~:[CH13 - Day 304]:~ Take Over the Moon

 
~:[CH13 - Day 304]:~ Take Over the Moon

Where can these young minds go? As far as they want. A madman might say he wants to take over the moon, but is he truly a madman? It's obvious that we should keep our realities in check, at the same time, we shouldn't allow ourselves to limit ourselves especially when we know we are capable. I hope that the young minds of this world know that. From solving world problems to mathematical equations to setting records whether in sports or other areas, we all have the potential to do great things, but first, we have to believe we can and second, we need to do all the things we need to do to get there. Even when the chances are slim to none, be like the minions and have the hope that these great things can be accomplished. On a day where we dress up as someone else, I hope that we can find it within us to confidently be ourselves and stride proudly forward knowing that we are capable. Many may judge, may joke, and may try to hold you down, but show them that even the moon itself is not out of reach. Let's shoot for the stars!

~:[CH13 - Day 303]:~ Another One

 
~:[CH13 - Day 303]:~ Another One

Just because we have thousands of selfies, doesn't mean we don't need another. As we continued our adventure trying to take a selfie a day, we captured another moment. Even when you think you've said "thank you" enough or "I love you enough" or done a good deed enough, it's okay to stack another one on top of it. As while some people say quantity over quality, it doesn't mean that quality doesn't equal quality. Keep adding to your collection of compliments, good deed, and positive thoughts and affirmations, as you can build them up for when you need them the most. Life is definitely full of ups and down, so pile on the good things when you can, as they may just be the things that help you avoid some of the deepest pitfalls in life. Keep loving, living and appreciating!

~:[CH13 - Day 302]:~ A Quick Stop

 
~:[CH13 - Day 302]:~ A Quick Stop

It's cool when you get a quick stop by from alum, especially those you haven't seen in quite sometime. As I at lunch with an alum, I later was joined by another alum who was in town. I think it's pretty cool to think back to the old times and chat about how things have changed. While many things have stayed the same, there are also the many things that have changed over time. For both him and us, we lead different lives than we did before, still yet, we also often times haven't strayed much from the path that we were on. I have students who take a 360 from where they were headed, but many times, they just continue on the path to where they were headed. I am blessed to have so many alum who are work hard and are good natured and thus, it's no wonder that they find success on the road ahead. Although it was just a quick stop, it allowed me to relish all the wonderful years I worked at the school and truly cherish the time we shared together. Even if it's a quick stop, it means a whole lot. 

~:[CH13 - Day 301]:~ A Little Wacky

 
~:[CH13 - Day 301]:~ A Little Wacky

We started cross country spirit week and I overdid it a bit. I ordered a wig for my crazy hair day and ended up just dressing like one of the purple minions. It ended up being a good costume although most people wondered why I was dress up. They kept saying, Halloween is not until Thursday. I guess I can just be a little wacky teacher today instead. Although only a handful of athletes remembered to dress up today, I was still okay with dressing up all day, even though I didn't want to wear purple. Regardless, I lasted through the day and ended up making a good memory. In life, so many people are hesitant to do something unless other people are doing it, whereas they should just go out and do it. You may feel a bit out of place and a little wacky, but at the very least, you're being you and doing what you wanted to do. Don't miss out on the chance to make memories and don't be afraid of putting yourself out there. 

~:[CH13 - Day 300]:~ A Reason to Smile

 
~:[CH13 - Day 300]:~ A Reason to Smile

It was a perfect evening. It was overcast in the day, thus not too hot and cooled off nicely into the evening. As the crowd pulled in, the excitement built. It was great to see Jae on stage. He seemed relaxed as he soaked in the moment. His smile was genuine as it seemed like the joy of this experience had taken over. Watching him perform, I knew that he liked to move back and forth across the stage. I chuckled as I watched the cameraman struggle to keep up, while I felt like I knew his path. It was great to crack that smile at the end of his performance, but even better to see a smile on his face. The arduous road that he's traveled hasn't always been easy, but I am sure that being on this stage performing with such an iconic band, meant the world to him and gave him a reason to crack that smile. For all of us, I hope that we find that reason to smile. Whether it's family, love, goals or more, there is something in our lives that can bring a smile that nobody can destroy. All the trials and tribulations you've faced, will all be insignificant when you can find a reason to crack that genuine smile. The road to finding that smile is not always easy, but when we put our guard down and worry less, we're more likely to discover exactly what we want. All our lives, I'm sure many of us felt the weight of the expectations placed upon us, however, just remember that you need to be you. Find your path, figure out your plan, and do your best to discover the thing more valuable than any treasure you can discover in life, a reason to smile. As while it's easy to mask the difficulties you're facing in a given day, it's much harder to hide a genuine smile that's been accomplished through all the work that you poured into something and the perseverance you showed in the most difficult of moments. The moment you have that breakthrough, is a moment where that beam of light will flow from your incredible smile. For each of us, there is no one right answer to finding happiness and thus, I hope you travel your road confidently and find a reason to smile. 

~:[CH13 - Day 299]:~ Oh, What a Feeling!

 

~:[CH13 - Day 299]:~ Oh, What a Feeling!

It's cool when you have a few athletes who can stand out among the masses at Mt. SAC. It's not easy to be towards the front of the pack and thus, it's cool when you're athletes have a shot at the win in a race this iconic. One of my girls had a solid race and took home second in the varsity girls race and one of my boys won his race as he came from behind after resevoir. It was not just cool to see him win, but to also run a very tactical race, which I am there for. Of course, I am definitely one who favors a team over individuals, still yet, you can't ignore how good of a feeling it is when your athletes are able to collect wins like the one today. What are your most memorable "wins" in your life?

~:[CH13 - Day 298]:~ The Realm of Possibilities

 

~:[CH13 - Day 298]:~ The Realm of Possibilities

What is possible? People always wonder what they are capable of, but do people ever find out? I think many times, people think that they cannot accomplish something and thus they never act upon what they want to do, when in reality, sometimes they have a shot. They look through this small window of possibilities, when in fact, there a great vast sky of possibilities.You may not always see what you're capable of, but if you want to chase after something, why not? Study, make a plan, and act upon it. Even if you don't accomplish something you're chasing, at least you'll know you gave it a shot. Widen your view of what is possible and you may find yourself accomplishing more than you could have ever imagined.

~:[CH13 - Day 297]:~ Radioactive

 
~:[CH13 - Day 297]:~ Radioactive

One of the ways that people are victorious are by being divisive. Our school musical this year was Radium Girls which addressed the radium crisis of the 1920s. With radium being used and promoted, the exposure of people to radium led to a number of health issues and death. Thinking only about the benefits it possessed, the paint was used for various glow in the dark purposes, while it was also used as a cure all, as they noted the health effects of consuming it. It was interesting to watch the very intense scenes as the drama unfolded throughout the musical. In real life, people were divided on how to respond, leaving the radium girls in a difficult situation. As I thought about it more, I thought about how divided our society is. A few radioactive individuals divide the population, as they show disdain for those around them. In the play, they were focused on business and profits, while not much has changed in the world today. Whether for money or power, the greed of people drives them to divide the people and often times, people join in and follow along. I hope that we can find a way to kick those radioactive people out of our lives and find a way to unify together, similar to what the radium girls did, in order to find progress. I hope that in our lives, we do not let those who are radioactive keep us from getting to where we want to go, as it's often these toxic people who destroy relationships and are the obstacles on the way to the goals we wish to accomplish. I loved the powerful message that this play told and I only hope that we all can learn to speak up and stay clear of those radioactives who are trying to take us down. 

~:[CH13 - Day 296]:~ The Wall

 
~:[CH13 - Day 296]:~ The Wall

A towering wall of 51 rows sat behind the basket as KD missed two free throws. The crowd went wild as that meant, we got a free Chick-fil-A sandwich. The new arena opened up and my family and I went. Being at the top of the wall meant being far away from the court, or so I thought. The distance to the court was minimal, as we were towering high above it, creating an angle I couldn't imagine. From the players, it was an intimidating factor that added a new element to the homecourt advantage for the Clippers. Sadly, despite the fanfare of the day, we ended up falling short, which left a bit of sadness on an overall good evening. To be apart of history is pretty cool considering that our family has been apart of the Clippers fandom for years. We transitioned from the Sports Arena to the Staples Center / Crypto.com Arena and then finally to the Intuit Dome. By rule, only Clippers fans are allowed in the Wall and it made me realize something. Sometimes when we're spread out, we're not as powerful as we could be, but when we unify together and join forces, it makes us a lot more formidable than we once were. Together, we unified this evening and created an intimidating force that could serve as a factor in future games and I hope that together, we can begin creating a new chapter in Clippers basketball, together.

~:[CH13 - Day 295]:~ Gotta Love the Effort

 
~:[CH13 - Day 295]:~ Gotta Love the Effort

While it does take a little artistic skill and imagination, I love seeing when students do an amazing job with the artistic assignments. As we introduced the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals), I had the students draw out their favorite article or the article they felt was the most important. Some of the pieces that are drawn, always blow my mind and makes me impressed with how much time and effort they put in or how much skill they have in the arts. However, even for those who don't have the artistic skills, I love to see it when they make an effort to ensure that the work is the best that they can create. I think it's harder to put in the effort when you don't have as much skills than when you do, as there is less motivation to complete the work, as you may not be as excited to show it off. Regardless, I got to give props to those students who put in full effort to these assignments and truly enjoy creating them. No matter how things turn out, when you put the time and effort into a piece, you should definitely be applauded for the effort. In all situations, let's do our best to put in our full effort!

~:[CH13 - Day 294]:~ Project Complete

 
~:[CH13 - Day 294]:~ Project Complete

The hardest thing about working on a project is wrapping it up well. It's easy to enjoy the moment and capture it all, but it's another to keep that motivation to finish and to finish quickly. Often, I have a deadline that requires a quick turnaround and even when I don't, I try my best to finish quickly in order to get things done in a timely manner. If I don't, then often it ends up never getting completed. Of course, when you wrap things up nicely, it feels good and the only thing left is to look back on those memories from time to time. I figured out a few new ways to edit and create post and while at times it's a bit more tiring and time consuming, the posts end up turning out a lot better and I think it's worth the wait to complete the project. Still yet, I know it's important to wrap it up in a timely manner, so I try not to obsess too much over the details and try to wrap it up nicely. How do you go about streamlining the process to make it more efficient?

~:[CH13 - Day 293]:~ AG Revolution!

 
~:[CH13 - Day 293]:~ AG Revolution!

It was another great night as I said goodbye to all the AG fans. It's incredible to see a community so close knit. Normally when you attend a concert, you show up, enjoy the show, and go home. This community constantly is so generous, they help each other out, and enjoy the experience together. With every stop I've been at, I've met someone new and connected with them. When they travel the world, I'm sure it's difficult for them to communicate at times because of the language barriers, however, when NHK was interviewing the group after the concert, one thing I thought of when they asked why they are so popular, I thought that one of the main reason why they are so popular is because they speak the language we all need, love and acceptance. I think everyone feels welcomed and an ability to enjoy the experienced without feeling judged. There is no one type of AG fan. Additionally, they inject a positive and welcoming vibe into the community, which is why it was grown over time. It may have taken awhile for them to gain some traction, but I think every time someone new is exposed to the AG culture, it's no wonder why there is a wave that has caused this incredible AG revolution. I hope for their continued success as they wrap up their tour in Japan, but I am sure that this is just the beginning for this wonderful group who has not only entertained the world, but helped make them all feel apart of this amazing revolution.

~:[CH13 - Day 292]:~ Surviving the Night, Together

 

~:[CH13 - Day 292]:~ Surviving the Night, Together

Halloween is always an exciting holiday. I mentioned previously that I used to decorate the house and setup a mini haunted house and also visit Knott's Scary Farm annually. With many things that you can be scared of, especially around Halloween, it feels a lot safer when you're with your friends and family. In life, we face dark and scary times, but when we have people around us supporting us and cheering us on, it's easier to survive these moments, together. I was definitely exhausted after having to wake up early for a race, but it was fun to play games with the family and enjoy an evening together. Throughout my life, there definitely have been scary moments, but as I think back, they definitely were a lot less scary as I always had a wonderful support group, helping me find my way through the mazes of life. 

~:[CH13 - Day 291]:~ Lighting Up the Night

 
~:[CH13 - Day 291]:~ Lighting Up the Night

It was a different type of Friday night lights as the OC Japan Fair kicked off at the OC Fairgrounds. As always, there was a group of artists that typically frequent the festival and it was a joy to see them all again. One of the performers and I instantly connected since he sports a Clippers jersey at every performance I've seen. He is very energetic and entertaining and I love to catch his shows. Arcane Maid Cafe always is excellent and put on another riveting show! With such a range of artists, it was nice to meet them and and enjoy an evening at the fair without the crowds that would gather on Saturday. After a long day, I was definitely exhausted, but still yet, all the wonderful performances under the bright lights keep me energized. Even when we're exhausted, it's things like these that keep you going and make life entertaining. What are the things in your life that keep sparking energy into your days?

~:[CH13 - Day 290]:~ Keeping Us Safe

 
~:[CH13 - Day 290]:~ Keeping Us Safe

Another day, another crazy schedule. Today was the Great American Shakeout as we ran through the earthquake drill and how to evacuate. As we discussed what we would do in the case of an emergency, it makes you think of all the possibilities that can happen in life. From earthquakes to floods, accidents and more, life is full of unexpected events that we can never predict. Obviously, having a plan in life is always good key to averting the dangers that the challenges in life pose, however, can we always truly be prepared? If we can't prepare for something, then how to we survive it? As I snapped this picture of my students, one with the emergency pack and one who put on the helmet, I thought about all those around me who lifted me up during the disasters in my own life. I'm more of an introverted and independent person. I face up to a lot of things alone, but when I've faced these moments in my life, I've always had people step up to help me. It's easy for them to realize when that "natural disaster" in life hits us all, as we can do what we can to reach out to each other, however, when we find a natural disaster within ourselves, I hope we have the courage to reach out to those around us. When I look as this picture, I think about those who would be more than willing to step up to lend me a helping hand and who could help uplift me in the storms of life. Think about those people who would come running with the emergency pack and give you that safety helmet to guide you to safety when life throws that natural disaster your way. While some may feel alone and think that nobody would come to their aid, I hope you realize that there is an emergency crew ready and waiting to step up when disaster calls, whether for all of us or in your own life. Don't be afraid to reach out for help when you need it and hopefully we can all be that person who steps in to help others when life comes at you fast. Stay safe ya'll!

~:[CH13 - Day 289]:~ It's Worth a Shot

 
~:[CH13 - Day 289]:~ It's Worth a Shot

It was a chaotic day. With PSATs, we had to organize the college and career fair in the gym. The gym was packed with students, as they explored the different booths and played games. It ended up getting pretty packed and was a little exhausted, yet also fun. With the short periods, we didn't accomplish anything in class, however, it was nice to see everyone as we rolled through the day. Soon enough, it arrived time for our MUN tryout. I had a few students ask me earlier if I though they had a chance. A few of them didn't apply since they didn't think they'd have a chance. I wondered, why wouldn't you give it a shot? I understand that sometimes it can be painful to fail, but isn't it better to give it a shot? Isn't it worth it to see where you stand and what you can work on? Your chances when you give it a shot may be slim, but isn't it better than the 0% when you don't even give it a shot. I hope that this generation can move past their fears of failure so they'll take on opportunities and challenges they never thought they can handle. They may feel like the challenge ahead of them is insurmountable, but they'll really never know until they give it a shot. Even when you think the odds are all stacked against you, I hope you're willing to step up and take on that challenge, as while some challenges may seem insurmountable, sometimes when you will something enough, it will all come to pass. Let's give all things in life, as you never know what may come out of it.

~:[CH13 - Day 288]:~ Written in the Stars

 
~:[CH13 - Day 288]:~ Written in the Stars

It was cool to receive the book written by Hina. It's great to see how people display a range of talents and in this case, a singer and a writer. Writing is not an easy thing, even if it's a book for children. The word choices, structure and style are all important. As I spent the day at the district today, our focus was on just that, writing. We gave an essay over a week ago and we got to evaluate them and look at various strategies to help them to write better. Through MUN, we already work on students and their writing as they're forced to learn to research and how to make that into a great paper. Still yet, with different styles of writing, success in positions papers doesn't always result in success everywhere else. Overall, the essays of my students ended up being pretty good and I was happy to see their progression even in this short span on how comfortable they are with writing. Maybe one of them will become a published writer, however, even if not, I hope that they learn to write with confidence and at the very least, be able to write a piece they can be proud of. As I flipped through the pages of the book, I smiled knowing the immense range of talents it took to create this and excited for the next chapter in her writing journey, just as much as I am for the next stage for my students. Who knows what's ahead, but I'm sure it's written somewhere up there amongst the stars.

~:[CH13 - Day 287]:~ Back to Work

 
~:[CH13 - Day 287]:~ Back to Work

It's been a wild few weeks. Running around and trying to get things done, it's been a blur. The stretch has had its ups and downs, but the ups have definitely outweighed the downs. Of course, as much as I did, Monday meant that I would be back to work. Life doesn't stop just because we do well or poorly, whether we are happy or sad, or even if we're ready or not, it will keep moving forward. At times, we need to sit out and take a break, but when we are able to, I hope that we are ready to go with the flow and get things done. With our first full practice week in awhile, it was nice that our athletes could get back to work and focus in on what's ahead. I know they were disappointed with the outcome of the race last week, but it shouldn't stop them from getting back to work as they've done all year. I love how focused they are, while still enjoying their time together. I am hoping that this week will end up being a successful one full of great workouts and an opportunity to get healthy and I hope that I can recover and focus in on the work ahead, as sometimes you just need to roll up your sleeves and get back to work. Ready or not, here comes the week!

~:[CH13 - Day 286]:~ Getting Intuit

 
~:[CH13 - Day 286]:~ Getting Intuit

I was pretty exhausted when I woke up in the morning, but still went to celebrate my brother's coach of the year award as it was presented to him at the Intuit Dome. We got a tour of the arena, heard from some collegiate coaches, and then he received his award. After a nice lunch, I decided to make my normal run to get boba, which quickly turned into an intense moment. As I parked, I saw an incident occurring in front of me and slowly walked away before calling the police. Luckily, it seemed like nobody was hurt while the suspect was successfully apprehended. I was a bit shaken up by the event, but it reminded me that we should appreciate the moments we have together and to take every opportunity to do the things you want to do. I was thinking about canceling my event later that evening, but thinking about the incident, I decided to take the opportunities presented. I enjoyed the little artistic collaboration gathering as I met a number of new people while enjoying the beautiful performances that evening. Life gives you a number of opportunities and it's your choice whether or not to get into it. Whether you pick up coaching, music or another passion of yours, I hope we take the opportunities we have while you have that, as in a blink of an eye, things in your life could change. Luckily, nothing happened and life when on as normal, but it's but another reminder to appreciate what we have around us. By night's end, I was truly exhausted, but I smiled knowing all that I was blessed with today and every day of my life. 

~:[CH13 - Day 285]:~ The Light in the Darkness

~:[CH13 - Day 285]:~ The Light in the Darkness

I didn't sleep as much as I wanted to. There weren't too many nice spots to take a nap in the airport. I wrapped up my editing and did my best to rest until it was time to check in. I thought I would be able to sleep on the plane and take a nap before homecoming, but my flight got delayed from 8:30 to 9:30 to 10:30 to 11:30 to 1:00 to 2:45 and then past 3pm. I decided to not risk it as my flight sounded like it would be canceled, thus I jumped on another flight and made it home, exhausted. Of course, as bad as the day had gone, there was light in the darkness. As I walked into the dance, a red carpet was lined with little lights leading to the archway. It reminded me of the lights that appear out of nowhere when life hands you a tough moment. In complete darkness, often times, something leads you out of that darkness. After an inspiring event last night, it continuously reminded me of the impact that music had on the lives of others and made me remember that we all have the opportunity to provide light for each other, even when we find ourselves in our own darkness. I did my best to make everyone feel welcomed as I offered to take photos as they entered. While some people passed, it was great to see the joy on the faces of those who posed for the snap. Even if you are able to provide just a spark for someone, it may be the only thing they need to help pull them out of a moment when they are struggling. Let's be the light for those around us and hopefully it leads to an enchanted pathway as they leave the darkness that surrounded them behind. 

 

~:[CH13 - Day 284]:~ Sunshine After The Rain

~:[CH13 - Day 284]:~ Sunshine After The Rain

I was a little devastated knowingthat I had a conflict during his Hollywood Bowl concert. I was going to miss one of his most iconic performances. I looked at the schedule and there was conflict after conflict until I saw the Utah date. Unfortunately, I had to miss one of my favorite events at home, however, on the ride back to the airport, I smiled knowing it was all worth it. It's been a little crazy as I lay here in an empty airport waiting for my flight, but I wouldn't have changed a single thing. I saw a parallel tonight between eaJ and Imagine Dragons. As they played a tribute to Imagine Dragons, it reminded me of tributes sent to eaJ. How the music he produced helped them through dark times. Music has that power, especially when the artists care and can relate to their fans. As I listed to the power of the words in the lyrics of both eaJ and Imagine Dragons, I could feel the emotions run through me. Around me, others sang their hearts out and jumped for joy, as we arrived as strangers, but left with a connection due to music. While the concert is over, the impact on their lives and the meaning the music will have in their lives will be carried with them as they move forward. It was such a joy to see Jae on stage as the smile he had made me see the sunshine that surrounded him when the rain had stopped. In turn, it also put smiles on the faces of the many fans who never heard of him before, but will now never forget him. As much as I want to see him succeed and play for sold out crowds around the world, the only thing I hope for him and those around me is happiness. Hoping that the sunshine shows itself to you today and many days forward.

 

~:[CH13 - Day 283]:~ Find Your Style

~:[CH13 - Day 283]:~ Find Your Style

I always get the question, "what do I need to do to get an A?" I usually point to the board and say, you need these three simple things and after that, you decide. I think that many of our students are so structured to follow a format that they forget to find their own style and do their own thing. When deciding on whether to go to an event or not, they find out if their friends are going too. In my own life, I've learned to move at the beat of my own drum. If I want to go to something, I'll go, even if it's solo. I'll try to find my own niche and create things in the style that suits me best. When I collaborate, it's a little different, but when I am creating for myself, I always inject my own style rather than simply thinking about what others want. Will they like it? Honestly, if I am happy with how it turned out, I'm fine with it. I hope that our future generations have the ability to think for themselves. Instead of being molded into a structure that "works," I hope that they are allowed to think for themselves and learn about what their style is. At some point, they end up discovering themselves and who they are, but some take longer than others, trying to conform to what other people want. While I am not saying to forget completely about others, I am saying to be willing to travel your own path so you can find out who you are and what you truly are passionate about and love. Especially for parents, I hope that along with raising our children and allowing them to find happiness, that you also don't lose out on your ability to enjoy your own style and pleasures, as it's easy to forget about yourself in the chaos of life. Think about and help others, but at the same time, let's not forget to also take some time to think about ourselves, as it's easy to forget what our style truly is. 

 

~:[CH13 - Day 282]:~ A Wrong Turn

 
~:[CH13 - Day 282]:~ A Wrong Turn

As we learn and as we grow, we're going to make a wrong turn at some point. Our freshman has been growing a lot over the past few weeks. Today, he took a lead on the top guy in our league before making a brief wrong turn, which led to him sliding back a bit. While it may not have changed the results with the lead guy having a huge kick down the stretch, it definitely rattled him, as he was upset when he finished. Of course, in life, we make these mistakes. No matter the reason, it's not the end of the world and we can always learn and adapt because of it. Sometimes things go well even when we face challenging times, but in many other cases, it throws us off track and we have to work even harder to battle back. However, just know, don't be discouraged when you make a wrong turn, stay focused and do what you can in the given situation. Even when it's your mistake, own up to it, learn from it, and do you best not to make that (or any) wrong turn again. Of course, another wrong turn awaits us somewhere, but with each error, I hope ensure that we avoid making that same mistake again. In the end, we won three of the four divisions and wrapped up a strong second place finish for the boys varsity. There were definitely some pluses, still yet, we know that we got work to do.

~:[CH13 - Day 281]:~ The Great Crash of 2024

 
~:[CH13 - Day 281]:~ The Great Crash of 2024

I suffered for a few months. I could tell my computer was beginning to die, so I arranged everything to be prepared for the great shift. While the investing community talked about the great crash in the markets that was coming, I faced my own great crash of 2024. My computer finally bit the dust. I waited as long as I could, but the last few weeks, I would click on a program, come back 10-15 minutes later to finally find it loaded and usable. As much as I didn't want to waste any money, it was time. The good thing is, it died at the right time when a sale was going on, still yet, why spend money you don't need to. The only good thing that happened was that I finally organized my drive and I am about 80% through sorting all the files to the correct spot. As you know, I have a wonderful archive of all the activities I am involved in and aside from my family and friend drive which crashed not too long ago without a backup, I haven't lost a single file as I have it all backed up as well. In life, we face unexpected issues. Life will come crashing down on us, but the question is, are we prepared for what's ahead? Plan, organize and prepare and you'll find that even during the greatest of catastrophes, you'll be able to navigate your way through. 

~:[CH13 - Day 280]:~ いただきます (Itadakimasu)

 
~:[CH13 - Day 280]:~ いただきます (Itadakimasu)

Itadakimasu is a Japanese phrase used to express your gratitude for a meal. As much as we may see a meal as commonplace, it's not so much for everyone. To have a home cooked meal is a blessing, even for someone who is well often, as they may frequent restaurants or take out spots. Even if a meal didn't turn out the way you wanted, I hope we can find a way to appreciate that we have a meal at all. Whether it be about the work put in by someone to make the meal or someone who worked hard to earn enough money for the food, it's something to be grateful for daily, as we never know if we will face our own time where is a meal is a luxury. Let's appreciate these things we see as commonplace, as they are not simple, rather something we should show full appreciate and gratitude for daily. いただきます

~:[CH13 - Day 279]:~ Recovery

 
~:[CH13 - Day 279]:~ Recovery

It felt as if I worked over 120 hours this week. From preparation and organization, to executing a conference, a race, and even a team potluck. Although I didn't attend Saturday's race, I coordinated everything as I prepped for the conference. At the end of all of it, I need a day of recovery and I got just what I needed. I got invited to a small little "music parlor." It was just a handful of people enjoying the music of two musicians in a living room. The music helped me revive some of the energy that was drained from my body, as I soaked in the music. I was quite surprised that I was invited to such an intimate and exclusive event, but maybe it was God directing this towards me at the exact moment that I needed it. It was the exact refresher I needed to try and focus for the week ahead. While my motivation to work still wavered, I actually got hooked on organizing my digital files before getting to the few others things I needed to wrap up today. I didn't quite get everything done that I wanted, but that's okay, as I needed to give myself a little break and time to recover. I hope we all can find those things that will help us refuel all that we've lost whether it be energy, emotions, spirit or more. Many events in our lives will drain us, but all it takes is for us to find that thing to fill us back up to get us back on our feet. I'll look towards taking it easy the next few days before rolling back into rhythm, but I am glad that I got a jumpstart today, that will be just what I need to have enough to survive the week ahead. 

~:[CH13 - Day 278]:~ Finding the Final Piece

 
~:[CH13 - Day 278]:~ Finding the Final Piece

You know that moment when you pick up the final piece of a puzzle you've been working on and are about to place it in to complete the puzzle? That's the exactly feeling I have when an event wraps up and I close the final door to say goodbye to another chapter. After a grueling few weeks of printing placards and credentials, editing, organization and planning, we wrapped up another successful conference. There are so many working pieces to put this conference on and it's great when everything flows together and works out. While my computer and printer threatened to derail our success at the very last moment with lagging and a haywire moment for my printer, we got things back in line and finished everything off. I was a bit worried from time to time as we had a few "crisis" moments, but we were able to address the issues quickly and added that final piece to this year's puzzle. As I cleaned everything up and packed it away, the labor didn't bother me, as the weight of the conference was lifted off my shoulders. In the end, the students did an excellent job coordinating their conference and fulfilling their roles, which meant that we could find that final piece and enjoy looking at this beautiful puzzle we completed.

~:[CH13 - Day 277]:~ Forgetful Memories

 
~:[CH13 - Day 277]:~ Forgetful Memories

It was almost time for the school day to begin and the realization hit me, today was the top 6 rally. Just before leaving my house, I moved my camera out of my backpack, thinking, I didn't need it today. I did. I scrambled a bit trying to get my camera to school, but in the end, it didn't work out. I definitely forgot something important two days in a row, but what I didn't forget was the memory of these moments that I experienced regardless of being able to capture the moment or not. Yes, it would have been great to have quality photos of this event, but still yet, I captured the moment in my mind, as while I may have forgotten my camera, it will be a lot harder for me to forget this experience. A few years down the road, I will still have a few video clips I took on this day and the images won't be clear as if I had my camera, still yet, there will keep my memories intact. As much as getting the perfect shot at the right moment is a goal of mine, I have to keep in mind that I shouldn't allow that drive to make me miss the memory that is being created at this moment. While I love to capture these memories to share with all those involved, I'll be sure to soak in these moments as well, so that they become memories I'll never forget. 

~:[CH13 - Day 276]:~ The Sun Sets Too Soon

 
~:[CH13 - Day 276]:~ The Sun Sets Too Soon

The sun sets a little too soon, as I need about eight more hours in the day ... at least this week. With picture day, course setup and a race in the first half of the week, it was already crazy enough. It was paired with a few weeks of conference prep with our conference upcoming this weekend. I also had to pick up the drinks, snacks and supplies. As the day ended, I wished for a few more hours so that I could finish everything up, but in reality, the sun will set and a new day will begin. That's life. We must pick and choose how much time we spend on things in our lives and figure out how to spend the precious time we have. We must do what we can when we can, so we don't run out of time. In my current life, that's all about planning and prepping for the upcoming events, but in life in general, it means, our ability to do all we wish to do in a lifetime. Often times, the sun sets in our life before we get to do all that we wanted to do. We put off this and that so we can do things that may be less significant, but in the moment, we don't always realize it. When we arrive at the moment of our last breath, will we be able to say that we did all we wanted and all we could? As I wrapped up the day and saw that everything was in order and my timeline was in sync with the amount of time remaining, I am hoping that my own life lines up with my life's to-do list. I hope that I get to do all I want to do within my lifetime and I guess I better make sure I don't put off all those things for another day, because the reality is life is that often times, the sun in our life will set sooner than we realize.

~:[CH13 - Day 275]:~ Rising Stars, Veteran Foundations

 
~:[CH13 - Day 275]:~ Rising Stars, Veteran Foundations

The weather ended up being pretty good in comparison to the forecasts. It lead to a great day of racing. This team has a nice balance of veterans and rising stars. Both our boys and girls team have a varsity member in every grade level. While we did lose a chunk of veterans to graduation and a few others who left the team, we held on to a solid group of veterans. In some ways, we cleaned the slate and kept a basic outline, allow us to eliminate some bad habits and start somewhat fresh. What has become of it is a team that has a nice balance of veterans and rising stars. Our veteran girl who has had her breakthrough season, ran to a 2:30+ victory, finsihing in 17:40. She has been a good foundation to build this program on, as she has demonstrated the work and focus it takes to succeed, although I do tell her often, not to take it too seriously and enjoy the ride. On the boys side, we've had a freshman who has put in the work daily and finally had his breakthrough race. You could see that he got stuck a little trying to break the 17 minute barrier, then he blasted through it, as he won the boys varsity race with a closing 4:58. Who knows what the rest of the season will bring, but with a group of young athletes who are looking to get better and a veteran core who has gone through all these battles, we have a recipe that can definitely lead to success if we can have all the right ingredients. We'll see how it all mixes together and what the final product will be like, but for now, I'll just sit on back and enjoy the ride. 

~:[CH13 - Day 274]:~ Almost Perfect

 
~:[CH13 - Day 274]:~ Almost Perfect

Everyone already knows my feelings on picture day. It's a necessary day, however, can be quite the hassle trying to get everyone in uniform and also to listen and follow directions. It's a great day in the sense that they get to enjoy the time to take photos together. In all my years, someone always forgets their jersey and then proceeds to ask, "can I borrow a jersey?" The week before, the days before, the day before, and even the day of, I always say, if you forgot your jersey (or shirt), you're not in the photo. This year, we were almost perfect. We had a single athlete forget to bring her jersey, but had his shirt. In some ways, it was satisfying we were that close, but also in some ways upsetting that we were so close. However, I guess life is like that. Sometimes we are so close to getting things perfect, but there is always is something that is a little off. As much as you want to be perfect, perfection is quite rare. Something always needs to be adjusted or fixed and as much as we could obsess over that one thing that kept us from perfection, we can instead focus on the fact that most of what we had hoped to accomplish was done. In the end, the day itself ended up being a solid one. I wrapped up the course markings, watched the volleyball game, packed my car and then quickly prepped for the meet. I completed my checklist early and almost had the perfect day. As much as I could complain about that one or two things that were off, I instead will focus on celebrating the hundred other things that were on point. Let's start celebrating more and criticizing (ourselves and others) less as almost perfect is perfectly acceptable.