushing. Sometimes, these bright spots go unnoticed because of all the background noise that your focus your attention on, however, no matter how bad things are, there are always those who stay focused and go above and beyond, making all that's wrong, at least a little better. It's in these moments we ask ourselves so many questions and do some soul searching and it's people like this or moments like this that keep you grounded when you reflect. We are all going to have bad days, but the question is, can we continue to see those things that are going right amidst all that is going wrong? For those who are struggling, I hope that you do so all that is going right while you're facing the challenges in your life. There are things to celebrate although it feels like you're carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. As you face these moments of trials and tribulations, I implore you to keep your eyes open for the things that will be what helps you survive those difficult moments in your life.

~:[CH12 - Day 267]:~ All The Time It Tteok

 

~:[CH12 - Day 267]:~ All The Time It Tteok

I saw a recipe online when scrolling through Instagram and I've been wanting to make it. It actually was similar to something I made before via a Kdrama, however, with a new twist, I definitely was craving it. With the craziness of the past month, I had not gotten to it, but today, I finally got to it. In between grading, planning and finishing up other work, I went to the kitchen and cooked up this dish. I split the meal into two, making a spicy version and one that wasn't it so that my dad could eat it. In the end, the rose tteok dish came out pretty good. It felt like it was a pasta dish with rice cakes instead of noodles, but underneath hid the Shin ramen. Typically when I made my previous dish, I didn't include any cheese, but this recipe called for it. It was a perfect compliment to my day as I worked for most of it, recovering from this busy week while trying to focus in on the week ahead. It took me awhile before I was able to whip up this dish, but despite all the time it "tteok," it was definitely well worth it. 

~:[CH12 - Day 266]:~ A Union of Beautiful Souls

 
~:[CH12 - Day 266]:~ A Union of Beautiful Souls

I knew today would be quite exhausting. We ventured down to Carlsbad at 6:30 in the morning as we attended the Carlsbad Grit & Grind for the first time. There weren't many options for the weekend, so we decided to make the trek. Sadly, I later found out that I had a wedding to attend that same day. The meet ended up going smoothly including a win for the girls varsity team before we headed back up north home. After a bout with traffic, I rushed home, showered and change in a matter of 15 minutes. With all the craziness of the day, it was nice to arrive, relax and enjoy this union of beautiful souls. Throughout the reception the word soulmate came up a few times and knowing them for all these years, I have no doubt that it's the perfect word to describe their relationship. As they danced and the toasts were given, flashbacks of all the holidays and family gatherings of the past flashed through my mind, remembering so many fond memories of these two. It was truly a precious evening especially with all the heartfelt messages that the families gave. Tonight the love of friends and family flowed through the air and I was even more grateful for having such a loving and wonderful family as the evening made me reminisce of so many great moments of the past and made me excited for all the great memories that are ahead, especially for these two beautiful souls who finally officially became one. 

~:[CH12 - Day 265]:~ My Only Hope ...

 

~:[CH12 - Day 265]:~ My Only Hope ...

It was may be four seconds after I made an announcement that someone asked a question that I just answered. If it was the first time, I think I would be understanding, but this year has been quite the challenge as repeating things, posting things and even writing things on the board doesn't seem to work. From the classroom to the practice fields, I've faced so many more challenges than before. With our race coming up tomorrow, you couldn't imagine the number of emails I've gotten saying, "I can't attend because ..." For some, they didn't even take the time to email, rather had their parents to do it for them. I sometimes wonder, what has allowed things to unwind so quickly. I know that the pandemic was some of the reason for some of the issues, but a few years out, how are we going to screw the bolts back in so we can solidify our future? I have many students/athletes who will be just fine as they head forward, but the growing number I feel concern for has grown. What needs to change and how can we reverse the cycle? One moment today stood out, however, when our inner circle leading the stretches linked arms and helped each other up. They did it just for fun, but it also made me think that one way we can reverse this cycle is to be that counterweight to help us get back up on our feet. For all of us, we need to learn to carry our own weight and the time is coming where these young minds should begin to do it on their own, but also knowing that occasionally, it's alright to seek the help from those around. My only hope as we head forward is that these young minds begin to take on more responsibility, not in terms of school work or extracurricular activities, but more responsibility over their own lives. I hope they learn to be more thorough, to take care of things they can now do, to communicate and make sure they face problems head on, find the grit to dig through tough challenges and never leave their business unfinished. The reality is, just like in my own life, they won't be able to cover every bit of it, but the more that they can handle and take on, the better prepared they will be in the future. In some cases people will say, but they might become overwhelmed, however, I hope that they see that these young minds are fully capable if we give them the power and responsibility to begin laying their own path early on. Not only can they do it, they'll be better off because of it. Today, that inner circle took it upon themselves to use their resources and pick themselves up and my only hope is that all of these young minds will take it upon themselves to take charge of their own roads and be the ones who forget their path ahead. I already have had so many who currently show me that they can and my own hope is that the number of those who show me they can continues to grow, as I am confident that they have what it takes once they are shown the light.

~:[CH12 - Day 264]:~ The Blessings of Life

 
~:[CH12 - Day 264]:~ The Blessings of Life

I was happy to have such a delicious meal for dinner when I got home. The day was quite exhausting as I was recovering from all the work done the day before, feeling every ounce I carried setting up the course plus emotionally exhausted from dealing with the aftermath of the race. Still yet, I pushed through and survived until day's end, then headed home. I thought about my dish tonight and truly felt Blessed to have such a great meal to eat. Many have to wonder if they will be eating tonight, tomorrow, or the next day, thus, no matter what my meal is, I always try to eat it with appreciation. In many countries, people show gratitude for the food they are going to eat. The gratitude is for many reasons, whether it's for the efforts of the one who prepared it, for the one who provided it or simply the fact that there is any meal at all. I think growing up, I was taught to appreciate it and thus, for the most part, I finish my meals as best as possible, not allowing it to go to waste. Tonight, I was lucky to have such a a wonderful meal, but that luck is definitely something I see daily, as having any meal on the table everyday is not something I have to worry about. Appreciate this and many of the simpler things we may take for granted as there is definitely someone out there who wishes they had those things we often take for granted. いただきます!

~:[CH12 - Day 263]:~ Joy & Tears

 
~:[CH12 - Day 263]:~ Joy & Tears

It was a happy day for some and not for others. When you coach cross country with a team this size, you'll rarely have a meet where you have everyone on the same page emotionally. The roller coaster of emotions you face during a season and even simply a single race, are immense. Today it was great to see some amazing breakthrough performances from some who suffered just a week ago. For others, they suffered after putting in so much time and effort into the meet. A few surprised themselves with an immaculate performances, while others never crossed the finish line. The ups and downs of cross country are often tough to deal with. You congratulate, you feel the pain of others, you celebrate victories and you console in defeats. With our first league cluster being today, we definitely set high expectations. While 18-2 on the day sounds wonderful, there definitely was some disappointment in the air, even for those on teams who went 5-0. As much as I wish they'd still smile when there were things to celebrate, I also understand them when they want to do better. To me, it means a lot when they care that much, as it means that they're driven and determined and poured so much of themselves into what they're hoping to accomplish. It hurts even more when they fall short, but in the end, I think it gives me confidence that they'll be alright. Life is full of failures and moments when you fall short. Tears will flow and will flow often in our lifetimes, but it doesn't mean that we've lived a life of disappointment or failure, in fact, it means we've lived a life where we challenged, we faced life head out, and we gave ourselves more opportunities to find joy, to find success, to find that feeling of accomplishment you can get nowhere else except when you put it all out on the line. Yes, it may mean more tears, but it also means, you're learning more, you're growing more, and ultimately, you'll become more. It's easy to become disappointed and discouraged when you pour so much into something and fall short, but another way to look at it is, you should be proud of how hard you worked; celebrating that is no consolation prize. Why? It's simple, a trophy for "winning" will sit on a mantle and collect dust and overtime, may bring back memories. It's value could be priceless due to sentiment, however, the actual object itself may not be of much value. When you learn to work, to deal with adversity, to challenge yourself, no matter if you reach your goal or not, you gain something that is more useful than that trophy, it the skills and experiences that are part of the process that are truly what is priceless. Yes, it's always nice when you come out on top, but even when you don't or even when you fail miserably, you'll find that you've gained the greatest award of them all. 

~:[CH12 - Day 262]:~ (Not) A Quick Fix

 
~:[CH12 - Day 262]:~ (Not) A Quick Fix

My dad taught me how to work with watches. He taught me so much about watches and how to work with the small minute inner workings of a watch that we think so little about. With digital watches on the rise, the old may slowly be aging, but the question is, will that feel of the tick and the tock really fade away? One of the many tasks that come along with coaching is my annual battery switch in my stopwatches. Sometimes I have to fix this and that as well, but at the very least, I need to change the batteries. Due to my father, this task is quite easy, but also time consuming as I move from watch to watch. By night's end, I finished up a dozen changes as I prepped for the race ahead. While doing it, I smiled thinking that every time I look at a watch or go to change its battery, I'll think of my dad and the way he taught me how to make the adjustments. For some, it may not be a quick fix, but thanks to some of these precious moments and lessons, for me, it's a fairly easy task. What's something that your parents passed down to you that you'll remember forever?

~:[CH12 - Day 261]:~ Looking Back

~:[CH12 - Day 261]:~ Looking Back

It's been almost three months since I finished up in Japan and headed home, but I still have yet to wrap up all the editing work for my non-studio work. I finished up all my work editing, but now, I am just starting to look at the photos I took on my own. It's hard to look at the photos as it makes me miss my friends so much. While I still talk to them almost daily, it pains me that we are such a great distance from each other. Of course, while it's almost time to see some of them again, looking back, I am still yearning to return to those memorable moments, they were magical. One of the coolest stops I had on the trip, I ended up going on two different occasions, of course, I didn't end up going with the one friend who wanted to go. When I return, we're hoping to make it there and looking back at these photos of the studio tour, I know that it will be a great and memorable adventure. I always wonder when people look back at their photos, what kinds of feelings and emotions run through them. Is it just the memories of great times or is more magical than that, as I feel when I look through my albums from Japan? I hope we call can find a place that makes us feel this magic, as I know for each of us, that place exists. For some, it's close by and for others, it may be a distance that can only be traveled once in a lifetime. 

 

~:[CH12 - Day 260]:~ Lost in a Moment

 
~:[CH12 - Day 260]:~ Lost in a Moment

I was able to use the day to finish up work I needed to do including going back to some photos from my trip this summer and also a few from Hawaii. As I did, I was chatting with my friend from Japan who happen to be in Hawaii the same time that I was. It's amazing when the timing for things just happens to work out and you run into someone in the same place at the same time. The odds are pretty slim, but it definitely happens to me more often than not. In life, these moments are special and at times, it's easy to get lost in those moments even when you think back to how incredible it was that things played out as they did. Who knows when you'll find the writing timing and the right moment and just like a photograph, you never really know what you'll capture until you click that shutter. I was productive, but also took some time to look back at all these wonderful moments I found and all the incredible people I spent those moments with. It's another week ahead and I'm just hoping there will be many more moments that we'll find an opportunity to lose ourselves in. 

~:[CH12 - Day 259]:~ Simply Magical

 
~:[CH12 - Day 259]:~ Simply Magical

The horse and carriage was the perfect compliment to this year's dance, as we the energy and environment on campus was amazing. It's always a joy to see the students enjoy themselves and soak in their time together, enjoying what is available and if nothing less, just being out together. With a fairytale dream, our campus was transformed into just that as the students could stroll around in a beautiful carriage much like in those fairytales - something normal being transformed into something magical. In life, sometimes we complain when things seem to common and ordinary, which is something I hear from time to time when planning events. However, I also like to remind my students that in our lives, how every moment is perceived is truly based on them. We control how magical an evening can be. Even without all the bells and whistles, we are what determines what our days, our moments and our lives will be like. A life with everything that is extravagant can be miserable, while a simple moment with friends and family, can be the most memorable. We are ultimately the ones who decide whether our moments are plainly ordinary or simply magical. While tonight, there were so many things that made it magical, the true magic was contained in the hearts and minds of everyone attending as the true magic lied within each one of those in attendance. Let's aim to make the ordinary extraordinary by bringing our own magic to our lives to make it simply magical. 

~:[CH12 - Day 258]:~ Catch & Drop

 
~:[CH12 - Day 258]:~ Catch & Drop

The excitement was in the air as it was the Homecoming game. There's always a little bit of excitement that builds when an event like this was coming up. We promoted it to our team to try and get them to go and similarly, we tried to get our students to show up. They did, as the stadium was filled, cheering on the team. Looking at the team across the field, they looked intimidating, but as the game progressed, we looked like the one show should be feared. It was definitely a good matchup and a few key plays allowed us to stop them and give us an opportunity. At a point in the game, I felt like I should spot myself near the end zone and my intuition did not disappoint, as a diving catch with a defender right on our player resulted in a touchdown, one that would be the difference in the game as we won 27-21. It was the first Homecoming game I could remember winning in so many years as in the past we could be celebrating those crowned at halftime, this time, we could celebrate that along with a victory. It's amazing how a single moment can change the outcome of a game or a situation in our lives. The most minute thing that change something from good to bad or vice versa. However, whether we make the catch in life or drop the ball, I hope that we can always remember that the moment is not the end, rather just another opportunity to keep the momentum going or a moment we can grow from, hoping we'll make that catch the next time we have the opportunity. Not every time in life will we make that catch, but similarly, we will not always drop the ball either, the key is, to keep pushing forward and give ourselves the most opportunities in life. In the end, we went home with smiles on our face and a reason to celebrate with building excitement for the road ahead. 

~:[CH12 - Day 257]:~ The Steep Slopes Ahead

 
~:[CH12 - Day 257]:~ The Steep Slopes Ahead

With construction at Brookhaven, we switched gears a little early and hit the channel. I was impressed by our athletes as the largest group we've ever had ventured out to do repeats and on top if it, many did more than they ever had. Just like the past few years, we've had our ups and downs and constantly faced steep slopes on our journey, but those made us stronger, helped us grow, as we didn't back down from what was ahead of us. I've said this many times before, but the challenges of life make us stronger and with this young core, it's starting to take shape and starting to demonstrate that the steep slopes we face, make the day-to-day grind a lot easier. Yes, it would be an easy road if we traveled along on a completely flat road leading to our final destination, but how would we improve our strength, our endurance and our grit without those steep slopes ahead. Life becomes more interesting and memorable when we find these moments and come out of it better than we were before. 

~:[CH12 - Day 256]:~ Stranger Days

 
~:[CH12 - Day 256]:~ Stranger Days

My head was spinning a bit last night so I wondered how I would feel in the morning. In the end, I popped up and felt pretty good when I woke up after a nice long sleep and a bit hydration. Of course, it did feel a little weird to step back on campus after an absence, but I guess that's the life of a high school teacher, expect the unexpected. From a flock of stuffed chickens to a random fire alarm, the day itself was filled with moments that left question marks in my mind, but at the same time, moments that felt more like the cycle I had before I left. I caught up on the grading I needed to do and finished up a few tasks I had, which made me feel like I got back into rhythm quickly. While I still feel like I need to find the push to get started on tasks, once I got into it, I was able to be fairly productive. Yes, it felt a little strange, but it also felt a little like normal. It may be a week or so until I get back into the full swing of things, but for now, I'll do my best to survive these stranger days. 

~:[CH12 - Day 255]:~ In a Daze, Unknown Days

 
~:[CH12 - Day 255]:~ In a Daze, Unknown Days

As relaxing as many may think this trip has been, it's actually more stressful than relaxing. Planning and organizing is always a tall task, but it all feels so great when it falls into place and you finally arrive home. As the sun peeked out through the clouds, I saw the city below me, signifying that we would soon be setting foot back on the mainland. I felt a little unsettled, exhausted from the trip as it finally hit me, but I still managed to squeeze out a few more ounces before crashing at home. It felt like I no longer knew what day it was and a good night's sleep truly helped me regain myself a bit. I was definitely in a daze on this day I came back, but happy to have returned home safely. There's a lot of work ahead of me, but when I look back, I already know that all the energy spent and all the work ahead was well worth this experience we had together. No, it was not always relaxing, even in a daze on an unknown day, I can definitely say it was an experience that was well worth all the effort.

~:[CH12 - Day 254]:~ Finding Freedom

 
~:[CH12 - Day 254]:~ Finding Freedom

I think for some of us, we're in that constant cycle of life where we feel trapped. We go through our daily routines and feel like we're going nowhere and stuck in a spot that we wish we could get out of. On that day that we stumble across a place or time that is liberating, we find our freedom. For all of us, that place or time is different as we all have different goals, wants and needs, but I felt as if this meet and this trip was a freedom that some of these athletes needed. While it may have taken them out of the classroom, I feel that this experience is something that is needed to help them find themselves as they search for their own identities in life. There were so many eye-opening moments on this trip for them and I am glad that they got to experience a little education beyond the classroom. From meeting new people from across the way, to gaining experience racing in a new environment, soaking in the culture of the Polynesia, or exploring a land that many had never been, there was so much that was gained. We may never escape the stress of life, but at least momentarily, we can find that freedom that helps us locate ourselves again so that we can regain our bearings and head in the right direction.

~:[CH12 - Day 253]:~ Out with a Splash

 

~:[CH12 - Day 253]:~ Out with a Splash

We began our day at Koko Head Marina as we enjoyed playing in the marina. It's always one of the more memorable moments of the trip, as the athletes get just have fun. Tossed around, there were few who survived without getting wet. After lunch, we ventured to the lighthouse trail and took a little hike to enjoy the view and then down to the beach to take our photos and just enjoy the cove. At first, the athletes were a little hesitant to take photos, but once we started, everyone asked for a shot, adding to the album of memories from the trip. It's been quite the interesting time with this group, but we've created a collection of memories that we'll carry with us for so many years to come. We closed out the evening enjoying the area around our hotel and having a little more time to relax (finally), but we truly had a great day and went out with a splash. 

~:[CH12 - Day 252]:~ Things You'll Find

 
~:[CH12 - Day 252]:~ Things You'll Find

The athletes ventured around looking for things to buy. Each of them found something different to bring home, but in essence it was all the same, something they found that they liked. For some, they know exactly what they're looking for, while others just stumble across something that they like. It was fun to see what they came back with as each of them had their own view of what was worth buying. Just like this trip. each of them will take a different memory, but regardless, I hope that looking back, they'll find that this trip is memorable. My own trip added some value as I ran into my relatives and another friend while at the swap meet. One was more coincidental while one was semi-planned, as they had our schedule. We ventured over to the course afterwards as we scouting the course, seeing how challenging the course ahead would be. It was mostly flat with a few tough drop offs and an incline into the finish. The results weren't too bad as we had a few athletes battling injuries and other things, but in the end, I was proud of how they battled. Of course, the memory of the meet was when one of our athletes reconnected with an athlete from Iolani. Last year, they traded shirts and since then, both coaching staffs teased them. We planned on having a big teach picture with both teams and had them as the center of it all. It was wholesome to connect with a team and end the meet bringing it in with them. We ran to the cars trying to avoid the falling rain that sprouted up throughout the day, but despite this, we all found something special today and it was truly a day we'll remember. 

~:[CH12 - Day 251]:~ Exploring the Island

 
~:[CH12 - Day 251]:~ Exploring the Island

The second day is always our toughest as we head all the way around the island. We open up with our morning run to acclimate to the weather and the head north through the middle of the island as we head up to North Shore. It was nice to explore the island with this group, as we only had two who had traveled up with us before, Today was filled with too much food while we enjoyed the beaches of North Shore and then headed down to the Polynesian Cultural Center. It is great to expose them to the culture that exists on the island. While I wish we had more time to explore, I was glad that they got to learn about the different islands of Polynesia and some even got to enjoy a ukulele lesson or fishing. The evening wrapped up with their fabulous show as the fire dancers wowed the audience to close out the show. The athletes had two much energy as we headed back down to the hotel and as exhausted as they were, enjoyed their final hour of the day together as we trekked back down to Waikiki. It was definitely an exhausting day, but it was also one where they learned so much about this beautiful place. 

~:[CH12 - Day 250]:~ Before I Knew It ...

 
~:[CH12 - Day 250]:~ Before I Knew It ...

It was less than 12 hours from when I got home from the District Championships to when I left for the airport for Hawaii. The schedule was not ideal, as it was topped off with the fact that we were dealing with a fumigation at home, so I also had to pack up things at home. Between all these things, it was a wild last few weeks, but before I knew it, we arrived at the airport ready to go. When we landed, we started with our traditional Zippy's lunch, checked in, then headed to our hike up to Diamondhead. I didn't know if it would be too chaotic to do so, but in order to fit it in, we inserted it on the first day. The hike itself wasn't too difficult as we did our best to wrap it up before the crater closed. We closed the night at the International Marketplace. We were all exhausted, but were happy to be out there enjoying the beautiful environment of Hawaii less than 24 hours since our district meet. Despite the last few weeks being a little chaotic and the upcoming schedule also being the same way, I'll enjoy these few chaotic days, as at least when I look around, it will be in paradise. 

~:[CH12 - Day 249]:~ Out of Your Hands

 
~:[CH12 - Day 249]:~ Out of Your Hands

I spent the morning prepping for the race and for Hawaii. I edited my sub plans and set everything where it needed to be, I gave my classes the final instructions and then packed my car for the race. I didn't have much time to spare, but at the same time, I wasn't rushing to chaotically, well, until the call. At about noon, we I got a call that the city side of the park made Gahr take down their markings. Although their requests went in sometime in July, they said that our permit for the city side was still pending. We were already cleared to run on the county side, so I quickly drew up a map during 4th and tried to make it as easy to follow as possible. Instead of canceling, we finished all five races with warmer temperatures on a course that ended up being a bit long. We ended up winning three of the five divisions. We moved up our top frosh/soph boy as our #1 was out for the day. When prepping the varsity boys, we told them they needed to step up. While we didn't have the best of races, our top two on the day stepped up big and finished 1-2, while the little freshman we moved up also placed. With our #1 (had things stayed the same), we would have just taking the win, but sometimes, things are out of your hands. Similar, we lost a few athletes to potholes or various injuries or illnesses, but sometimes, there's not much you can do, as you just need to figure it out. Along with the three team titles, we won three of the individual titles so overall it was a pretty solid day. I was definitely exhausted, but not only had to prep for Hawaii, but also had to pack up a few things at home. I will be happy when tomorrow comes and I get to take my nap, but for now, I'll focus on finishing up what I need to and enjoy reflecting on the highlights of the day. Enjoy these great moments and don't fret too much about those things that are out of your hands. 

~:[CH12 - Day 248]:~ Worth a Smile

 
~:[CH12 - Day 248]:~ Worth a Smile

The day was a bit chaotic as we prepped for district, I got everything settled from the Cow Run, and got my lesson plans ready for Hawaii. It's strange however everything just crashed down at the same time in the same timeframe as it's left me running back and forth. With a late night meeting, I wouldn't be getting home until after 8, which so much left to do, however, there were many things that left me a reason to smile. From interactions with colleagues to this little guy visiting us, you find moments of calm in the middle of all that chaos that leaves you just enough time to smile. No matter how much you have on your plate, finding a moment to pause and enjoy your minutes here on this planet is essential for maintaining the fuel you need to keep pushing forward. In the end, I got what I needed done and looked forward to surviving another busy day tomorrow. No matter how much chaos ensues tomorrow, I'll be sure to take that deep breath and find another moment to smile, because life is definitely worth a smile.

~:[CH12 - Day 247]:~ Be Your Own Judge

 
~:[CH12 - Day 247]:~ Be Your Own Judge

I woke up early today to venture out to practice. Yes, it's a holiday, but with district coming up, putting in that extra work is something that is necessary if you want to be successful. How much extra work you put in is up to you. To leave things up to other's expectations is only leaving you a greater opportunity to fail. Others around you sometimes become experts on topics that they had no experience in and when you allow them to be the one that changes your path, you may be on your way to losing your way. Don't get me wrong, at times there are those who actually know what they're talking about who will give you good advice, then there are those who think they know. Strangely enough, I had two encounters like that this year already with one parent asking why we weren't doing enough for our athletes since we didn't offer two meets the same weekend (since part of the team is racing at Iolani this weekend). It's moments like that make you question whether it's even worth it to continue, but that's also the push factor that can take you off the course you want to go. When you let these moments make the decision for you, you're allowing others judgement to push you to a decision. Similarly, with faith, people around you will try to provoke you and it's up to you whether you react or find a way to stay on the path you wish to travel. I slaved away, finishing up work for the Cow Run, preparing for district and Iolani this week, and wrapping up the newsletter for the week, as my frustrations kept mounting until I let it go. I tasted the sweetness of the dessert I had today and even was uplifted by another athlete who suggested a team activity to help build up our ohana. Those who judge will try to bring you down as they try to gain what they want, but utlimately, on your quest to where you're going, only you can be the judge of how you are doing. It's not about being selfish, it's about being confident in the path that you're traveling. Keep your ears and mind open, but at the end of the day, it's you that will have to live with the consequences of your choices and thus, don't be swayed unless you think it's the right path to travel. Yes, there will be days like this that try to bring you down, but instead of getting bitter, I hope we can all find the sweetness that lies in the satisfaction of our own choices. 

~:[CH12 - Day 246]:~ So Many Reasons to Celebrate

 

~:[CH12 - Day 246]:~ So Many Reasons to Celebrate

I was exhausted, but I dragged myself out of bed to go to another event today. I took photos at the convention and just wandered around for a bit. It was great to see the new venue and I was impressed to see how it looked with everything in a single space. I couldn't stay the whole time as it was my mom's birthday. I hurried back, cleaned out my car, and then enjoyed dinner and time with the family. My mom is fairly simple. She's never needed a big event to celebrate, simply love is more than enough for her. This picture summed it up best as her genuine smile came out in the presence of her grandchildren. I am so Blessed to have such a mother who has given me so much love over the years and truly taught me how to be caring and selfless to those around me. She always spends countless hours behind the scenes helping us making things go. Even for the Cow Run, she helps plan and organize various things including the cow bells. Did I mention she actually is a cow fanatic? In any case, there were so many things to celebrate whether it's the first day free from Cow Run planning, a great day at the convention, or some family time celebrating a wonderful woman. Happy birthday to  my beautiful and amazing mother! 

~:[CH12 - Day 245]:~ Cows & Bows

 
~:[CH12 - Day 245]:~ Cows & Bows

There's a lot of things that go into making something successful. For a musician, it takes long hours of practicing, writing, rewriting, producing, mixing, videos, rehearsals and more. As success comes your way, some of those things may be done by someone else, but still yet, there are many other things you need to manage. Similarly, when planning an event such as the Cow Run, the long hours of things to do is immense from scheduling, to emails, designing and organizing, it all feels like an avalanche of things coming down at once, still yet, when you finally arrive on the day of the event, it feels magically and the weight off of your shoulders makes the day feel amazing. As I wrapped up another Cow Run, I was happy to wrap it all up. I was glad that aside from my error on marking the course, the event ran fairly smoothly. Of course, the event went smoothly because of the amazing team who helped make it happen. Everyone stepped up and did their job from the 20+ who helped with setup on Friday to the over 100 athletes and volunteers who helped throughout the day. On the road towards success, it takes a village of people to make things work out and for that I was appreciative. While my mind, body and even soul were exhausted, I dragged myself to the 626 market to watch one of my alum perform. I was so happy to see how excited people were to see him and to see how happy he was to perform. The road of taking care of this and that must have been just as exhausting as the planning I've done all this time for the Great Cow Run, but similarly, when another moment came for him on stage, I'm sure there were a sense of freedom and exhilaration. I definitely was exhausted by night's end, yet at the same time I was uplifted knowing all the people who stepped up to make the event a success and also to see someone I know also demonstrate their final product. To all of you, I am always so proud to know so many amazing and talented people and I will applaud you in advance because I know just how much goes into the things you produce. Not all the behind the scenes work is visible, but know that all that work will be worth it in the end. In the end, we all deserve to take our final bow when all that hard work finally pays off. So to all of you, I can't wait to see you take that final bow. 

~:[CH12 - Day 244]:~ Until Dusk

 
~:[CH12 - Day 244]:~ Until Dusk

I love the event itself, but all the work around it makes life difficult. The Great Cow Run has arrived and tomorrow, we will wake up early and head to John Glenn. While some may wonder why we've hosted there, working with the parks has been a challenge and so much red tape took away a chance for us to show what our beautiful parks are like. Still yet, it allowed us an opportunity to work with Glenn. It's been amazing. I've always loved working with their AD and their coach is fabulous as well. When we arrived, all the hurdles were already in place and so we just had to go around and set the course. We were actually flowing well until we got to the backfield. It's such a large space so it's difficult to mark. Cones will do it for a league meet, but for a larger meet, it needs a little more. The winds blew down the big cones when we put caution tape on them, so tomorrow will be quite a task to ensure that we got everything set up correct. Still yet, everyone did their part and in the end, we got everything done. On top of it all, their storage until was able to hold our stuff until tomorrow so it made things a bit easier for me. My mind and body were tired as I've been going non-stop for the past week, but all that I dislike about the race is about to end and I finally get to enjoy watching all the athletes run. Let's make it a great one. Let's find out who the MOOOOOOs of the Masterpiece is as they show us the Art of Running. Welcome to the Great Cow Run 2023.