~:[CH13 - Day 31]:~ Behind the Scenes

 
~:[CH13 - Day 31]:~ Behind the Scenes

The speaker turns on and announces the success a certain program or team had. People give their applause, they congratulation and move on with their day, knowing that a program found great success. However, do we all know what goes on behind the scenes? Did that person or team win because they were more talented or did they improve and put in the work to find success? Often times, we really never know, but when you find out, sometimes, the success they have found becomes more impressive when you know the work they put in behind the scenes. As we met with our Nationals team tonight, I thought about the time these students sacrificed to be here, the time it took them to prepare, what they had to miss and the like. They spent nearly four hours after school, some of which came straight from a competition or practice, in order to prepare for this event. Year after year, I have groups who put in so much work behind the scenes that sometimes I wonder, do people truly appreciate the work that they put in to reach this goal? It may seem so commonplace for them to succeed at this high level, but it's not by accident. I do my best to push their limits and demand a lot from them and because they rise to the occasion, they find that success. It's easy to praise someone when you witness them finding success, but I hope we can also praise people for all the work that they put in before they even step into the spotlight. We live in a world where so many hope to instantly find success, not realizing that it's a slow process that requires you to grind and put in the hours to find success. It would be great if we could flip a switch and reach the goal we were aiming for, but in reality, would it be as satisfying if we didn't put in the work? I am not sure how this year's conference will turn out for this group, but regardless of what happens in March, I have already started my applause, because I see just how much work and effort this group has put in already to prepare and to find ways to improve themselves before this conference arrives. I hope that in our own lives we can do the same and focus on the process behind the scenes, rather than simply achieving that goal we set for ourselves as many times, the journey is more impressive than the final destination.

~:[CH13 - Day 30]:~ The Journey

 
~:[CH13 - Day 30]:~ The Journey

In everything we do, we're on a journey. We take on a specific task, job or join something to try and accomplish something. Whether it's to help people, win a championship or to simply participate, whatever we take on has some type of meaning for us all. It was fun to recognize the seniors for reaching this milestone on their own journeys. Many do not make it this far, as it takes a combination of perseverance and dedication, not to mention that they have to make the varsity squad. To simply make it here, is an accomplishment in itself. I was happy to see all the seniors play tonight and it was also touching to see the applause for Ethan as he was introduced both with the seniors and during the starting lineups. Life will encompass a number of these journeys and the question is, can we take on each of these treks knowing what it takes to accomplish what we set out to do? While at times it's wiser to abandon a journey or two, I hope that we believe in ourselves enough that we can continue on the path we set out on so we can reach the goal we had hoped to attain. For each of the seniors, I know there was a point in which they may have wanted to give it all up, but this group stuck with it, battled through the tough times and were honored tonight for all that they accomplished. Whether they played a minute or a hundred through the season, they all deserved their applause tonight as they demonstrated that they can do it. For many, this will be their last season of organized basketball, as less and less opportunities will be provided as they go forward, but at least they'll take the memories and experiences they had and be able to use the lessons they learned to help them on the many journeys they have ahead. Congratulations to our class of 2024. 

~:[CH13 - Day 29]:~ A Little Lost, A Little Found

 
~:[CH13 - Day 29]:~ A Little Lost, A Little Found

It felt a little weird. I got up and didn't have to send out reminder texts to my team. I didn't have to do room checks at the end of the night. I didn't have to worry about what's next and what could go wrong today. As familiar as today was, it also felt so foreign; I felt a little lost. Of course, I found my grounding as I eased my way into the week, knowing how checked out I would be. I stayed up late last night wrapping up the odds and ends for the trip, which also left me a bit exhausted today. I answered the questions I needed to, started some of the grading I needed to catch up on and attended my first practice in awhile. Of course, as much as it felt nice to get back into the groove of things, but a part of me is going to miss the routines I got into during the week. I always miss the proximity of so many good restaurants and stops, I will miss the excitement of the students among a few other things that I enjoyed through the trip. For another week or so, I'll probably be a little lost, but in the process, I hope to find a new path as I forge forward, as whether you like it or not, experiences like this change you, even if it's just a little bit. Because of it, life redirects you, as you find a slightly and sometimes not-so-slightly different path as you take your next step forward. For some, the next step will be familiar, while others will scurry around before they find their way. While many think of a paved path as they travel on the road of life, sometimes we find ourselves when we go off the beaten path and roam the undiscovered. When life shakes up your life a bit, look for that opportunity to, not find the person who you were, but to the find the person that you want to be. Sometimes it's only when you get a little lost that you find the opportunity to make this grand discovery. 

~:[CH13 - Day 28]:~ A Lifetime of Memories

 

~:[CH13 - Day 28]:~ A Lifetime of Memories

My traditional line when I land in LA after a trip is, "I'm free!" No longer am I responsible for a group of students after a week or so of activities and conference. The preparation and organization is all over and now, I feel the burden lifted off of my shoulders. Of course, although it feels nice today, the process begins for the next trip soon thereafter. You may think that it's exhausting so why would you keep doing it, but ultimately when you think about it, the effort put in, creates a lasting lifetime of memories. Compared to the memories these trips create, the effort is minimal. At times it's frustrating, stressful or I am just flat out exhausted, but whenever I type my final reflection at the end of the trip, I always think, I'm glad that they'll have these memories. Sure, these trips don't always run perfectly, but ultimately, they'll remember the best parts of these trips. It's been nine days since I left and I am ready to go to my own bed, but I will not close my eyes regretting any of the time and effort, as it all was worth it. Time and time again, I've ran into alumni as we reflect on their own trips they had while in high school and it reassured me that the investments I made to make these trips happen end up yielding some amazing returns - a lifetime of memories. Over time, the memories of these various trips have blended together as I vaguely remember this or that about each trip, still yet, I will not forget the joyous moments that the students that created a lasting memory. In the end, we actually fared pretty well at the conference with over half of them receiving awards, but of course the biggest reward of the week was the lifetime of memories they'll all take home with them tonight and for that, I am grateful.

~:[CH13 - Day 27]:~ Arrangement

 
~:[CH13 - Day 27]:~ Arrangement

How something is presented is just as important as the product itself. In Model UN, some delegates say absolutely nothing, but make it sound like something. I always hope that our delegates can be the latter with a side of substance. It's difficult to listen to people control others when they have no clue what they're actually talking about. It's like watching someone being conned into buying something worthless. Nonetheless, it happens regularly in MUN. As I always tell my delegates, I would be much prouder of you if you didn't win an award, but showed how much preparation you did versus if you BSed your way through committee and took home a gavel. To some, the only thing that matters is that end result. Of course, as beautifully as something is arranged, if your product is not good, people will have less faith in your presentation over time as they'll be tired of being conned. To my delegates, keep being diplomatic and present all of that research you collected, unbothered about what the end rrsults may be, because you'll lnow that your product is of the highest quality and eventually people will recognize that. Similar to us all, patience will allow us to continue to do the same thing, as people will recognize what you being to the table even if those who only present themselves well have the inside track. We finished our final evening in Vancouver with a hot pot dinner together as we celebrated the end of a wonderful week; one I hope they will never forget.

~:[CH13 - Day 26]:~ Never Stop Progress

 
~:[CH13 - Day 26]:~ Never Stop Progress

Every year we have this discussion, adjust and adapt. At the major conferences we attend, they don't run how the local conferences run and thus the students need to learn to adapt. Some of adjust well and some of them don't. One of the hardest things is that we are always super prepared and researched. While I am disappointed that a chair would discourage the too specific of a solution, at the same time, our students also need to adjust to the environment they are in. I am proud that they have so many specifics, but knowing how to use the "arsenal" you have is just as important as all that you compile. For conferences, we always emphasize that delegates should be well prepared and I am always happy to see that they put the work in and take pride in what they do. I was definitely proud of them and their efforts today, but just like our speaker, the former Premiere of British Columbia stated, one of our faults is that we don't keep progressing. She stated that some of the problems that we face in the world today may have been avoided if we kept working towards progress and maintaining peace and stability. Whereas, we worked until we solved the problem, they relaxed assuming all was good in the world. However, our work in life is never done. For my students, but also for all of us, life is a constantly cycle of working on and improving ourselves. While it's easy to relax when we get to where we want to go, in order to stay were we want to be or progress even further, we must continue to work, develop and progress. Our work never stops so we can allow our progress to continue. There's still a lot of work for the students to do over the next few days, but at least for today, I give them a round of applause for a job well done, as they continue to work knowing that their work is never quite done. 

~:[CH13 - Day 25]:~ Otterly Amazing

 
~:[CH13 - Day 25]:~ Otterly Amazing

It's been really hard to take photos on this trip. For one, this group isn't the most photo-loving group and on top of it, the rain has been constant and thus, focusing and keeping my lens clean has been a task. Still yet, I soaked in the beauty of Capilano and since it was raining, it actually was pretty empty today. It made for a nice trek through the different areas. We ventured from Capilano back down to Robson and ate before heading the aquarium. I was a bit bummed as a few sections were under construction, however, I was able to catch the sea lion and otter feeding and training, which was otterly amazing. I love to see what they're able to do and how they enjoy jumping and swimming around. The jellyfish are always amazing as well. We closed off the night with ice skating and dinner and while my feet were sore, I was happy as I scarfed down two Japadogs with my favorite being the yakiniku dog. Today was our last touring day as the conference ramps up tomorrow, however, I am glad that we made it to this point and found a way to enjoy all these beautiful moments on this trip. When you look back, even if there were moments that didn't go as smoothly as you had hoped, it's still a blessing to be able to have this amazing experience. 

~:[CH13 - Day 24]:~ Into the Fog

 
~:[CH13 - Day 24]:~ Into the Fog

I was a little sad to see the gondola head into the fog as it meant that the view would be impacted. The view from this mountain is what makes it great. We already knew that the tube park was closed since it's been too warm. As while it may have been disappointing to see, when we finally disappeared into the fog, the rain turn to snow. One of my students shed tears of joy, as she was able to see snow fall. While at times it made it challenging to take photos and maneuver, we enjoyed the fresh falling snow and played around in it. They also allowed us to have snowshoes and thus, we walked around the trails and enjoyed the views along the trail with everything covered in fresh snow. We enjoyed some food before heading back out into the snow. Just before we were about to leave, the sky cleared up for just a bit as we could see down to the ocean and enjoy the mountains that surround us. Soon thereafter, the clouds recovered the view and while brief, we got a glimpse of the beautiful scenery. While we may have been disappointed as the gondolas disappeared into the clouds above, without them, the memorable experience of the falling snow probably would not have been possible. While we search for the perfection conditions through our days, sometimes within that environment is a beautiful secret waiting to be uncovered if you don't get discouraged and head into the fog.

~:[CH13 - Day 23]:~ Roadblocks

 
~:[CH13 - Day 23]:~ Roadblocks

Moving day is always one of the toughest. As we moved from Seattle to Vancouver, we packed up all our stuff and headed to the train station. An alarm went off in the train and continued on for about an hour and while nothing was wrong with the train, it continued and started this ride on the wrong foot. It must have been an omen of things to come. The train ride was mostly smooth. The later departure meant seeing the beautiful scenery of Amtrak Cascades, however, as we got closer, after already being delayed due to the alarm, we were delayed again due to traffic on the tracks. We often encounter these roadblocks in life. Once we think we got things going after struggling a bit, we hit a snag that slows us down again. This cycle continues throughout our lives. Patience, persistence and planning are big keys in helping you navigate these roadblocks. Sometimes when you face these times, you just have to wait. You also have to continue to push forward as much as possible knowing that once you surpass this roadblock, you'll need to make up ground. With that comes planning, as you need to figure out how to make up for what you missed. In the end, we navigated through the day. We only got a few hours at the market, but ended up with this beautiful shot in front of the bridge. We had just enough time to enjoy the area and while some places were closed, we got to enjoy just enough of the market. Tired from the day, after a market stop, we all headed to our rooms and rested with nobody opting to go back out, but still yet, despite the delays and even a public transportation strike, we managed to do everything we could to navigate these roadblocks. 

~:[CH13 - Day 22]:~ A World We Create

 
~:[CH13 - Day 22]:~ A World We Create

On a day that usually had very little travel time was ruined when Chihuly changed their schedule on us. It ended up that we had to venture back out towards the Seattle Wheel before heading back towards the Space Needle. Regardless, despite a delay due to my misreading of the schedule, we ended up making it work without too much changing. I then proceeded to mess up the movie time as well. In the end though, I didn't allow all the struggles of the day dictate the world in which I was in today. Venturing through MoPoP is one of my favorite things to do because I love games, music and movies. To see all that can be created and often times getting a behind the scenes look at it, it ends up being a wonderful experience. We saw the special exhibit on Laika and got to witness the cool design process of their movies. Just like the creative process of music, movies, games and more, I feel like we often have the power to shape how the world in which we live is like. While we cannot always dictate how it goes, we can put ourselves in a position to have an atmosphere in which we live. Surrounding ourselves with the right people and putting ourselves in the right environment can truly help guide us to a place that we love to explore and exist in. If we are unhappy and uncomfortable, maybe we can see what we can change around us to make the world in which we live one that we create. While some of us may not have the luxury to do so, for many of us, it is within our power if we decide to step up and make those tough decision and choices to change the way in which we live. Some people like stability, but if you're not happy, what's the point of it? Shake up your life a bit from time to time in order to find a place that you feel the most comfortable. 

~:[CH13 - Day 21]:~ Our Lives of Glass

 
~:[CH13 - Day 21]:~ Our Lives of Glass

Although we got to sleep in a bit, everyone was exhausted. The sleep deprivation we had from our early flight on Saturday hit the students. Regardless, they continued to venture through their day as they hit the underground, went around Pike's Place, the gum wall and then ended up at the Chihuly Garden & Glass. We were supposed to go to the Seattle Wheel today, but Chihulu inconveniently closed on the day we originally planned on going despite selling us a ticket. We still ended up making it work out and enjoyed the exhibit before a relaxing night in the city. As I thought back to how we survived the day, I also know that there will be days where we don't fare a well. I briefly thought about how, as strong as we are, we are just like the glass being created a Chihuly, we may survive everything that comes our way, but if someone knocks us off the table, it will be difficult for us to survive. We may be strong, but there are a number of factors that can knock us off track and I hope that we all realize that when this happens, we are not alone. We have a village of people waiting to help us glue those pieces together and we don't have to feel like we always have to hold ourselves together. There are some that are more fragile than others, but I hope that we all realize that each one of us has a life similar to glass and it's okay for us to crack or even shatter. It won't always be easy and a piece of us may be missing in the end, but regardless, if we stay focused, persevere and even reach out to those around us for help, we will be able to piece our lives back together. Today, we didn't face any of that, regardless, I hope that these students know that if it does happen, they're able to piece it all back together. Whether young or old, just remember that when this happens, even if we're not the same we were before, we should be proud that we were able to pull ourselves back together to stand strong once again.

~:[CH13 - Day 20]:~ Win, Lose or Draw

 
~:[CH13 - Day 20]:~ Win, Lose or Draw

We had to wake up super early to arrive at the airport by 4:45am. I didn't make the wisest decisions to stay at last night's game until the end, as I only got about two hours of sleep, which I felt when I finally sat down at the end fo the day. Of course the day was filled with things that were wins, loses and draws. The early morning wakeup and moving our luggage to our hotel was definitely a loss. The weather was a draw (or maybe a win) as we had some blue skies before the rain. The Packers lose felt like a loss, but in reality, it was a draw as this young team defied expectations. With more experience, I am excited for what this team can do in the future. As for the wins, it's very typical to see during these trips. It is a small group, but in it, I get a chance to chat with them all, see them all and enjoy this experience. They battled the fatigue and walked to the hotel, they wandered around Chinatown and they did a great job in the escape room. In the end, our team escaped our room for the final win of the night and while I walked home a bit distraught from the Packers game, I was happy to know that we survived the first day without a hitch. In life we'll face many loses in our lives, but hopefully you can find a group (no matter what size) to be there to make your days better and to support you when the challenges in life pile up, Just like in the escape room, when we go about it alone, we may find ourselves search for clues of what to do next, but together, it seems much easier to solve the challenges of life and escape those difficult times in life, Here's to a wonderful week surviving this storm, but I know it will be possible with a solid group joining me for this journey - a definite win!

~:[CH13 - Day 19]:~ Milestones

 
~:[CH13 - Day 19]:~ Milestones

It's amazing when someone can join the rarified air of a milestone that few will ever hit in their careers. It's even better when the person is one of the most kind-hearted people you'll meet. Tonight, one of our athletes hit the 1,000 career point mark and she did it in just over two seasons. Being out last year after leading the girls to the CIF finals game, she came out and produced quality game after quality game. It was a joy to see the team celebrate with her on a day where all the teams found great success at home. While we all chase our own milestones, it's great to also appreciate those who reach theirs. We all are chasing after something and I truly hope that we all make a run at it. Whether or not you reach what you are hoping to attain, going after it is the biggest measure of whether or not we are successful. One day, I hope that you will be celebrating your own milestone, but until then, keep working hard and know that your time will come.

~:[CH13 - Day 18]:~ Stand by Your Philosophy

 
~:[CH13 - Day 18]:~ Stand by Your Philosophy

This has always been one of my favorite simulations. One of my colleagues introduced me to it and since then, I've regularly had my students participate in the philosophers' forum! It great to see them dress up and represent different ideologies as they debate back and forth on the top of government. Some get into their roles and it really leads to a fun debate and discussion. The students are often surprised by how each guest at the forum viewed government and people. This forum always makes me think about my own philosophy in life. Will my ideals be swayed by those around me? Will I stand my ground even if it means I am standing alone? Where am I willing to compromise and where am I not? Will my philosophy help me succeed or is it what is detrimental to my success? In reality, I don't really have a certain way of living. I do my best to keep a positive mindset, I like to make sure I produce quality work, and I have been working on ensuring I keep a balance between work and personal space. Sometimes it becomes challenging, especially at  work when my patience is tested, but on campus I also stand by my own set of philosophies, as I try to create students who can become independent. It's always a battle, but when I see these freshmen when they become seniors, I am often impressed at how much they've matured over time and seem prepared for the road ahead. If we all look at our own philosophies in life, think about if you are compromising too much or are you too set in your ways and see how you can adjust and adapt to allow yourself to become the most successful version of your self. As we wrapped up the forum, it was fun to see them learn to represent their philosophers even when they didn't agree with their ideas and in the end, when they're able to do that, I know that they're better prepared for the road ahead of them. 

~:[CH13 - Day 17]:~ Work Hard, Play Hard

 
~:[CH13 - Day 17]:~ Work Hard, Play Hard

The clock is counting down quicker than it should. With just a few days left before I set out, I have loads of work on my plate. Sadly, it felt like more and more kept getting added. With our philosopher's forum today, it was quite chaotic as I tried to get everything setup, while handing out sweaters, while handing back positions papers, while collecting for Security Council, and while finishing up the final paperwork for the trip. Soon, I'll be able to take a breather, but for now, it's definitely full speed ahead. Of course when you work hard, you can also play hard. I took a short break before the basketball games and had a nice lunch. We always hit the same spot as we scarfed down loads of food and capped it off with boba. I ventured to the gym to watch our teams "play" hard as they faced up against some tougher competitions The girls JV team broke away, the girls varsity team came back from a deficit and the boys team opened up a solid lead. With all the chaos, I accidentally gave my brother the wrong DVD and thus, we didn't have the altered starting lineup even though I had worked on it all night (sad). Regardless, I was just happy that we ended up winning and we ended up in good spirits with the sweep at home. I felt like I had a bit more piled on me today, but still yet, I know I will be able to wrap up my grading, finish off a few more tasks, and finally pack my bags for our next MUN conference. The countdown continues! 

~:[CH13 - Day 16]:~ Loyalty

 
~:[CH13 - Day 16]:~ Loyalty

Whenever I drive home and Max is outside, he starts running towards my house. I have built a nice relationship with this cute little booger as I've trained him to do a few tricks over time. He knows the routine and does what needs to in order to get the reward. With all the dogs I have had, I really appreciated the loyalty they had. They often say that a dog is a man's best friend and I definitely think it's true. Maybe it's just because we are their source of food and treat them well, but all of my dogs have been incredible and I've loved them dearly. While Max is not my dog, living next door, I get to greet him fairly often. I hope that for all of us, we get to experience the joys of a pet. I'm sure other pets are the same way and in our lives, they become something that can heal us after a bad day. Sure at times they can terrorize us when they won't be quiet, they tear something up around the house or leave a nice little surprise, but regardless, your heart definitely belongs to them and theirs to you. Love them dearly. Today, I was overjoyed to be able to have a moment with Max and it definitely uplifted me during a crazy busy and stressful day. What amazing stories do you have with your pet?

~:[CH13 - Day 15]:~ Errors

 
~:[CH13 - Day 15]:~ Errors

When it rains, it pours. They often say, when one thing goes wrong, all goes wrong. Well, it actually wasn't too bad of a day, but there were definitely frustrations that would have made the day go smoother. I was waiting all day to schedule my visit to the reopening of TeamLab Borderless. For those who visited a TeamLab that was not Borderless, you be amazed at how much better it is than TeamLab Planets or the others. They're all amazing. I've actually seen their installations in Korea, Shanghai, Kansai, Seattle and more, but Borderless was a long maze through a number of amazing works. With so many requested slots, my requests (even when fulfilled) errored out time after time. It was frustrating and even more so because I went on a few hours later and easily locked in my slots. This and that didn't quite go as planned, my computer froze up a few times, and I didn't make as much progress as I wanted. Regardless, at the end of the day, I had what I need, accomplished what I had planned and enjoyed two delicious homecooked meals, one by me and one by my parents. Life will be full of errors, but when you center your day around it, the errors will suck the life out of you. For me, things worked out in the end, but even when they don't, tread carefully and avoid the pitfall created by that error so that your journey back is not as troubling. At the end of the day, I finished up with over 20 errors, but not one of them was able to drag me down. I hope that you don't allow the errors in you life take you down either. 

~:[CH13 - Day 14]:~ Cravings Satisfied

 

~:[CH13 - Day 14]:~ Cravings Satisfied

A Clipper victory was the only thing that kept today from allowing me to be completely satisfied. Originally, I mistakenly planned on watching games on Saturday and then going to an event I was invited to today, however, I mixed up the days. Thus, I ended up working at home on both days. The good thing is, I made a lot of progress in the process, however, I ended up missing out on a few opportunities to shoot this weekend. Regardless, I stayed in the warmth of my home, worked and popped out to watch the game from time to time, surprised by how the game was going. Such a young team played as if they had nothing to lose and that allowed them to ultimately dominate the game. Throughout the day, I was thinking of cooking up Chicken Parmesan for dinner, but as it turns out, my mother had planned on making tonkatsu today, which ended up satisfying that craving. It's always incredible when you're on the save wavelength as others and it satisfies what you were hoping for. While it wasn't exactly the same, it definitely matched up with the type of food I was hoping to eat today. In life, sometimes what we chase after is sometimes satisfied through our planning and hard work, while at other times, through luck. Of course, we can become more lucky, the more we plan and work at it. While today, I didn't work hard to satisfied what I was craving to eat (all luck), the Packers showed that all the hard work and effort they've put in thus far, have allowed them to satisfy one of their goals. Instead of simply hoping luck is on our side, let's plan and force the hand of luck to give us better odds as we chase after everything we hope to accomplish; a greater chance at our cravings being satisfied.

~:[CH13 - Day 13]:~ Non-formulaic

 
~:[CH13 - Day 13]:~ Non-formulaic

Is there a formula for finding success? Is there a formula for love? Is there a formula for anything? In school we learn about formulas and the like, but the reality is, to life itself, there is no formula. You can't follow a particular training plan, study plan, or relationship plan, it requires adjustments, adaptation, and compromises. Life is something that we can't follow a formula, even if we are doing the same thing we've done before, the same approach may not always work. To our friends and family, we may always surprise them with the same cake for their birthday, but what if their preferences changed and they just didn't tell you? During training, you face and injury or setback or you surprisingly have a breakthrough, the same training plan may not be the most effective. In all things, even things that are routine, there isn't a formula to success. I often am asked, how did you do it? Even if I told somebody, the way I accomplished something, is not the same way that you'll find success. Our mold for success must be created by ourselves. Sure we can get input from others, but when we try to follow their plan step-by-step, we'll often find ourselves disappointed. Even with something like cooking, we each have different stovetops, pans and even brands of seasoning. I thought of all this because of a recent event in PoGo. There is a particular Pokemon that evolves differently at different types of the day. Even though just based on that, there are four evolutions (including the shiny variant), there still also another evolution that is not so formulaic as it's fairly random and non-formulaic, much like how our lives our. Yes, we can follow the formulas that exist around us on how other people have found success, but ultimately, I hope we all can find our own formula to help find the answer to all that you're trying to find and achieve. Proceed with open eyes, ears and minds, but also make sure that you find the path that has the right formula to help solve the equations in your life. 

~:[CH13 - Day 12]:~ My Source of Comfort

 

~:[CH13 - Day 12]:~ My Source of Comfort

I started journaling awhile back. There was not really a purpose behind starting it out, but as time has gone on, it has transformed into something that is healing. Whether a day is good or bad, I allow myself to express my thoughts on a given day. Sure, some stretches get busy or maybe there isn't much going on, but I think for all of us, we're thinking about something. Instead of bottling everything up, I've been able to express myself daily, allowing any anger or frustrations to be expressed, reflecting on a given day or celebrating the victories I've encountered. At the end of the year or years down the line, it's become my own history, as I've actually physically archived all of these journals. It's fun to see how this projected has transformed over the years and I always wonder how many eyes and ears these journals are reaching. These journals are my own reflects and my own way of finding comfort at the end of the day, but I guess it's only human to wonder who else is following this journey along with me. I am fairly a private person which might sound contradictory when someone shares a daily public journal, however, I think I found a balance between limiting the details, yet still being able to share my thoughts with anyone who wants to take the time to listen. Whether it's expressing something I've experienced directly, something I've witnesses, or just a thought I wanted to share, I hope that at least a single one of these journals has reached out to you and hopefully even helped you find some direction along the way. For me, it's often kept me on track when things could have easily gone astray, as I gather my thoughts and really think deeply about the meaning and purpose of everything I experience in a given day. I wonder what the next 365, scratch that, the next 353 days of 2024 will bring, but the one thing that these days will bring and that's my source of comfort at the end of an exhausting, thrilling, or just average day.

What entry do you remember from any of the chapters of this journey?

~:[CH13 - Day 11]:~ Resilience

 
~:[CH13 - Day 11]:~ Resilience

We ran to Brookhaven today and I saw this dandelion. Earlier in the day I saw one outside my door and wanted to take a photo of it, but they mowed the grass and it was gone. Dandelions are interesting because of how they draw people to them, but at the same time, they easily breakdown, but this particular one stood its ground and survived, at least for now. However, as I sat down and had a conversation this evening with someone, we talked about the challenges of life and the emotional strain it has. We often see that standing strong and being resilient is the key, but sometimes when we bottle it all in to look strong, we end up imploding, as we erode from the inside. I know many are facing emotional stress after a chaotic time and I know that we all want to be strong, but we also have to be real. We have to understand that others around us are ready to help, but also ready to relate, as they too are also looking for someone that is also going through what they are. Many times, you don't even see the struggle that people are going through even though they seem to be the one who is the most resilient. As I thought about the dandelion, I also thought of it another way, instead of being the one to stand strong alone, the one that looks like it's been overtaken is actually the one that will grow the most over time. Much like the pappus (florets) of the dandelion, when we allow ourselves to grow and spread ourselves by reaching out to others, we start the process of new growth. Instead of being destroyed, the dandelion is actually making way for a new cluster of dandelions to sprout strong and resilient. 

~:[CH13 - Day 10]:~ Practice Makes Perfect

 
~:[CH13 - Day 10]:~ Practice Makes Perfect

I really emphasize the importance of the night sessions in preparation for Nationals. The students accepted to the team spend a few nights before the conference at school, practicing and preparing. Yes, we are still over eight weeks away from the conference, still yet, the process begins now. We tend to get a number of students who are good at procrastinating. Yes, they are incredible, but when it comes down to some of our trainings, they find it difficult to succeed. Why? As talented or knowledgeable as you may be, you need the opportunity to run through the things you aim to be good at . For these students, I am trying to help them learn how to prepare themselves and help them understand just how much work is required to move to the higher tiers of performance. Many might thing that simply research and studying that research will help you improve, however, it's also the practice that's going to bring on success. As the students' nerves raged a bit, I was excited to see how much they cared about improving and doing well. Its a long process and with a few months to go still, we have the time to practice and I just hope that these students see what they need to do and step up to exceed what is expected of them. Tonight some people excelled and other struggled, but for either, I know that the possibility of success for them is high if they really put their mind to it. Let's practice at what we hope to achieve so that we can find our way to perfection in the end. 

~:[CH13 - Day 9]:~ Let's Get Started

 
~:[CH13 - Day 9]:~ Let's Get Started

It's been a little tough to adjust, so I thought easing into the season would be best for all of us. I selected a few days to be our training days for the week. It was great to be able to get started and see a fairly large group show up for the first day of practice. The weather was a little chilly and you could sense the struggle within athletes as they began to get back into shape. For all of us, getting back into things is exactly the toughest obstacle. It's not easy to get started, but once you do, things tend to get easier and flow better. I know today it will be a struggle, but down the road, this process will be routine for them. For all those who have been thinking, "I want to, but ..." Get up right now and get the process started. Especially initially, there will be may tough moments and ones where you'll just want to give up, but stating it up is half the battle and will help you overcome these moments. So put aisde those excuses and let's get started on all those things you've been wanting to do and go after all those goals you wanted to accomplish.

~:[CH13 - Day 8]:~ Laugh, Love & Live

 
~:[CH13 - Day 8]:~ Laugh, Love & Live

There were a lot of tired looks from students as they arrive back into the classroom, but there were also smiles and laughter flowing from it as well. As school got off to a new start, it was nice to actually try and get back into a routine. While there is still a lot to get used to, I provided an easy transition into the school year for both me and the students. Of course, we will be hitting the ground running, as track is starting up, prep for Nationals is coming and we'll be headed off to Vancouver fairly soon. Add basketball season and the upcoming MUN whirlwind and you know it will be a tough road ahead. Still yet, one thing in life that we need to do is learn to laugh, to love and simply to live each day to the fullest. While we may be tired of working, we can be glad that we have a job. While we may have faced heartache or lost a loved one, we can be glad we've had the chance to love. While the craziness of the world may be a heavy weight on our shoulders, I hope that we find an opportunity to smile and to laugh, creating beautiful music in this wonderful world around us. Life is not easy, the road is difficult and days will sometimes feel like the first day back from a long break, but we can also look at it another way, we're able to enjoy this beautiful day and have a chance to laugh, love and to live. 

~:[CH13 - Day 7]:~ Gotta Love This

 
~:[CH13 - Day 7]:~ Gotta Love This

It didn't look too good early on. The team that started 2-5, then 3-6 is headed to the playoffs. The team never gave up. They're the youngest team in the NFL this year and I believe the youngest to every make the playoffs. Because of it, they made mistakes they shouldn't have, the blew a few games, with five of their losses coming by four points or less. However, they didn't fall apart, they worked on improving and found a way to win. They faltered when they were making progress, losing to two teams with losing records, before getting back on track to take the final playoff berth. Whether or not they win in the playoffs, in all my years as a Packers fan, I've enjoyed see how much this team has grown. Everyone counted them out even before the season began, but they showed that you should never count yourself out. Even for those who are less experienced and even when it looks like there is no hope, you can't give up, you need to keep pushing forward and give yourself an opportunity and even when you know you can't reach your goal, still yet, you can keep pushing forward, as there are still lessons to be learned and room to grow. For all of us, I hope that we can understand that even when everyone else counts you out, you still need to believe in yourself, as you never know what you're capable of. I think that everyone loves a true underdog story and simply making it to the playoffs, they showed us to never count anyone out. If they can do it, why can't we? When you find a way, it's definitely an unmatched feeling; one that you gotta love. 

~:[CH13 - Day 6]:~ Express Yourself

 
~:[CH13 - Day 6]:~ Express Yourself

It was my last day of sleeping in. I will wake up at a normal time tomorrow after my "break-like" schedule. I actually don't like the feeling of the unproductivity, but it also feels nice to not have too much to worry about. I took care of what I needed to do quickly as I found out we would have guest later in the evening. It's always a bit tiring at the end of the night when they come, but I will definitely enjoy spending these moments with them. I am often away when they come over, so it definitely is a blessing to be at home when they do stop by. I love to watch them show their creative side through drawing, coloring, but also just expressing themselves. While sometimes they're too energetic and a little crazy, it's definitely fun to see them be themselves. I often wonder, when we become adults, do we still continue to find ways to express ourselves? Do we have an outlet where we can let out our true emotions? Writing poetry and lyrics has always been one of my outlets, but I am guessing photography and this blog also allow me to express myself. In a world where sometimes social media can isolate us, maybe we can find more opportunities and ways to express ourselves to truly allow ourselves to be avoid being bottled up. 

~:[CH13 - Day 5]:~ Waiting for the Opportunity

 
~:[CH13 - Day 5]:~ Waiting for the Opportunity

I think sports teaches us a lot about life. I think most people watch professional sports and sometimes think that it will be easy to achieve something so great. "I can do that," you might hear someone say or "why can't they ..." It's easy to speak on it, but when you find yourself out there, you realize just how much work and effort it will take. Some think the results will come if you just work hard and others may hope for quick results, but in reality, sometimes you put in all the work and effort and nothing comes to fruition. It can be frustrating, but the reality is, what can you do? Life is a grind and anything you do will take time, effort and perseverance. There will be many days where you'll want to toss your hands up in the air and quit, while others where you find yourself with just a morsel of success, which gives you the craving of wanting more. The opportunities for some will be greater than others, but for all of us, we have to wait for that opportunity. Tonight, I was happy to see a number of athletes take that opportunity. One after another, I saw athletes step in and step up and those who may not always be the one taking the key shot in the game, stepped up, took the shot and with this opportunity, they turned it into a memory they'll cherish. It was definitely a hard-fought victory tonight. I know this team has been working hard to get this W and the past few opportunities, they fell short. While in sports, you often depend on your key players to take you to victory, I think we've seen all too often, that those few athletes can't always match up when you have a full team effort. Tonight, we had so many step up, that it made our team difficult to defend, as with every opportunity, another person took advantage of it. Sure, it may not always work out to be this way, but that's also the reason why we must stay determined, focused and perseverance. I love looking at this photos because in his eyes, you see that focus and determination. I almost feel like he willed that ball into the hoop, a basket that would help propel this team to the victory and allow this fine young man the opportunity to step into the spotlight. That spotlight isn't gained by simply having the title, but by putting in the effort and taking advantage of the opportunity when it comes. I hope we all can persevere in whatever we are hoping to accomplish and even if it doesn't work out in the end, I know that through the process, we will become better people because of it. 

~:[CH13 - Day 4]:~ Jason Dreams of Sushi

 
~:[CH13 - Day 4]:~ Jason Dreams of Sushi

Eating sashimi in Japan is always a must. The freshest fish, the best cuts and the like lead to some of the best tasting meals you'll have. I was lucky enough to eat at Jiro's son's restaurant back in the day, one of the best dining experiences in my life. Although I am home, it's always nice to eat after a day at the Japanese market. The collection of goodies gathered in a trip will satisfy that craving. With a chaotic run up to the new year, we postponed our new years meals until this week. It was great to finally eat all the goodies I was missing on new year's eve, as we always have a traditional spread of food to ring in the new year. It felt a little strange to have it so late, but still  yet, glad to still celebrate over a great meal. As I spent most of the day working on a few upcoming deadlines, I definitely smiled as I enjoyed the delicious food and soaked in one of my last few relaxing days before returning to my hectic lifestyle. I luckily slept in once again today, but even after I woke up, I still felt as if I was in a dream, blessed with all this delicious food. What are the foods that take you to a dream-like state?

~:[CH13 - Day 3]:~ Cleaning in a Digital World

 
~:[CH13 - Day 3]:~ Cleaning in a Digital World

It would be easy to confuse my time behind the screen as wasting time, but in this digital age, cleaning is not relegated to picking up around the house, vacuuming and the like. As I sat down, I knew the task at hand would be more daunting than cleaning around the house (without the dust). After the fiasco of losing years of my photos with friends and families, I slowly recovered some of the albums I had backed up awhile back to at least rebuild some of the memories I have saved over the years. I got quoted over $3,000 to do the recovery of the drive, so it might be awhile before I get to see those photos and videos again (if at all). I went from drive to drive, album to album and file to file. Some documents, some designs, as well as a chunk of photos and videos. Just like you do when you clean, you stop and you check out some of these old memories. I guess at times it can be more enjoyable as you click on a video and have a more vivid memory of these moments of the past. All-in-all, I ended up editing a few albums, organizing hundreds of albums and sorting thousands of files, still yet, I am far from done. I'll still be seeing what more I can recover from the lost drive and also trying to organize my files so that they can easily be accessible. As I wrapped up, I triple checked that my files were being backed up properly and then snapped a filtered photo, which couldn't help look like a zombie who's been staring at the screen all day. Aside from checking the mail, I didn't step outside, stepping away only to cook dinner and clean up a bit more around my room. The time has flown by and as I look at what I've accomplished, I am a little disappointed, but still yet, I think down the road as I am searching for "that" file, I will be grateful that I took a few days to clean in this digital world. How organized are your digital files? 

~:[CH13 - Day 2]:~ The Beautiful Flour

 
~:[CH13 - Day 2]:~ The Beautiful Flour

When you think of something beautiful, you may think of people, you may think of moments, and also of nature, such a flower, but would frying chicken for dinner be something you consider beautiful? The culinary arts is definitely seen as a art, but would your daily grind in the kitchen also be beautiful. I am not talking about dressing up a dish to make it look appealing, rather simply a normal homecooked meal. I looked inside the fridge today and saw a few pieces of chicken I had yet to use. With the freeze by date coming up, I decided to fry it up. I ended up with a dish that was beautiful It made me think back to the fried chicken my mom would make as I seasoned the flower and placed the chicken in it after coating it with an egg. As it fried, I thought about the many memories I had growing up as I ate piece after piece, sometimes burning my mouth and other times, taking a bag of it straight from the fridge and eating it cold, which was still delicious. As we roll into the second day of the new year, I hope that we don't just take what is fancy and seen as exceptional in society's eyes as beautiful, but rather see the moments that may seem mundane as moments of such beauty. When I am old and grey and look back on my life, these will be some of the most beautiful moments as I remember the love of my mother or other loved ones through simple acts that were much more beautiful than they seemed. In these first few days of the year, there have been lives lost or drastically changed and so I hope that we can see just how precious these moments are. As I moved my last piece of chicken to the frying pan, I cleaned up my mess and waited until the moment became the right shade of golden brown. I didn't ask my parents how it tasted, but I hope that in turn, in these moments they will see something beautiful in the flour. 

~:[CH13 - Day 1]:~ The Continuation

 
~:[CH13 - Day 1]:~ The Continuation 

The first is often seen as a clean slate. Year after year I write about how I try to avoid resolutions, rather continue what I've been working on. It's definitely an opportunity to turn over a new leaf, but changing over time is much more healthy for our own personal growth. Much like we develop skills over time, we slowly see progress and change, much like my nephew whose drawing skills have definitely improved. While there was much more that I wanted to do on the first day of this new year, I avoided the resolutions once again and looked at what I wanted to continue working on as I move into 2024. We all have our own approaches, but whatever we choose to do today or for the rest of our lives, I hope that we push ourselves to be committed to achieving what we hope for. At times, moments may seem hopeless, life may seem unfair or it may seem like the world is working against you, but you have the ability to achieve what you hope for. On a day filled with so much pain and struggles as I read story after story about the earthquake in Japan, I also thought of these moments we face in each of our lives. Sadly there were lives lost, but for those who are survivors, I am confident that they will find the strength the rebuild and face these difficult times head on. Just like they'll need others to reach out and help them in these times in need, I hope that in 2024 and beyond, we can continue supporting each other so that we can face our own challenges in our life head on. Recovery, development, and change will not happen overnight, but if we are patient, determined and show some grit in these challenging times, I know we can persevere. Sending my prayers to those in Japan and wishing everyone a 2024 where we can learn, grown and most importantly overcome all the obstacles that come our way.