~:[CH12 - Day 334]:~ The Road Ahead

 
~:[CH12 - Day 334]:~ The Road Ahead

It's always an extremely long day when I fly in. The schedule works out perfectly to adjust to jetlag as long as I can sleep and boy did I sleep the entire flight home. I had to get to the airport early in order to avoid rush hour traffic on the train and since I was about 15 minutes late, I ended up getting a little squished with my back, but nothing too crazy. As I arrived home, I missed being in Japan already, as I work with a lot of great people and am able to see friends. Although I work almost the entire time I am away, I also get to make some memorable moments in the process and even make new connections, which at times makes it more difficult as there are more people I want to see each time I go back. I was playing catch up most of the day, trying to figure out what I needed to take care of, but for the most part, aside from having to do work for banquet and conference prep, it was a pretty smooth day. I ended the day with our dance practice as the athlete's performances began to take shape. I definitely was a little exhausted, but I am looking forward to the few weeks ahead knowing that there are a number of adventures awaiting. 

~:[CH12 - Day 333]:~ Curiosity Leads to Discovery

~:[CH12 - Day 333]:~ Curiosity Leads to Discovery

It was fun to roam around Shinjuku Gyoen and enjoy the fall views. It wasn't as dramatic as the last time I came, still yet, there were many gorgeous views. We enjoyed shooting around the park and wandered around for a bit finding beautiful location after beautiful location. As I soaked in the beautiful views I recall just how curiosity in things got me intrigued and thus, I invested myself in various things such as photography and traveling. I'm glad to have found opportunities that allow me to do both and a lot of it just blossomed out of curiousity and looking deeper into what could be. From academics to athletics and just our lives in general, there are so many doors to open and things to discover, the question is, will we allow ourselves to take the chance to seek them out? There will be many times that these doors reap no results or even worse, make us take a step backwards, but it also increases our chances at finding that door that will lead to an amazing discovery. Whether you are just starting your journey of life or a veteran, just know that it's never too late for you to allow your curiosity to open new doors.

~:[CH12 - Day 332]:~ Freedom to Roam

 

~:[CH12 - Day 332]:~ Freedom to Roam

Instead of being stuck in a studio today, I had time to roam until the evening. It was nice to not have much of a schedule and to have the freedom to roam. Often times, we are limited and have to go straight from point A to B, but it's nice when you can add as many points in between so you can discover an array of amazing things you might have missed. From Pokemon to ginko trees to rows of anime stores, it was such a pleasure to wander and find something that felt so magical. The crowds at certain spots made some of these moments more challenging, however, it was no match for the wonderful views and experiences I was able to soak in. While most of the time we need to hustle from point A to B, if you can, take some time and discover the many things that lie in between.

~:[CH12 - Day 331]:~ Freeze Frames

~:[CH12 - Day 331]:~ Freeze Frames

One of the best things I did was pick up a camera when I was younger. My dad always was taking pictures and videos and at some point, I went from my point and shoot, to his 35mm SLR. Ever since, I transitioned my way through camera, finally arriving to where I am today, doing what I love when time permits. While cell phones have taken over a lot of what is being seen, there is a lot of beauty in the physical prints especially those shot on film. To be honest, when we look back, whether via celll phone or SLR, all these wonderful freeze frames we captured in our lives will be these priceless moments we can treasure.  As I think back to the ups and downs with shooting with these two today, I laugh a bit as this moment reminds me of these precious moments of the day.  Today was a jam packed day from start to finish and as I scroll through my camera roll from today, there are many priceless moments I'll store away to check out on another day down the road.

~:[CH12 - Day 330]:~ What is Lost ...

 
~:[CH12 - Day 330]:~ What is Lost ...

I went to my phone to send a photo to my friend and my camera roll was empty. How? I didn't lose any work related photos, but I did lose my own photos that I didn't send or post. Poof! Gone. In life we lose things. Sometimes we realize that we never needed it, sometimes we learned how important it was, and sometimes we keep hoping it can be found once again. As they say, don't cry over spilt milk and so I did what I could, but didn't allow this to ruin my already wonderful day. I was exhausted, but even without the photos and videos from the day, the media within my own mind will live vividly for a long time coming. I still will hope that I'll find a solution to the issue, but even if I am unable to, I will I know that what is lost, never truly is.

~:[CH12 - Day 329]:~ The Beauty of the Hunt

 
~:[CH12 - Day 329]:~ The Beauty of the Hunt

Aside from the work I am actually scheduled to do, I didn't create much of a plan. I figured I could figure it out as I went and that's just what I am doing. It's cool to do that sometimes as you don't have to be at a certain place at a certain time, there's no rush and you encounter cool things along the way. It was fun to find this mini Kep1er display when I went searching for something for AG. It's even cooler that it will only be there for a limited time. There's such a strong fan culture here and when I walked into the store, they even had the themed pop-up cafe for a group. It's cool to see the various people who will come out for such an event. Regardless, as I ventured around, I found some cool things and I hope that there are a number of other cool things I'll encounter along the way. I won't have a lot of free time as I I'll be working most of the time, but still yet, there will be some time where I'll be able to encounter something new. 

~:[CH12 - Day 328]:~ The Choices We Make

 
~:[CH12 - Day 328]:~ The Choices We Make

I'm not big on sweets, but when I saw this, I thought to myself, maybe I should just try it. Life is like this. It presents us with things we didn't even know we wanted and we have to decide what to do. Obviously with every choice we make, we have to live with what happens because of that choice, I often hear of people blaming others that resulted out of their decision making and the reality is, when we make that choice, we should also take some of that blame (if not all). Of course, when make these choices, we may also find that we benefit from them as well and the many benefits of that choice will come rolling in. Regardless of what happens afterward, when you make a choice, own up to it and be ready to accept the consequences just as much as you're ready to celebrate the successes. On a day after we are to be thankful for all that we have in our lives, I hope that today, we also look at our own lives and take this opportunity to live the life we want to live and that starts by looking at all our choices along the way. I guess it's now time to choose your own adventure.

~:[CH12 - Day 327]:~ Just the Trimmings

 

~:[CH12 - Day 327]:~ Just the Trimmings

My body was a little tired, so I slept in this morning. The past few weeks has been incredibly chaotic and it was nice to not set an alarm and allow myself to wake up naturally. I had a lot of work to do, so I focused in and organized all my files and got everything in order. I typed away and nearly finished the banquet program, started the video conversion process for the video and cleaned up a bit. After watching football, I walked over next door and enjoyed a small and simple dinner with my family. It's nice to have such a simple and unexhausting event where I don't even have to drive to especially when I had a few things to work on. It was nice to chat and just be around my family. Enjoying these moments just being in the same time and space have been even more precious as we all get older. As it may seem as if it was a Thanksgiving with just the trimmings, the spread was incredible, but it also left me so full, of love that is and that's more than any extravagantevent could provide. In just a few hours, I'll be back on the road, but at least for this brief moment, I was glad I was home to enjoy these beautiful moments that the holiday provides.

~:[CH12 - Day 326]:~ Changing Seasons

 

~:[CH12 - Day 326]:~ Changing Seasons

Just a few hours earlier, the lion was highlighting the F1 races and quickly the stage was transformed. Much like the seasons changing, change is inevitable. I think often we are afraid of the changes that may arrive. I think our search for stability and comfort leaves us uneasy with change, but many times when we experience it, things begin to flow. I always hear the phrase, "but things will be different ..." and it's true. Things will be different when things change, but different doesn't always mean it will be better or worse. Life itself was not meant to be routine. The variations in a day, while sometimes subtle, are what adds the spice to life. Many people may walk by the lion without even noticing it changed or those who just arrived may never see it change, but for those of us who noticed, don't fear the change that is coming, but make the most of it. Much like every other trip, my dad and I followed a similar routine, hit traffic is the same spots, and ate at similar restaurants, but just like the changing seasons, there was something slightly different and yet that was okay. Irregardless, it was a memorable trip and I already am excited for next year's variation.

~:[CH12 - Day 325]:~ Busting at the Seams

 
~:[CH12 - Day 325]:~ Busting at the Seams

I was getting measured for my suit for the wedding. She asked if it fit and I wanted to make sure to let her know that it needed to be able to handle the wear and tear that I put my pants through. I laughed as I thought about my wonderful history with pants. Regardless, it was fun to go through the measurement process and see a custom suit take shape. This was just a small portion of the packed day that was truly busting at the seams. We ventured out early to go to our traditional tee team at the golf course on our annual trip to Las Vegas. We both didn't play too well and once again, I fell short of my dad by a single stroke this year. He edged me by one on the front nine and we tied on the back with my bogey on the 18th. We spent the rest of the day enjoying the food of Vegas, enjoying our good luck in the casino, and just soaking in everything around us. It always is nice catching up with JJ as well, as we grabbed lunch before our fitting appointments. Despite so much going on throughout the day, I didn't feel tired until I retired to the room. Everything seemed to go smoothly and at least this time, the seams held together throughout the day and I only hope that these new pants will do the same.

~:[CH12 - Day 324]:~ Our Precious Moments

 
~:[CH12 - Day 324]:~ Our Precious Moments

If we had a place to project our most precious moments, what would they be? As I looked at the Sphere in Las Vegas, I appreciated the beautiful creation they made that could project anything. Just a day earlier, they used it to make a beautiful backdrop for the F1 racing, while in the interior they projected beautiful scenes for concerts and shows. Wouldn't it be cool to be able to project our most precious moments for others to enjoy? While some of our moments our precious, I know there are some that we treasure that we can share with those close to us. As I was tired from my turnaround to Vegas after San Diego, I was glad to be able to spend another day with my dad as we took our annual trip together. There were definitely a lot of wins on this first day and we probably gained a few pounds from all the food, but we also collected another few precious memories that we could project on our very own sphere of life. In life, tomorrow is guaranteed and even when it is, we don't know what we will be able to do within that day, so I hope that we continue to add to our collection of our precious moments while we have the opportunity to do so as those are the only things that we will be able to take with us when we leave this world. 

~:[CH12 - Day 323]:~ Let's Celebrate Finishing

 
~:[CH12 - Day 323]:~ Let's Celebrate Finishing

Let's face it, only a portion of people will be recognized for their efforts and even fewer will be awarded a title of some sort. Being part of sports my whole life, I've always understood the chase for championship and the accolades it comes with, but I've also learned to understand that giving it my all along the way is just as important as that championship. I'm not a fan of participation trophies, but I am a fan of patting someone on the back and still celebrating their efforts in a hopes that they will keep working towards their goals. For each of us, we have a different goal in mind so success to all of us will look different, but even when we don't hit our goals, we should celebrate that we are there. While we shouldn't receive a trophy for simply participating, we do deserve that celebration when we are giving it all. A few of my athletes didn't have races that they were happy with, but I hope that when they look back, they can be happy with being out there with their teammates and putting out their efforts out there, finishing off their season with a final push and celebrating all their efforts together. Overall, a group of them qualified for Nationals, but even for those that didn't, I'm happy with them and all the extra time they put in to be here to compete at this championship. We drove home and enjoyed the final moments of this trip and while we didn't do anything "spectacular," the weekend was full of spectacular memories that I hope we'll be able to celebrate for the rest of our lives. 

~:[CH12 - Day 322]:~ A Little Adventure

 
~:[CH12 - Day 322]:~ A Little Adventure

I'm in the middle of a pretty loaded schedule, however, it's also been a memorable one. As the team rolled down for the regionals for Junior Olympics, I was able to enjoy a little adventure as we ventured around. We didn't really have a plan laid out, but just a few things that they wanted to do, so we plopped back and forth from place to place enjoying the various sights around, but even more so, just having time to spend together. While we didn't do anything extravagant, they kept saying how they enjoyed the time to just chill and enjoy together versus having a schedule. I think sometimes it's nice to leave your adventured unstructured so that there is no, "we need to be here by ..." moments. We ventured from Old Town to Little Italy to Mission Beach and ended the night at Convoy. It was a little adventure, but filled with lots of memories that will be added to that ever growing collection that will be the one thing that I will be able to carry with me until eternity. 

~:[CH12 - Day 321]:~ Step by Step

 
~:[CH12 - Day 321]:~ Step by Step

It's not always going to be easy, but together is the way to survive. This day is always filled with great joy as the students are celebrating the end of the week before fall break and they get to enjoy this fun game that can be enjoyed together with everyone. However, today had a different feel as the boys varsity game approached, as today they held a tribute for one of their teammates. It's never easy losing someone you love and for a teenager, the weight must be incredible. The past few weeks haven't been easy as from time to time, you can feel the heavy air amongst the students, but step-by-step, these students have walked this path together and have slowly been mending their wounds. Everyone has coped with it in different ways, but for those who found solace in those around them and those who had chosen an individual route, they all were walking on a path towards healing together. It's sad that a soul this young has been taken away from this world so soon. This athlete was someone who worked hard, who persevered against all odds, faced disappointment, yet never allowed the setbacks to bring him down. As my brother said, his legacy will not be one that we'll remember just for tonight or this season, but for the rest of our lives. Even as the excitement of the games went on through the day, you could see that the thoughts and minds of everyone there was remembering this young soul taken too soon. As while the path of head will have its ups and downs, I know that together they will pull together as they face each of these moments step by step. #SoriStrong

~:[CH12 - Day 320]:~ Falling Into Place

 

~:[CH12 - Day 320]:~ Falling Into Place

My original plan was to make this trek all along. 

The first hurdle came in that I held the flight, but not purchased it, but it was resolved. The only question left was could I strategize well enough to survive the scheduling. Arriving in the city in the morning, I had time to kill, so I bought my food for the day and sat out by the river. Typically the weather here is mightly cold around this time of year, but I ended up with some solid weather. I ventured around before meeting a few of their hardcore fans who had arrived early. I spent the next few hours with them as they were wedged up against the barrier with me. It was a joyous night as the energy in the venue was incredible and capturing these moments was easy. There were some fun moments throughout including some surprises. Despite how chaotic it may have seen, things just fell into place despite the worries I had. It was one of those days that couldn't have worked out any better if you simulated it thousands of times and for those days, I am forever grateful. I wrapped up my editing, uploaded the content as I ate dinner, then headed back to the airport where I had just landed this morning. I'll be exhausted going forward, but I will be headed home with my roadmap 100% completed with a bunch of unexpected memories and friends I met along the way.

~:[CH12 - Day 319]:~ When Life Just Tastes This Good

 

~:[CH12 - Day 319]:~ When Life Just Tastes This Good

Today was quite chaotic. I woke up a little late so I had to rush, I forgot some things in my car and the rain made things challenging, however, things just fell into place. Our class simulation was fun and the students enjoyed it, the rain broke just in time so we could complete it outside, and I was able to get everything in order for the rest of the week. Maybe tomorrow, I'll find out I missed something, but for now, I'm kicking back and smiling after eating a delicious dinner having finishing everything I needed to do. We finished our workout before the downpour and also avoiding a near disaster when I realized I dropped my ID. Things may be chaotic, you may feel stressed, but through it all, there are things that make life taste just that sweet. Overcome the troubles of the day by focusing on what you've enjoyed and you can wash away much of that will weigh you down. There are days where this will be a struggle, but on the days you can, enjoy it when life just tastes this good. Appreciate all that life has to offer while it's here as our time here is much too short and there's definitely no time to waste, so let's savor it.

~:[CH12 - Day 318]:~ Capturing the Moment

 
~:[CH12 - Day 318]:~ Capturing the Moment

It was day two of soaking in the beautiful skies. Today, instead of clouds, we enjoyed the beautiful sunset. With practice still going on due to Junior Olympics, the athletes were at school late and with daylight savings, the sun began to set as we wrapped up practice. It was definitely a beautiful sight to enjoy and I was happy to see this group trying to capture this moment. Our lives will find moments like this from time to time and I just hope that we can store these moments in our own personal memory box and revisit it every time we need a little inspiration, motivation or cheering up. The beauty that surrounds us can often be what uplifts us and helps us find progress or simply allows us to get back up again and gather the course to begin again. Let's do our best to capture all of these beautiful moments by observing and paying attention to all the beauty that surrounds us. It's easy to miss a moment like this, but when we pay attention, we're able to capture the beautiful moments such as these. 

~:[CH12 - Day 317]:~ Admiration

 
~:[CH12 - Day 317]:~ Admiration

Have you every looked at something and just admired it. You keep looking at it because of how encapsulating it is? Today was one of those days as the sky was just incredibly gorgeous. Mother nature provides us with such beautiful visuals sometimes and I am always in awe when they present themselves. I always admire it and get lost in it. Strangely enough, today in class we were talking about the Renaissance looking at a quote that talked about losing ourselves in our art. Thinking back to college, when I would create one of my pieces, I got lost in it, just like today. It's such a wonderful feeling to feel as one with a beautiful sky like today. After a tumultuous week last week, it was nice to soak in this beauty and just maybe, it was someone looking down on us letting us know that we're being watched over and taken care of. 

~:[CH12 - Day 316]:~ Going Bananas

 
~:[CH12 - Day 316]:~ Going Bananas

This year, we had more athletes than ever sign up to do Junior Olympics. It's fun to watch these athletes compete beyond their high school season, as it shows that they love the sport. The large group also meant we had a full team competing at the preliminary round as typically most of the athletes get waived through the first round. The weather was hot, the course was tough (and dusty), but ultimately, it ended up being a good experience for the team as they had their fun. We ended up stopping in Little Tokyo and enjoying the afternoon before calling it a day and it was nice to enjoy this time together. I ended up coming home congested with the dust from the day, but it was all worth it for the memories of the day. Time will allow me to recover from the discomfort, but I will never get back the time, had I missed this precious opportunity to see these athletes going bananas. 

~:[CH12 - Day 315]:~ In the Absence of Time

~:[CH12 - Day 315]:~ In the Absence of Time

My schedule during the past few months has been insane. It's all my fault as I took on as many of the things that I wanted to in the amount of time that I had. Isn't it amazing how limited time feels? There are so many things we want to do, but so little time. However, if we had all the time in the world, would we actually use that time to do all those things we wanted to do? In the absence of time, I am super productive, as I take care of everything as efficiently as possible. Today, with a blank slate due to a shoot cancelation, I felt like I did almost nothing. Yes, I graded and cleaned, but in reality, with the amount of time I had, there was so much more I could have done. Still yet, it was nice to allow my body to relax and enjoy this time, but then I thought to myself, would having all the time in the world, make me do this more often? In reality, I would run out of things to do if my schedule felt like today. For some of us, this is the life and we can make use of this time that is there; however, for me, I live in a world where the absence of time allows me to do all that I need to take care of and then some. Of course, I did enjoy finally getting the chance to scroll back through some old photos from the summer as I looked forward the the projects ahead, however, still yet, I would much rather keep my mind activated so that I could make the most of my days. What do you prefer, a loaded schedule or a blank slate?

 

~:[CH12 - Day 314]:~ Aged to Perfection

 
~:[CH12 - Day 314]:~ Aged to Perfection

We didn't have a ready made team last year for the boys and the girls this year had some gaps to fill. Since last year, the boys worked hard to recover from a full senior scoring five graduating. It was rough at first, but they worked hard, progressed and became a solid unit that went from runner-ups to champions. The girls have always been solid, but with the loss of a few of their athletes, they had some gaps to fill and with some senior stepping up and some freshmen moving in, they developed together. We didn't advance to finals this year, but as I say in many things in my life, you cannot measure your success based on simply what you accomplished. Success should be something that isn't always measurable, as it's something that you just know. When a steak is aged, can you measure if that aging was a success? The only way to measure it is by the senses and similarly, success can truly be measured in this same way. We had our ups and downs through the season. From athletes not finishing races, injuries, and a number of other obstacles, the season had its challenging moments to say the least, however, this group aged together, they grew together and they activated my senses to determine that we ended this season on a successful note. While we fell short of some of the goals we set during the summer, I hope that these athletes can see all that they gained over the course of the season. Every obstacle they overcame, every time they were able to give an extra ounce and every additional moment they had together, made this season a success. As I write this, we close the chapter on this season where we Navigated the Unknown, as we look back knowing that in the end, we maneuvered our way through the challenges to arrive at this very moment that we can celebrate together for a job well done. All the hours, all the pain, all the tears were well worth all the joys that this season contained. It definitely took some time, but in the end, this team showed that it truly had aged to perfection.

~:[CH12 - Day 313]:~ A Normal Life

 
~:[CH12 - Day 313]:~ A Normal Life

I always get the question, how do you balance your schedule? Are you in the US right now? Would you rather live a normal life?  Ever since my photography work has expanded, it's been quite challenging to keep up with a "normal" life. Between school, photography, and events I've been invited to, the past few weeks have been exhausting, but at the same time, I'm loving it. This lifestyle is not for everyone, but when people tell me to slow down, I think to myself, why? Yes, it does get pretty busy, but it's the definitely one I've enjoyed and I've chosen to do it. It's been nice to rake in a few events here and there, while at the same time, enjoying a few others that I took on my own personal time. Although it may not seem like it, I do make sure to leave time for my own enjoyment between the numerous commitments my schedule has allowed. Today was one of the first days that I have had a free evening in quite awhile and even then, it was filled two youngster running around, keeping their uncle busy. As I watched my niece looking through a book on the couch, I thought to myself, is this a normal life? For me, while I can watch TV or read a book, traveling around, attending events, and doing shoots is definitely my way to live a normal life, even if it consumes most of the hours of my day. I will be MIA most of November as I was fully booked about a month out, but still yet, I'll be sure to carve some time into my schedule to live my own normal life, whatever that may be. For each of us, that normal life is something different, but the main thing is that you life the life that makes you happy and that you can enjoy. While you need to make enough to sustain yourself, you also need to make sure that the path you're on is the one you want to be on. Whether impacted or just kicking back and relaxing, there's no one sized fits all solution especially for me. Live YOUR normal life by finding a way to incorporate the lifestyle you've always dreamed into your every day. 

~:[CH12 - Day 312]:~ Together, We Celebrate

 

~:[CH12 - Day 312]:~ Together, We Celebrate

The weight of the past few days has been quite heavy, but it was nice to get out together and celebrate our CIF run. Annually, we've had our CIF dinner and overtime we've added this and that. Of course, this dinner always tends to be the peak of the stretch as we finish up our cards to each other and then have a mini photoshoot after. Together, we celebrate tonight and realize just how precious moments like this are. We learned the hard way just how sudden things can turn, thus, I hope we can appreciate the moments we get to share with each other. Tonight, we were able to do just that as we had one of our final gatherings together. While we always hope for another week, nothing is a guarantee beyond Friday and thus we celebrate today as if it is our last together. Similarly, in life, I hope that we never assume that tomorrow is a given and that every day, we can celebrate these precious moments we have together. 

~:[CH12 - Day 311]:~ Uplifting

 
~:[CH12 - Day 311]:~ Uplifting

I'm not sure if today could have come at a better time. The weight in the air today was heavy as so many were mourning the loss of their fellow student. You could sense the loss without a word being spoken. My often lively senior class was silent with not a single handle ready to share their journal for the day. Moments like these are difficult as it takes a lot to process. We're all so worried about this and that, that sometimes we forget just how precious life is. Tell the people around you all the things you wish to say as we never know when our time is coming to an end. I keep asking, why would the Lord take such a young soul with such a great future ahead. The answer is never clear, but instead of anger or frustration, I hope we can channel our energy towards celebrating the life of such a wonderful individual. Instead of digging ourselves deeper into the darkness, let's help uplift each other as we take small steps forward. We will not be healed from this overnight, but we can talk small steps every day and eventually find ourselves in a place we are at peace. I debated whether I should go tonight with all that was going on, but I decided to allow myself to find myself in a place I could shed this weight off my shoulders and enjoy the performance of one of my favorite groups. Their music and performance uplifted me and made me feel free. I know it will be hard to return to normalcy for everyone, but I think part of the process is healing is to try to get back into a routine while seeking the help you need. Tonight I allowed myself to do just that to help me find a reason to smile. I know that tomorrow things will not be cured and there will be days that will be challenging, but everyday I'll focus on trying to take another step forward.

~:[CH12 - Day 310]:~ Ohana is Enough

 
~:[CH12 - Day 310]:~ Ohana is Enough

Our CIF shirt theme this year was Ohana is Kenough. It was obviously taken from the summer Barbie craze, as our team watched the movie together during a summer event. I think that phrase is more fitting than ever for today. Our team motto for ohana was born out of a tragedy. I am not sure where I would be today if our team did not come together in our programs darkest point in history. I'll never forget the struggles we faced over the years, but I will also never forget the team who reached out their hand towards me, the adults who stepped up to guide me, and the Lord who help uplift me from one of the most challenging stretches in my life. Thinking back, having my ohana was enough to get me through those toughest moments. After practice, we found out that one of our very own had passed away. I worry for the athletes, the coaches, the friends, the family and everyone that this fine young man knew. With such a quick and unexpected passing, the ability for everyone to process this will be difficult, however, I know that similar to when we faced a similar moment in our life, I know that together this community can come together and help each other through this. It won't be easy, but helping each other out during these challenging times, it will make the process easier. Today was definitely hard to digest and I know that the next few weeks, months and years may be a challenge, however, I know that together, we all can survive this especially if we all stick through this together. Ohana is enough and I hope that together we can pick up the pieces of our broken hearts, mend our shattered souls, and celebrate the life of someone who was so special to so many. RIP Sori! 

~:[CH12 - Day 309]:~ Our Story, Our Journey

 
~:[CH12 - Day 309]:~ Our Story, Our Journey

Jae's concert had a different feel. It was about the music, but it was also a story of his journey, his struggle and his search to find a way towards a place we want to be. The journey for Jae has been quite tough. He found himself in the darkest of days and as he told his story, he allowed himself to be vulnerable as he was honest with himself and with us about his struggles and his path towards the point we were at today. I've seen the ups and downs and while I observed at a distance, I did my best to send my support whenever possible. As I thought about tonight on my drive home, I thought about how we all find ourselves facing our own struggles in our own stories on our own journeys. I've found myself in difficult times and I think those around me are facing ones that are similar right now. The pain in these moments if often deep and sometimes unbearable, however, we must know that the best way to relieve some of this is to rely on the support of those around us. As Jae talked about his journey, he mentioned so many of those who helped uplift him and similarly, others have shared their own stories of how Jae has also helped them in their difficult moments in life. As we wander in the darkness, I hope that we can trust in ourselves and also rely on the support of those around us to slowly guide us back to the light and a place where we can find peace. I felt uplifted as I saw Jae on stage as he had found a way to peace in his life and while his journey may just be starting, I am happy to know that he's rising from the darkness that once consumed him. My only hope is that he can be himself and choose the path he wishes to go as he writes his story. Similarly, to those around me, I hope that when you find yourself in darkness, you can find the things and people who can help you on your journey as you battle the demons that try to bring you down. As much as it may seem as they are winning, remember that you have the power to write your own story. Together, we can all help each other on our journey and hopefully leave that darkness behind. 

~:[CH12 - Day 308]:~ Another Morning

 
~:[CH12 - Day 308]:~ Another Morning

It wasn't easy to wake up this morning after last night, but it was worth it. It was a chilly morning as we arrived at the beach and they were freezing as they warmed up for their run. They headed off into the golden color in the horizon as the sun began to rise. It made for some spectacular views as we guessed who was returning as their silhouette appeared in the distance. We relaxed, took photos, and they played in the water for a bit before we wrapped up. It was another morning that I spent working, but it definitely is an investment of my time, as the heartfelt memories I gain through these experience are quite valuable. As I sit back and enjoy seeing them have fun and experience these moments together, I simply thing that it's another morning that we all woke up and another day we all get to enjoy. We really never know what is going to happen tomorrow, so let's be sure to enjoy our every day that we get to wake up to another morning, no matter what is on our plate that day.

~:[CH12 - Day 307]:~ Time to Relax

 
~:[CH12 - Day 307]:~ Time to Relax

Sometimes I am on this generation of students. I have to repeat things more often even when they have more access to resources than ever before. These students can simply log on to Google Classrooms or look something up on their phone, rather, a lot of them choose to still ask even after I already said the information (sometimes two seconds before). At the same time, I also feel for these students as sometimes I feel like they have so much to take care of sometimes. They run from event to event or responsibility to responsibility that they don't always have the time to relax. For many, cross country is that escape even if it's just practice. That's why CIF Night on the Town is one of my favorite events as we get to take them out for a night so they can just be themselves and enjoy. This year, we played an escape room. Our team was the last to go in, but we were the first to get out with about 17 minutes to spare. I ended up with most of the seniors (a few are missing from this shot) and they did a pretty good with the clues. We enjoyed the entire night and I was pretty happy as they ended the night singing and celebrating together. It may have been only five hours of their life, but at least it was five hours where they didn't have to worry about homework, responsibilities or anything else. I was glad that everyone on the CIF team attended and got to experience the evening, as I truly feel that they deserved this time to relax. 

~:[CH12 - Day 306]:~ Another Friend

 
~:[CH12 - Day 306]:~ Another Friend

 When I picked up this praying mantis, I thought about how I make a lot of "friends" in terms of bugs such as this one. I don't socialize too much with new people. When I finally open up to someone, it's easier to get along with them, but still yet, I am not extroverted enough to go up to a stranger and make friends, usually. It's quite a miracle that I teach and coach, because that kind of setting is not the most comfortable for me, but over time, it does become easier. Of course, by day's end, I am exhausted, especially when I keep my room open during snack and lunch and someone talks to me during that time. Often, I prefer to sit in the corner and be that wallflower while I do my work. Regardless, as humans, we learn to adapt. We do just enough to get us through. We figure it out as it's the way we can survive. I took a few photos before I put the praying mantis into a tree wondering where it disappeared off to, wishing that it would talk me along. 

~:[CH12 - Day 305]:~ Dropping a Little Note

 
~:[CH12 - Day 305]:~ Dropping a Little Note

One of my favorite traditions during CIF week is our CIF run. I always have been a fan of handwritten letters, thinking back to the days where we used to slip the notes through the walls during summer school to the other health or driver's education classes. I still write handwritten letters from time to time as I think they have a genuine quality to them, showing how much time and effort you put into the message you're sending. For the athletes, we get together on this day and start writing our messages to each other, as every athlete gets a card with everyone on the team getting a chance to write in it. For all of us, a little note of encouragement is sometimes just the thing to help us through a day. I've received numerous messages at the right time that energized me or inspired me to work a bit a harder or wrap up something important. I hope that in the daily grind, we take some time out of our days to send a quick note to someone we love or care about or even a stranger who you might feel needs it Write a message of encouragement for someone who you see is struggling, wish someone luck who is working on a great project, or just say a quick thank you or I love you to someone close to you. Although they may know your thoughts and feelings, it's always nice to see it. The world is so full of such cruel comments and rhetoric posted online, many times anonymously and while one goal could be to stop it, another approach would be to overtake those comments with ones that are positive and can brighten up the day for someone and this world for all. We definitely live in tough times and dropping a little note may be just the thing that this world needs to make things just a bit easier. Sending love to you all today.