~:[CH13 - Day 182]:~ Runs in the Family

 
~:[CH13 - Day 182]:~ Runs in the Family

I headed to my cousins game and found out that it started early. I still was able to enjoy the second half of the game and watch her play in her college game. It made me think, it must run in the family. I ended up eating with them after and my other cousin ordered the same thing my dad would have ordered. They said it was his go to. You don't often think about it, but even when thousands of miles apart, maybe our blood definitely connects us in some ways. In reality, it's probably just coincidence and a long chain of events, but let's just say, it runs in the family.  Despite the rain, I enjoyed one of my final shoots and a fun night out with a friend. We practiced Japanese and English as we ate, of course, it was a little bittersweet knowing that my timr here is coming to an end. For both friends and family, it was a joy, but I guess oir time will come again!

~:[CH13 - Day 181]:~ Circles Connected

 

~:[CH13 - Day 181]:~ Circles Connected

I met with my fellow JW (Junya) at his gallery in Omotesando and ran some errands before heading to the Volcom event. The space at Volcom was different than I had imagined and it would have been great to have my wide-angle lens, however, I figured it out. I was pleased to see how the circles within the community connected. I guess it's the same with any group, however, the younger generations are often connected to the older circles through the current. While they were celebrating Noa Deane and the wonderful films, it felt like multiple circles link together under one roof. For any community, finding the glue to connect all the circles is the key to success.  You may make progress focusing on the current and present, but without linking all the circles together, it's almost impossible to build a strong community. Today, I saw those circles linking and I could sense the strength of the community. I only hope it is something that can be built in most areas that I work with. Without it, these linked circles, the foundation will not be as strong as they could be.

~:[CH13 - Day 180]:~ Rain Makes Me Shutter

 
~:[CH13 - Day 180]:~ Rain Makes Me Shutter

It was scheduled to rain all day and my schedule was clear, which meant wrapping up all the final work I had on slate. Of course, it also meant, photo time. I always make a trek out when it's raining to take photos as the opportunities for a great shot are higher. I didn't get the money shot, but enjoyed shooting. I actually ended up walking into a game shop, so my photo time was limited since I ended with an unexpected number of prizes. I guess sometimes endless wandering can guide you to something unplanned and unexpected and while it may not always be pleasant, there is a great chance it can be. In the end, I wasn't too drenched and warmed up with shabu shabu with my friend as we listened to the rain falling outside. My time here is becoming shorter, but it's allowing me to truly appreciate the slower pace of this week as I wrap everything up.

~:[CH13 - Day 179]:~ The Value of Our Past

 
~:[CH13 - Day 179]:~ The Value of Our Past

I made a trek out to Hakone with a friend. We had planned to do this earlier, but our schedules aligned today. The trains were packed, but little by little, the crowds dispersed and we were able to enjoy our little trek in the area.  As we wandered, we came across these old swan boats and I thought to myself, is this like our memories? These boats may not have a use, so why not toss them? For each of us, we value things differently. A card or gift, a letter or some object get save or kept depending on the person. I tend to keep most things as when I look at them, their value increases as the memories of the past grow. It was great to walk around a different environment and I know that this picture will be one of the many keepsakes I have reminding me of how valuable the time this day we spent together was, much like I do with many other moments of my life.

~:[CH13 - Day 178]:~ Get Yourself Out There

 

~:[CH13 - Day 178]:~ Get Yourself Out There

I was supposed to go out and explore an area today, but my body kept saying no. It's been a packed few weeks, so I decided to work on my backlog of images, which allowed me to finish up what I had to do. Of course, even when I have work to do, I never allow myself to spend an entire day in, so I headed out to explore during the night. I had a great meal and even caught a few street performances. One caught my attention as it was a cover of a song I knew. Regardless, I was happy to stroll around as I thought about the confines of life. As I looked up around me, I realized how constrained our lives can be if we lock ourselves inside. If we never put ourselves out there, we limit our own growth and potential. We may never become the best singer in the industry or even step on a big stage, but if you love to perform, then put yourself out there. I often hear, be the best at what you do, but I think it's wrong in some senses. You don't have to be the best, you just have to do your bst to out yourself out there and give it a shot. Sure, you may achieve that top tier goal that you dream of, but don't allow the fear of not getting there hold you back from giving it a shot. Break free from the confines of where you are, in order to see where you potentially can be. Allow yourself to pursue what you want, not worrying how successful you'll be, but rather seeing that getting yourself out there is success in itself.

~:[CH13 - Day 177]:~ The Express Route

~:[CH13 - Day 177]:~ The Express Route

I took a red-eye back to Tokyo and landed in the afternoon. Sadly, I landed in Narita, which is a pain to transfer into the city from. I actually tried all three routes back into Shinjuku, today I took the express train.  I joked how when I recorded this, the other trains overtook our train. In fact, it took me longer to get back than if I selected the middle option and possibly the slowest option, mainly because of departure time, but of course, comfort was definitely better on the express, albeit more expensive. In life, I guess it can be comparable. We all move at different speeds. Some may be on the express train, because they can afford it or don't have time to wait. To be honest, sometimes those who take the slower train may face discomforts or challenges along the way, but that may result in them realizing that although it took more time, they saved along the way. Time = money, but sometimes saving money is worth the time it takes. Don't always assume the fastest route is best because sometimes you'll look out the window and realize that there were better options. As I arrived back, I had a nice dinner before meeting up with a friend as we looked over photographs from the past few weeks. I realized how quickly time has gone by, still yet, I've soaked up so many lessons and memories along the way during this journey. I've taken the express and the slowest routes, but I realized is that there is no one right way to travel in life, you just have to pick what's right for you given your circumstances.  

~:[CH13 - Day 176]:~ The Spark

~:[CH13 - Day 176]:~ The Spark

I was stressing out a bit as I looked at my battery pack and I was down to two bars. With the concert still to go, I knew I'd be down to one bar by night's end. The charger held up well, but I knew I was in trouble when there was no USB plug and I left the plug to my charger back in Japan. Luckily, I woke up early and found a plug and was able to charge everything right back up. While in this case it was a plug, people do the same. It's always a joy to come to Bangkok to visit my friends at the Sixth Cafe. It was a blessing that I walked in here years ago and I still maintain our friendship until this day. I love the food, but just seeing them is the spark to my day, which powers me through. They always put everything down to show me a good time. I feel bad, but also am appreciative of their hospitality. One of the things I look forward to during the year is this trip and this is the reason why! What provides that spark in your life?

If you ever are going to visit Wat Arun, stop by their cafe (weekdays) and grab a quick bite or drink. 

 

~:[CH13 - Day 175]:~ Building Community

 
~:[CH13 - Day 175]:~ Building Community

After attending my events in Tokyo, I rejoined AG in Bangkok. I landed, checked in, then headed to the venue. It's strange how over the course of a single year, I've built a small community among the AG fans, growing with each concert. Of course, I have connections in the US, but also in Canada, Korea, Japan, Thailand, Portugal and more. It's quite fascinating and fun! I ended up going to the concert with my friend's friend and we enjoyed a dinner in the lively Chinatown area before calling it a night. I enjoyed the view from my balcony which overlooked IconSiam. As I did, I thought of the wonderful experience from tonight's concert and only hope that another great concert is forthcoming someday. We said our goodbyes and promised to reconnect again, but for now, we'll have to stay connected in the digital space. Until next time ...

~:[CH13 - Day 174]:~ On Track

 

~:[CH13 - Day 174]:~ On Track

It was quite the productive day. For most of the day, I enjoyed watching the trains go by. Both of my event locations today were along the tracks and thus, during my breaks, I was able to take photos or it back and enjoy the passing trains. The work I did passed by just like the passing trains, smoothly and efficiently.  I ended up producing some great work and ended the day with a nice chat with my friend before heading to the airport.  As while I know I will be exhausted in the morning, at least I know that at least for today, I was on track. In many cases, sometimes work can be overwhelming, but I guess when you're enjoying what you do, it just seems to fly by, sometimes too quickly. Hopefully our lives proceed smoothly on track and avoid all those delays that try to throw a wrench in our plans. As while we can't always avoid them, we can hope that there are many more days like these - on track.

~:[CH13 - Day 173]:~ Blue Haze

 

~:[CH13 - Day 173]:~ Blue Haze

There always seems to be a bluish haze to the photos of Junya. As I spent the morning planning, avoiding the rain outside, I felt overcome by the blue haze around me. Feeling blue is often association with a sadness or weight while the haze is a feeling of disorientation. However, in these photos, there is a bit of calmness including in a few shots where the composition is anything but. I was proud to be able to enjoy these beautiful pieces as I closed out a fairly uneventful day. I finally tried out KFC in Japan, picking it over a yakiniku spot and I'm not regretting it one bit. While we may face days where we are in a bit of a haze or feeling blue, zoom out a bit, because you either may find something that is beautiful or it may help you realize that you are not alone in this world and together we can make our way through some of these challenging times. As I looked around the rest of the gallery, I was excited for this project and look forward to celebrating this moment with my fellow JW / Watanabe "brother" in Japan. 

~:[CH13 - Day 172]:~ By Plan & By Chance

 
~:[CH13 - Day 172]:~ By Plan & By Chance

I'm a planner, however, I do not mind wandering to see what happens. With such a tight schedule, I had to plot I out my days, but still didn't mean things didn't happen by chance. With my flight being later that night, I planned to meet my friend and Korean tutor near my hotel and was able to also see an alum before then. Just the day before, I was talking about how I didn't run into anyone on this trip so far. The day before (right after that conversation), I did and this morning, I did again. It's always a fun adventure when this happens, even more so when they live closer to you and you never see them at home. Regardless, it was fun and so was the last stretch in Seoul. On the way home, I barely made the last train to Shinjuku, but I made it as I watched numerous people sprint as the gates were closing or some giving up altogether as they sat down on the side of the street. Whether by plan or by chance, I hope everything in your life works out for the best.

~:[CH13 - Day 171]:~ Music Unites All

 
~:[CH13 - Day 171]:~ Music Unites All

I was a little worried as I got a heat wave warning early in the morning. It would hit 95F with humidity. Despite the heat, I was able to find a cool spot and lounge out. That's when I heard, "Jason!" Someone recognized me from a previous show and it was great to reconnect. They coordinated and event so it was fun to be in the center of it all. In the end, it was fun to connect with people around the world uniting with one language - music. It was enjoyable being surrounded with such enthusiastic fans despite my ears thinking otherwise. As I headed out, I said my goodbyes as my phone shut off since the battery died. Luckily, I knew the route home and could enjoy the memory of our worlds united. When my phone charged and I began uploading the photos, I was once again reconnected with those I had met, as we shared memories of a night we'll remember for a long time coming.

~:[CH13 - Day 170]:~ Ditching the Storm

 

~:[CH13 - Day 170]:~ Ditching the Storm

As I headed out of Tokyo, the storm came rolling in. I was lucky to have great timing and the ability to leave. It made me think of the thought of priviledge which soon connected to a discussion I had later that evening. As we caught up over tea, we discussed the opportunities we had that others may not. Do we soak up these opportunities? Should there be guilt when we do? Whenever you watch an "end-of-the-world" movie, those whonare priviledged seem to have the best opportunity to survive while those who aren't have to face the storm. Does facing the storm make us stronger or does privilege win out? Our conversation left me with the simple thought of appreciating the opportunities we have and lend a hand when we are able. As in the movies, the privileged leave and don't look back, we can write out own stories when we have a chance to leave the storm behind. I was glad to find blue skies when I arrived and even happier to be able to be priviledged enough to reconnect in a place so far away. It's something I won't take for granted.

~:[CH13 - Day 169]:~ Just Chill

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 169]:~ Just Chill

I haven't had a single day where most of my day was chill. Even today, I had a quick shoot later in the evening. However, the entire morning was blocked, dedicated to laundry. There's no way that I could pack enough clothes for the trip, so I always try to plan around a laundry day halfway through. This year, it fell perfectly between two off-site journeys. Of course, my hesd must have been a little mad as I accidentally dried my clothes first, however, the machine doesn't allow you to stop once it starts, so I waited. It was nice to not have to worry about my next schedule as I wandered around, ate, relaxed, then put away my laundry when done. Even during the most important of stretches, don't forget to hit the spin cycle, kick back and just chill, as we all need a refresher so we can be ready for what's ahead. I spent the evening with my friend after work, as I felt ready for the busy days ahead.

~:[CH13 - Day 168]:~ Life with a View

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 168]:~ Life with a View

You don't always get a view like this, so when you do, soak it up. We headed over to Shiga to explore the area including Lake Biwa and I got to eat lunch near the lake. It was a wonderful view and it was a perfect day to enjoy it. It was one of those days were Inwas gifted this view and a wonderful day, thus I soaked it up and made the most of it. I was a bit sad that today would be my last day in Nara. Catching up is something I am always grateful for, however, saying goodbye never gets easier. I left from the local station and transfered to the shinkansen. I must be a pro at this, as I quickly navigated there and was sitting in the train heading towards Tokyo. I appreciated the fact that I had these wonderful memories and despite the long trek, I enjoyed it, knowing how precious the moments we had together were. I may long for another day like this, a life with this view, however, for now, I'll appreciate that I even had this chance. 

~:[CH13 - Day 167]:~ Following an Illuminated Path

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 167]:~ Following an Illuminated Path

As we walked along the lighted path heading into TeamLab Osaka, I already had pleasantly enjoyed the day. Earlier we had completed our annual bowling outing, them we stuffed ourselves to a wonderfully delicious meal just before they closed for lunch, and then headed to Osaka. After enjoying a beautiful art exhibition, we headed towards Nagai, We were pleasantly surprised to see a sea of pink as we were looking for something to do and their was a packed crowd around the stadium for the Cerezo Osaka game. It was incredible to see the spirit that I normally witness as a Japanese baseball game in soccer form. They faced an energetic crowd in the Urawa Reds. I loved see how the visiting crowd had such a following as well. We ventured along realizing there was also a regional track and field competition as we ran into one of the coaches that we knew. It was definitely interesting to see how things went and enjoyed a quick sit down before we parted ways. I was a little worried as a storm briefly rolled through the area, but was happy that it didn't last long so we can enjoy the beautiful illuminations of the botanical gardens. We ended with a solid dinner, which left me completely and utterly full, but the same goes for my joy and appreciation. It was overflowing. Life will sometimes leave you in darkness, but remember that in your darkness moments, the lights that will illuminate your path will be much brighter. Do your best to survive through those moments so that when moments like today arrive, you can soak in all the wonderful moments that will become even brighter in the darkness. Trust that life will guide you to where you need to be, just be patient, stay strong, and find that illuminated path that is awaiting you. 

~:[CH13 - Day 166]:~ A Grand Welcoming

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 166]:~ A Grand Welcoming

I learned my lessons from last year as I put my bag in the coin locker then headed to Kindai. It always seems like it's the hottest day of the year when I venture here as the 1.6km walk from the station is grueling. It was nice knowing where I was headed this time as I calmly walked into the classroom rather than struggling when I walked into the door. While I have to make sure to choose the write words to describe everything to these students, even discussing complex issues related to the United Nations still seems to get through to them. We started off with a fun topic of talking about ramen. Instead of just saying, "I like ramen," we tried to expand it so they could describe in more detail. It was fun to see them work towards trying to find the write words and vocabulary to use. In the end, it was a great group of students to work with and I truly enjoyed helping them prepare for their upcoming conference, I only hope that I helped them in some way. With a tight schedule, I decided to cancel one of my plans and head to my next location as I took some time to shower and relax a bit before heading out for a reunion meal. Overall, I truly appreciated the grand welcoming by all, as everyone has left such a great impression on me through this wonderful journey. 

~:[CH13 - Day 165]:~ Survival

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 165]:~ Survival

I heard a comment from a little boys saying how the mom was eating all the food. He kept telling the baby not to let his mom take the food. The reality is, in this world, the sooner we can learn to fend for ourselves, the stronger we will become when we are older. Sure, it's great to be provided for and taken care of, but learning to survive is a trait that is key when it comes to the road ahead. I often try to encourage parents to have their students be the one to contact me and take care of various situations, as it will teach them the independence they need to survive. It was enjoyable to watch the monkeys play around, especially this cute one who left his mother's protective arms and began to play on the barrier. There were definitely some interesting encounters at the park as they all protected their own territory, yet there were still some who were as playful as every, not worrying about a thing. At some point, these young ones will become those adults protecting their territory and their kin, but for now, they can slowly learn the things they need to in order to prepare for that day. Much like my students, this process takes time, but the earlier they start, the better off they'll be. I left the peace of Arashiyama just as the tourists began to roll in and headed down to Osaka to prep for my lecture. It was a nice little getaway, but I am ready to head back into the city, venturing on to the next adventure ahead. 

~:[CH13 - Day 164]:~ Time to Reflect

 

~:[CH13 - Day 164]:~ Time to Reflect

Arashiyama is a place that has been overcome by tourists. Still yet, I like to stay overnight and enjoy the serene beauty of the area after theybleave and before they return.  It's always at a midpoint of this journey and a good getaway from the city life. While I tend to get a special souvenir (mosquito bite) everytime I visit, it still has become my mecca to relax and reflect a little bit before picking the pace back up. While tomorrow I will have to navigate through the crowds of people swarming into the area, I will have had this momentary tranquility. Where is a place you find that escape?

~:[CH13 - Day 163]:~ Precision

 
 ~:[CH13 - Day 163]:~ Precision

I took a train early in the morning to reach Niigata. Due to a slight change in schedule, I could have taken the train that left about an hour later, but I was glad I had some time to relax. I thought I would have to route to the shoot location, however, they offered to pick me up, even on a busy day. They took me to Starbucks and a bread place before going to setup. I was so worried about how things would turn out, but they ended up going so smoothly. They were also so welcoming and grateful as I got a group welcoming and send off. The CEO even had someone take me out to dinner before my trek home. Of course, the best part was seeing the incredible dancers as they had their last rehearsal before they flew to Spain for Spain's Got Talent. Their focus on precision is what grabbed my attention most. I saw how I could adjust things in my own life watching them as they focused on every detail and worked incredibly hard, even on the day they would pack up and start their journey to Spain. They dropped me back off at the station as I was exhausted, but also so elated to have such a wondeful experience. My stomach fluttered as I was excited for them to perform this piece on television and forever will I have a place for Chibi Unity in my heart. As while they are incredible dancers, I think their success began because they are incredible people. 

~:[CH13 - Day 162]:~ Staying Focused

 

~:[CH13 - Day 162]:~ Staying Focused

For thr first day, I got to sleep in a bit. I still woke up at 8am, but didn't roll out of bed for a little while after, as I edited photos. I packed up and headed to my shoot in a small three level studio. It was a bit different than I had imagined, however, it worked out well. One thing that I realized as I worked through the shoot is that while I can give pointers and try things here and there, I should also stay focused on my task. Each of us has a role. While we can veer from that path sometimes, we should be sure to focus in on executing our task first and allow others to do the same. When looking at the photos, I smiled knowing that we both did what we were supposed to do and ultimately produced an epic album. 

~:[CH13 - Day 161]:~ A Break for the Family

 

 ~:[CH13 - Day 161]:~ A Break for the Family

Although it's typically a big workday as it's a weekend, I blocked out this day to see my family. I guess you could call it a break, although I went from opening to close, leaving my body exhausted by day's end. It was quite crowded and the app was down, leaving it open to waiting in line for everything, yet we still were able to do most of what we wanted to do. It was a little tough as nobody in my family speaks English (just words here and there), still yet, it was a day we were able to connect and spend quality time together. Just like with those you keep close contact with, words are not the only way to communicate.  By night's end, I was ready for bed, still yet, I knew that the exhaustion was well worth it for this break with the family.

~:[CH13 - Day 160]:~ Passing Time, Steadfast Dreams

 ~:[CH13 - Day 160]:~ Passing Time, Steadfast Dreams

It's amazing how time passes by. After watching a screening of Seoul Switch, a movie about two people from different worlds looking at different dreams, I headed out to meet my friends. The dreams the two characters had were to be in the spotlight, while the other simply wanted a normal and calm life. As I ate with my friends in a calmer neighborhood away from the city, it was great to reminisce when they visited as high school students and homestayed with my family and others. As we chatted, we landed on the topic of what your dream was and for the most part, the goal was to live a simple, comfortable and healthy life. Whether it be, being able to take pictures freely or live with freedome, we all have out dreams and if we can be steadfast, many of those dreams can be realized. While we may never become that celebrity in the spotlight, we may be able to become the person we hope to be if we stay vigilant in pursuing those dreams. Many years later, those dreams have not disappeared and neither has our memories of times we never want to forget.

~:[CH13 - Day 159]:~ Through the Lens, Through the Eyes

 
~:[CH13 - Day 159]:~ Through the Lens, Through the Eyes

I woke up decently early to head out to TeamLab again. I love to go to places like these with creators to see how their perspective differs from mine. What kind of shots are they going to capture and how will they do it? How does the view through their lens, differ from mine. However, through the lens, we can only capture so much. The other day, I was joking with a friend as I "captured" images of scenes through an area where no pictures were allowed, as I made a photo gesture with my fingers. However, the reality as I thought about it more is, often times, the lens does not capture the moment as well as the mind. One day, we'll have a camera in our brain that can capture each moment we see and show it exactly as we had imagine it. It would be clear and exact, unlike the many images we capture. Of course, with the lens, sometimes we capture images that we didn't expect that end up better than what we saw, capturing just the right frame that our mind may not have been able to see or add the exposure we need to get even more than our mind could process at once. I guess that's the benefits of technology. Of course, maybe we'll get the best of both worlds, but for now, just remember that they best way to capture an imagine and moment is with our eyes if we want to remember that moment as exactly as it was. With those with short memories, that photo you snap may be better, but be sure to make sure you live in the moment so that instead of the lens or the screen, you capture those precious moments with your own very eyes.

~:[CH13 - Day 158]:~ Days Like These

 

~:[CH13 - Day 158]:~ Days Like These

We had arranged our schedules without thinking much, but our plans fell on the opening of Fantasy Springs, a new area in Disney Sea dedicated to Peter Pan, Frozen and Repunzel. Sometimes things in life just fall into place. The right place, the right timing, and the right people. Just like many of those fairytales, today was extraordinary as I was able to manuever through the ticketing system, we got our shots, our timing fell into place and I made it back to Tokyo in time for my night meeting. It was magical how everything fell into place like it did, but on days like these, just be thankful of how it went. As I wrapped up my day screaming as we allowed gravity to pull us back down to earth, I think I was still floating by night's end after a beautiful day like this.

~:[CH13 - Day 157]:~ Dreams & Reality

 
~:[CH13 - Day 157]:~ Dreams & Reality

For those who are fans of Studio Ghibli, you'll know there is a bit of fantasy and reality. I was glad to reconnect with my friend from Nagoya as we ventured through the fairly new Ghibli Park. It's a bit of a trek, but a cool experience if you're a fan. It's a good amount of walking as it's spread out in different disconnected areas, but it gives it a feel that you're actually traveling through the different themed areas. The warehouse is very similar to the Ghibli Museum in Tokyo, so if you had to choose between the two, make a trek here. As I worked my way through, it made me think about how our lives are filled with dream, yet the realities of it are filled with moments that are just as precious. The film shown centered around a girl separated from her dog and the emotions surrounding it. The moment of reunification could be just as amazing as a castle that floats through the sky. However, for all of us, I hope we can chase our dreams, celebrate whennwe find that success, but also remember that failing to reach that dream does not mean there are not moments to celebrate and treasure. A birthday celebration, a real life reunification or simply a meal with friends or family can actually both be our dreams and our reality if we allow it to be. While we may not be floating across the sky in anything other than an airplane, there's no reason why today can't be another themed land within the adventures of our lifetime. I was sad to say goodbye to my friend after a delicious Hitsumabushi meal together, I was grateful for another to add to our chapter together.

~:[CH13 - Day 156]:~ Let's Get Reel

 

~:[CH13 - Day 156]:~ Let's Get Reel

Movies don't always portray the way life actually is. Many times, the endings are not the way life goes the majority of the time. Movies often go through various stages of emotion, but does it truly capture the reality of our endings? In the realm of short films, there seems to be a more real narrative sometimes that hits closer to home. It was great to be among some note actors and directors. To be honest, I didn't know most of them. Sprinkled in were various KPOP fans who were attending for the Stray Kids short film. The show wasn't as I had expected which paralled most of my day, however that's the real world vs the reel world. In the end, one short film summed it up as an older gentleman suffered through the loss of his wife and later the friend who helped him through it. He turned towards him and simple said, in these moments, you just have to smile. The reality is, in times of loss, it's too difficult to smile. So much pain and agony weighs on your shoulders. However, instead of looking at what we lost, maybe we can make our film focused on the 99% of the footage, which is the time we spend together. In the reel, much of the mundane footage gets edited out but in our real, maybe we can treasure those moments even more so than we did before. As while there were moments of the day I wish I could have spiced up or backtracked on what I decided to do, the fact that I got another day in this world can help me appreciate it, even if it's a bit mundane to the rest of the world. My life is not a movie script, still yet, maybe it's the best story out there - at least for me. 

~:[CH13 - Day 155]:~ Finding Good Fortune

 

~:[CH13 - Day 155]:~ Finding Good Fortune

Are we destined for good fortune or do we find our way to it? I always read and kept my fortunes from fortune cookies and the same goes from shrines and the like, but the reality is, I have always thought we make our luck and fortune grow through effort. As I walked around with my friend through the historic streets of Kawagoe, I kept thinking about this. The more we put ourselves out there and the harder we work, the luckier and more fortunate we get. Our good deeds and work throigh our lives allow us mote opportunities that not. Additionally, just being brave enough to take a chance, will increase our chances. Sure, some people do get luck and are more fortunate, don't get me wrong, but we can increase our standing by what we put in. Hopefully our days are filled with good fortune 

~:[CH13 - Day 154]:~ Soaking It All Up

 
~:[CH13 - Day 154]:~ Soaking It All Up

I thought to myself, the forecast must be wrong. It was mostly clear with some sprinkles here and there. It wasn't too long though that it started pouring. Just as I was wandering around looking for my shoot location, the downpour began. There were pockets of it letting up, but for the most part, the second half the day, I was left drenched. It's moments like these that can easily ruin your day, but that's if you let it. Others (including mother nature) will always try to rain on your parade, but you have got to overcome it and find a reason to celebrate. I soaked up that moment and took some shots, while also enjoying my last two meetings of the day. I was extremely exhausted by day's end, but I also was happy since it ended up being a great day. It's easy to be discouraged when things like the weather don't work out, but when that happens, find an alternative or make the most of the moment so that you can soak up the most of each moment of your everyday. 

~:[CH13 - Day 153]:~ Scaling it Back?

 
~:[CH13 - Day 153]:~ Scaling it Back?

As much as it seems like I'll be able to scale it back a bit, I'll actually have to scale it forward (is that a thing?). From projects to photoshoots and even an MUN session, it will be one busy slate. Of course, today technically was all lost in the air with the flight and time change, but I'm counting my first few moments upon arrival. Since I arrived so early, the train had yet to open, I met a small group from New York (one guy who was originally from Myanmar) and chatted a bit, and the waited around before I stopped off at the salon to meet my friend. As I did, I saw a snake of all things, slither across the road. I didn't notice it at first, but saw the guy running towards me, stop all of a sudden. It slithered it's way across with one stop to stare at us, before it continued on. That's me. I'll take a momentary break here and there, but ultimately, I'll be jammed packed, not with touristy things, but with mostly things I've been wanting to work on or things requested of me when I came. I have a pretty solid group who keeps track of my arrivals and departures as my appoint schedule gets booked fairly quickly. I carved out friend and family time, but otherwise, my schedule is free game for everyone. So no, I will not be scaling it back these first few weeks of summer, however, that is a choice for all of us. Sometimes the extra work is enjoyable or rewarding to you in some way that others will never understand. Don't mind them. Just like the snake, slither along on your path, look out for the pitfalls around you, and head towards your final destination. If you want to find time to rest, so be it, but if you want to increase your load, that's also your choice, just make sure that choice is yours.