~:[CH14 - Day 31]:~ The End & The Beginning

 
~:[CH14 - Day 31]:~ The End & The Beginning

It was time for the conference to begin. After touring for a number of Days, the seniors woke up trying to reset their mindset for conference. As we heard from one of the ministers from Canada speak, I feel like the transition began. In life, we close out a chapter. As sad as we may be when it comes to a close, the new chapter in our lives quickly begins. At times we can wait and take a pause before we begin on our new adventure, however, many times, time waiting for nobody. For the seniors, they prepared for this new beginning as the conference opened, as they wondered how it would go, what types of people they would meet, and how everything will play out. As the weather greeted them with rain to start their story, only they will be able to determine how this all plays out. Similarly, we are the authors of our story and whole at times, we don't have control of everything in our lives, we still have the pen and can do our best to change the narrative to fit our vision. The pen is mightier than the sword, thus use it to guide you as you start on the next chapter in your life.

~:[CH14 - Day 30]:~ Just Keep Swimming

 

 ~:[CH14 - Day 30]:~ Just Keep Swimming 

The weather was the worst we had this week, but it wasn't too bad at all. We ventured out to enjoy the beautiful outdoors views of Capilano before heading to the aquarium to enjoy all the beautiful creatures there. I always enjoy watching the feedings even when the weather is bad outside. Although they were tired, they trekked through the aquarium and then skated later that night. It was the last night before the conference began and it was a great way to end this stretch of the trip. It will be an exhausting road ahead, but I hope they can just figure it all out and just keep swimming towards that finish line. We'll definitely find some bad weather on our days ahead, but remember to do you best to keep moving forward. Just Keep Swimming. 

~:[CH14 - Day 29]:~ 恭喜发财 (Fortune & Prosperity)

 
 ~:[CH14 - Day 29]:~ 恭喜发财 (Fortune & Prosperity)

With Lunar New Year being celebrated, we had a number of students who were missing their family celebrations, thus we hosted a mini celebration after our trip to the mountains. They all thought that they were in trouble, but they were amazed to see the setup we had. It was a little joy, but it was worth it all to even see a small bit of it. As we head into the new year, I hope it's one that we can be filled with good fortune and prosperity. There are many things that we cannot control, but there are many things within our control that can bring us the little joy that can make our world a better place. Let's aim to do what we can to lift each other up so that we can celebrate our good fortune and prosperity together.

~:[CH14 - Day 28]:~ Crossing Over

 
~:[CH14 - Day 28]:~ Crossing Over

It's always exciting when you're headed to a new place. We had a quick and smooth trip towards the border from the bus from our hotel to the overall ride. They checked our passports and soon enough, we walked through the doors to a new place. Since I've been, I felt a sense of familiarity, however, for my students, I know there was a bit more of excitement and anticipating to explore this new place. Overall, our first day went well and we enjoyed our time exploring Granville Island and Robson. It was nice to settle in on our final stop as it's exhausting moving from place to place, but it helps you appreciate the stability you may have previously took for granted. 

~:[CH14 - Day 27]:~ Our Cover Photo

 

~:[CH14 - Day 27]:~ Our Cover Photo

We spent the day at city center, just a little ways from our hotel. We didn't venture far as we explore Seattle from atop the Space Needle on a beautifully clear day, the amazing techniques in making glass art work, and then played around in MoPop, as the games and music provided an interactive treat. As we explored, we took a few photos including our album cover photo in front of MoPop. It made me wonder, if I selected a photo as my life's album cover, what would it be? What image could summarize my entire life or be the image I'd want to represent either my life or this stage in my life. As I flipped through the hundreds of thousands of photos in my mind, there wasn't one that quite fit, but it also made me realize just how many incredible experiences I've had and how wide my range of experiences have been. We all search for that shot that will be our centerpieces in our lives, but for some of us, we have a number of experiences we can highlight that together form that centerpiece we are looking for. Try not to make a single moment in your life become a centerpiece, rather build a collage of moments that you'll hold true to your heart.

~:[CH14 - Day 26]:~ Our Precious Time

 

~:[CH14 - Day 26]:~ Our Precious Time

It was our walking day. Almost ten miles of walking to explore all parts of Seattle. From the underground to Pike's Place, we ventured around the city and explored. After a long day, we pulled up some chairs and said goodbye to the day as the sun set. With seniors, this moment is quite symbolic as they approach the end to their high school careers. It's cool to think back of them as they were freshman and to think of all the memories they built up since then. This moment will be another they can store in their bank of memories. These are precious moments and as I captured this one, I knew it would be another to store away for a conversion to be had decades down the line. Treasure all these moments, as we never really realize how precious they are until they're gone.

~:[CH14 - Day 25]:~ And We're Off ...

 

~:[CH14 - Day 25]:~ And We're Off ...

It is a small group, but they're quite entertaining. They each have their own personality and together they mesh together well. They used their diverse skillsets to quickly make their way out of the escape room as we finished with almost twenty minutes left. I think we often search for those who are like us whereas sometimes our best pieces are those who complement us. This group seems to complete each other and makes a group that just works together. We have a long trip to go, but for now, we started the day off on the right foot. 

~:[CH14 - Day 24]:~ Surviving the Day

 
~:[CH14 - Day 24]:~ Surviving the Day

My body actually doesn't feel too bad, but my voice sounds bad. It's always one or the other. After trying to finish everything and get to bed, I was able to recover a bit, but my throat and voice didn't make it seem that way to others. Regardless, I had the energy to survive the day and the week. We powered through with our Friday song as my third and fourth period were quite energetic with it. My sophomores really got into our activity in class today, which was nice, while I had technically difficulties during third and just barely managed to salvage the day. Otherwise, the day just kind of rolled through as the greatest workload was when I got home. I got everything prepped for the trip from packing to paperwork, organized for practices and classes for the week, and wrapped up position paper cover designs and uploaded photos. There were a load of things I needed to do that I can't do on the road, but somehow, I finished it. Sadly, I didn't do it fast enough to get back to the gym for the lower level games, but still yet, felt good knowing that things were in order (at least I think). To motivate me, my friend sent me a happy meal since they are feature Pokemon themed boxes, which raised my spirits as I wrapped everything up. I think all is in order as wrap up for the evening. I am still going through the checklist in my mind to make sure I didn't miss anything, but as the evening comes to a close, I feel like I survived the day and accomplished what I needed to. I guess I'll find out if I forgot anything tomorrow. 

~:[CH14 - Day 23]:~ Burning the Midnight Oil

 
~:[CH14 - Day 23]:~ Burning the Midnight Oil

Sometimes, no matter how early you start, you'll working until the very end as the time is ticking. With only a short time before I head out, we had our Nationals grills, which I always schedule before I head off to the senior trip. It was pretty nice to watch how they are progressing. A few need some work still, but for the most part, they are rounding into form. I added a new skills challenge called the duel, which I quite like and will keep it for future years. With a larger group, we stay until later in the evening as they focused in to try and pass their group grill. In many cases, people may think that you are procrastinating when you are trying to finish everything before the deadlines, but in reality, you've used every second trying to just get it done. I've ignored this and that to focus in on what needed to be done, as the time I have left is so limited and thus precious. As while I burn the midnight oil, I have to stay focused on what I need to do and not allow things to distract me. Do you think I can get it all done before the clock strikes midnight TOMORROW?

~:[CH14 - Day 22]:~ One Down ...

 
~:[CH14 - Day 22]:~ One Down ...

League has been quiet the battle this year. Every game is a battle and the team needs to come ready to play. Having lost the first matchup, the team came motivated to do well and it showed. Their hustle, determination, and focus was evident as they played four quarters of basketball and ultimately took a three point lost and turned it into a 32 point victory. Of course, this is only one game. The team can only celebrate for so long as they have another touch matchup on Friday. When setting goals, I always tell my students and athletes to set goals that they can make progression with. Set a preliminary goals and then move on from there. Celebrating the small victories, but still keeping focused on the ultimate goal. I hope these athletes focus on their progression one game at a time, patting themselves on the back tonight, yet getting ready for the next game when they wake up in the morning. In life, when we have a big breakthrough, I hope that we can stay focused on where we ultimately want to go. I hope we can also keep our pace, knowing that we don't have to rush towards where we are going. As while progress can help catapult us forward, it can also be the poison the leads to our demise. Success is achieved by keeping things in perspective and not forgetting what got us here in the first place, which will be the things we need to ascend to the height we wish to reach. Tonight was one day, but there still are a number of check marks left to go ... Let's go Dons! 

~:[CH14 - Day 21]:~ D-4

 
~:[CH14 - Day 21]:~ D-4

It's almost time for us to head off, thus, we held our final grill session before we head off the Seattle & Vancouver. It's pretty cool seeing these seniors in actions after knowing them for the past four years. As freshman, some of them could barely give a speech and definitely would struggle with improving, whereas tonight, they could speak fluently, even if they had nothing written at all. It was quiet outside the classroom as the campus was empty, yet the voices of the young adults carried, much like their voices will be heard as they move into the real world. I am never worried when MUN seniors move on, as I am confident in their success in the future after three to four years of intense practice in conferences and simulations. The work they do goes beyond the workload of most students and it shows in how they present themselves to the world. It will be great to see them enjoy the sights before they head into their conference, but even before then, I am already proud of who they've become. Sadly, in years, this is the finale, however, at least I'll be able to spend four more months with this group before we send off another group read to conquer on the road beyond. The path ahead may be tumultuous in these times, but I am confident that many of them will be the voices we hear, doing the things we are amazed by. Although this is a small group, it is a collection of students who I have built memories with over the past four years and I am happy that I will have one final opportunity to help them create memories that will last with them for the rest of their lives, like they've already done for me.

~:[CH14 - Day 20]:~ Sour

 
~:[CH14 - Day 20]:~ Sour

There will be days in your life that are sour. I was going to go out today, but felt a little tired, so I rested. The teams I was rooting for lost and the overall mood was a bit dark. Life will throw these types of days at you. As I looked at the lemon haul from our tree, I smiled thinking of the beautiful fruits that grew on the tree. If you eat the lemon as is, that same sourness may overcome you, but it doesn't have to be that way. The common saying is, "when life throws you lemons, make lemonade." It's kind of true. You have a choice to make the most of what you are given and change what becomes of it. With so many recipes that include lemon, there are an array of dishes that can be made with it. Life is no different. When life is sour, add yourself to the mix and bring the things that will make your dish of life amazing. On a day where so many felt like they lost their rights, felt abandoned, or felt defeated, they may taste the sourness of life. It won't be easy to overcome, but we each must do our part to make this world a dish we can all enjoy. In the Scriptures, there are story after story of the outcast and marginalized groups. These groups were often treated poorly and must have tasted the sourness of life. However, much like the Lord did, we must made a great effort to make change for those who are suffering the most and ensure that we raises our voices to ensure we all taste the sweetness of life. On a day dedicated to a man who has been a foundation of this world, I think of his words, " Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that," along with "out of the mountain of despair, a stone of hope." We can be that stone of hope and that light for those around us, both friend and foe, those familiar and the stranger, and especially those who are seen as "outcast" or "marginalized." To many, they'll taste the sourness and lose their resolve as they travel down the path of life, thus, we must ensure that we become a pillar for each other to help find what will make life better for us all. I guarantee there will be disappointment, there will be frustration, and there will be anger, but we cannot let that darkness pull us down, rather, we must rise up towards the light together and become "the change we want to see" in this world. 

~:[CH14 - Day 19]:~ おめでとう (Omedetou)

 
~:[CH14 - Day 19]:~ おめでとう (Omedetou)

It was actually this guys birthday this past week, as I gave him a quick call, mainly to check on his English skills. It's great to see how much more comfortable he is with his English, as we discussed the fact that he was actually studying for a final on US history. Similarly, I studied this morning after taking my Japanese class. It's difficult to learn a language when you are older, but it makes you empathize with those who are learning English. As I think about the fact that we criticize and critique so much, as I struggle myself, I am reminded how nice it is to hear a compliment or to receive a pat on the back. It's something I have to remember on days that I am frustrated with students or athletes, as I must see what I can do to help congratulation them and help them along. We often celebrate birthdays and other special events and I hope that we can also focus on celebrating the little things, with others, but also with ourselves. The world is filled with such pessimism and negativity that we need to start to change the algorithm, by inserting a few more positive comments, thank yous, and congratulations into our daily routines. I rolled through my day, catching up on all the things I had not done and while I didn't accomplish as much as I wanted, I still can pat myself and congratulate myself on what I did finish. As while my progress may be slower than I had hoped for, I am still making the effort and progressing, which deserves a little recognition. I am to try a bit harder tomorrow and hopefully that will mean, another reason to celebrate. 

~:[CH14 - Day 18]:~ Not That Bad

 
~:[CH14 - Day 18]:~ Not That Bad

It was the start of a long weekend and I boarded a bus at 7:15am to head to a conference. The reality is, going to this conference and losing this one day of the weekend was not that bad of a thing. In fact, I would say, it was time well spent. It's hard to say that I wouldn't rather be off somewhere else during this weekend, still yet, it's enjoyable to see these students perform and show off their skills and their growth. While not all left the conference glowing, I saw many who were excited to take home an award and a group that showed their progress over time. I was proud as we drove home as I thought about all the good performances I saw during the day. It's things I would have missed had I been elsewhere. I think that's a great sign that I enjoy what I do. I wasn't dreading being at the conference, rather, it was great to interact with the students and see them in action. I always think about how my life could be different with a different career choice and when I do, I think of all the things that I would have missed out on had I not bee on this path. As while I hear about all the negatives that come with teaching, the reality is, it's not that bad at all, in fact, it's quite the blessing. It's easy to complain about this and that, but changing your mindset and seeing what becomes of the work you put in, it surpasses it all as you discover the rewards you've received while you traveled along this path. There will be days of frustration, fatigue, anger and more, but those will far be outweighed by moments like today.

~:[CH14 - Day 17]:~ A Day to Celebrate

~:[CH14 - Day 17]:~ A Day to Celebrate

Senior night was a bit earlier this year so it was a bit chaotic getting everything together, but we did it. As stressful as it can be, I know that everyone who has a role in making it happen sees that the work is all worth it. To see the smilies on the faces of the seniors and their family and to hear the cheers of all those who joined, you realize the value of playing a part to make this evening special. It's difficult for seniors to make it to this point. It takes a lot of time and dedication. They face obstacles, frustrations, and have to make a number of sacrifices, which is why it should be a special moment as they've overcome so much to be here for this moment.  In the end, all three teams took the win, as we celebrated all the accomplishment of the seniors and those who helped to get them here. Congratulations!

 

~:[CH14 - Day 16]:~ Warmth

 ~:[CH14 - Day 16]:~ Warmth 

It's been a little chilly. It's the time of year I can't walk outside without my jacket. It's probably because I was born and raised in LA. It made me think that I should take this time to make soup to have a warm option when I get home. I made Zuppa Toscana. The warmth of a meal is quite soothing. It made me think of the warmth that is provide with family, friends, and the comfort of home. Sadly, I know a lot of people around me have lost this comfort we often take for granted. From lost loves one to the loss of their homes, many lost that warmth they had. A bowl of soup is pretty simple, but the warmth it provides is immeasurable. Similarly, coming home daily and seeing your family and friends may be so commonplace, but these past few weeks have been a reminder to me that I must pay greater attention and appreciation for the all these things that seems so commonplace, as they are truly what brings warmth into our lives and are the actual most special things in our lives. I continue to feel for those who are suffering and hope that the warmth they once knew will soon return to their lives.

~:[CH14 - Day 15]:~ Zeroed In

 
~:[CH14 - Day 15]:~ Zeroed In

I had a lot of work to finish before the game. I wrapped up grading position papers, I finished off some reservations, and then prepped my cameras. As I snapped my shots, it was fun to watch the team focus and zero in on their task, get the W. They all did what they needed to do. Especially on the boys side, the league is incredible evenly matched. The undefeated team in the league won three of their games by five points aside from one blow out. Every game seems to be such a battle and thus, they need to come ready to play every single game. I like the competitiveness and it helps prepare you for the road ahead. Close games are a staple on the road to a championship and being able to handle that pressure is key. Today, the team performed well and took comfortable victories in all three games and it was because they focused in. I felt the same way about my own work today as I accomplished so much as I focused in on what I needed to do. It's easy to get distracted, but if you force yourself, you can definitely find the road towards efficiency and success.

~:[CH14 - Day 14]:~ All in the Text

 
~:[CH14 - Day 14]:~ All in the Text

I filled up my calendar for January as I booked my final photoshoot for the month. It's a little chaotic trying to balance the schedule, but I squeeze in what I can to make it all work. My calendar is just like that. As tight as my schedule may be, that's what keeps me going. I rather be on the go than sitting around wasting time. My day was no different as we rolled from class readings and essays to our track and field tryouts and then I headed home to read through position papers for Nationals. As I read through them, I appreciate the time and effort that most of the students put into them as I made very few comments on many of the papers. Within the text, I could sense the pride that they had in their work, which is exactly what I like to do when I work. Your work shows who you are and I always do my best to ensure that what I produce reflects well. I often turn down shoots and other projects due to the timeline, not because I can't do it, but because I can't do it well. We each will create our own standards and philosophies. I just hope you stick to it and only get swayed when you want to make that change. As when you set those standards, feel proud when you uphold them and produce the kind of work you expect of yourself. As I turned over the deliverables to my client today, I was happy knowing that the work I produced was of good quality and I was even happier later knowing the quality of work that my students produced as well. 

~:[CH14 - Day 13]:~ Restart, Rebuild

 
~:[CH14 - Day 13]:~ Restart, Rebuild

It was our first day back running after being delayed by the fires. Everyone was in the mindset of what they did before and pushed themselves to a point where they realized, I'm not at that point just yet. I continuously think about those impacted by these recent events and now I add in those who may have been impacted by the quake in Japan (although it seems like there wasn't too much damage, thankfully). After any disaster, incident, or moment of difficulty in your life, the process of restarting and rebuilding begins. Many of us rush into thinking we can go back to normal, but the reality is, that's not the case. While initially, we will feel okay, reality may hit from time to time and lead us coming to a screeching halt It's okay. You don't have to rush after a tumultuous stretch in your life. It doesn't have to go back to the way it was or back to "normal." Rather, understand that you'll now have a new normal. While you may not want to, sometimes you'll have to start from scratch and as disheartening as this can be, it can also be an opportunity to restructure your life the way you've always wanted it. It's much easier for me to be typing this than those who have to go through it the next few months or years, but I hope that you can see that it's okay for you to rest every once in awhile, it's okay to be vulnerable, and it's okay to seek for support from those around you. It's easy to get lost when difficult moments in your life are faced, but as the dramas says, "it's okay, not to be okay." It will take time to heal, it will take time to restart, and it will take time to rebuild, but with the right mindset and perseverance, you will get there. I hope that for all of us, we can find a way to keep moving forward when we face a setback or a halt in our lives, but also that we can see that we don't have to start off running. Take your time, ease your way into it and show patience as you look towards the better days ahead. 

~:[CH14 - Day 12]:~ Value

 
~:[CH14 - Day 12]:~ Value

I've always liked coins. I saved all the "special" coins I received from bicentennial quarters, silver coins, half dollars and more. While some people didn't look at their coins, I looked at them meticulously and set aside the ones I wanted to keep. To me it was valuable and thus, I treasured them. As we look at the disasters on going in LA, it makes you think about the value of the things you have. Sadly, many people had to quickly decide what was of most value and take those things with them before they left the house. For many, when they went back to their homes, everything that they didn't take was gone forever. Some of those things can be replaced, but what are those things that cannot be replaced? I hope that in general, we can see all the things we value most and appreciate them more. Many times, it takes a disaster for us to do that, but it doesn't have to be that way. Whether it's photobooks, memorabilia, or something else, I hope we can treasure those things we have while we have the opportunity to. Similarly, I've loved to see the outpouring of support in these tough times, I feel like people have unified to survived together, a feeling I've felt myself in the past. However, I hope that on a regular basis, we can be more unified, more caring, and more thoughtful. Many around me already are, but still yet, can we put down our guard a bit and allow for more connections and set aside those things that divide us. For me, I think I want to definitely use this time to truly evaluate what I value in life and hope that I can realign and reorganize to ensure that what I value the most is treated as such more regularly. My heart breaks as I hear all the stories coming out of this disaster, but only hope that we can all come out of this stronger and wiser. My thoughts and prayers continue to go out to all those affected and my deepest appreciation for all those who have valued humanity, whether you're out there on the frontlines fighting the fires or volunteering, spread the word on how you can help or get help, or even if you're sending your thoughts and prayers. 

~:[CH14 - Day 11]:~ Our Mask

 
~:[CH14 - Day 11]:~ Our Mask

Who do you want to be? What do you want to do? Have you every wondered if you'd be different if you lived your life behind a mask or if you realize that you've lived like that your entire life? As I think about high school, I think about how the pressure of fitting in can influence you to like something you didn't quite like or to do things you didn't really want to do. Sometimes, they take you out of your comfort zone and help you risk-take a bit more and at other times, it can change you. Tonight's theme, a masquerade theme, made me think about this. Are we truly who we want to be and doing what we want to do? Are we a model of who we want to be or a model of what others around us want us to be? I've always debated this issue in my mind, wondering how should I live my life and am I being true to myself. Luckily, for the most part, I've been surrounded by people who've allowed me to be me and have respected my decisions. I think the one area I've "taken off" my mask is when I speak my mind, but otherwise, I can look back and be proud of the path I've traveled. As I watch the students at the dance, I wonder, would they rather be dancing rather than sitting around at a table or vice versa? Did they willingly come to the dance or would they rather be cozied up inside their home? As I watched many who were on the dance floor, I could see the joy of them being out there. They looked like they truly were carefree and enjoying themselves, while others outside were doing the same. However, here and there, I could sense that others may not have been as pleased or comfortable. I always tell my students, do the things you want to do and don't decide to or not to do something based on who is doing it. If you want to give it a shot, then do it. If you don't want to do something, then don't. I do hope they risk take a bit and give everything a shot, but more so, I  just hope that the students and everyone else, can just be who they want to be. For all of us, I hope that we can find our happiness and be comfortable enough to be who we are and not what others want us to be. It takes a lot to take that step, but when you do, you'll feel a lot more free, as you leave behind what was holding you back all this time. Here's to finding the real you behind that mask.

~:[CH14 - Day 10]:~ The Ball is in Your Court

 
~:[CH14 - Day 10]:~ The Ball is in Your Court

They often say that the ball is in your court. However, even when you get the chance to make the next move or decision, it doesn't mean that if you make a good move, it will always succeed. Sometimes, things in life will work out and sometimes they won't. Even when you have control, things can spin out of control fairly easily. Life is like that. Keep a positive mindset, but always have a plan B or C just in case things don't work out. While you'll want it to always work out, when it doesn't know that you have other options. As we opened up home league play, I banked the time to be able to go to all the games. Practices were canceled due to the outdoor weather and thus, I didn't have to worry too much about rushing back and forth. The boys JV struggled early, but came back to take the win. The girls also faced some obstacles and while they battled back from a double-digit deficit, they fell just short. While the boys varsity team played a solid team, but they were able to dominate throughout the game. Sometimes what you do will help you win, but when you lose, it doesn't mean you did anything wrong or that your decisions made your plans fail. Whether the ball is in your court, just do your best, lay it all down on the line, and hope and pray that things work out. Tonight, our efforts brought us home two of the three victories, but whenever you do everything you can, there's no doubt you can leave being proud of the effort you made. 

~:[CH14 - Day 9]:~ Overcoming the Haze

 
~:[CH14 - Day 9]:~ Overcoming the Haze

I know that everyone felt the difficulty as the walked around as the ash swirled in the air. For me, it was a bit hard to focus knowing the challenges that some were facing nearby. As I heard back from those I knew in the affected areas, I was a bit relieved to know of how they were doing okay, while I read about stories of others who were not. Even when you are not directly affected, when you know how close all of this is happening to you, it definitely impacts you. As while it may have been difficult to focus, it was nice to have our annual simulation as we discussed government with our philosophers. We delayed it until after break so we didn't rush it before finals and it was a smart decisions. I think it was nice to have a little fun with history to ease everyone's mind and allow them to focus a bit. With many accents through the day, it was enjoyable to see them argue their points and do their best to represent their characters. At the end of the day, our practice was canceled due to the conditions so we wrapped up our meeting and I went home to relax a bit. I was planning on having a meeting later this evening, but decided to just sit back and relax a bit to unwind from an exhausting week, but today was just what I needed to help me overcome the all that was going on this week. With all my tasks completed for the week, I am glad that I will be able to ease my way into the weekend and play a little catch up on the work that I missed as I find my way through the haze. I took one last look at the sunset before heading back inside as the red sun set in the hazy horizon. I keep hoping that eventually the skies will clear as that will mean the threats that exist now will disappear and the process of recovery can begin. As while it may not happen overnight, I know that together, we can help guide each other as we make our way through the haze. 

~:[CH14 - Day 8]:~ A Time for Prayer

 

~:[CH14 - Day 8]:~ A Time for Prayer

It's a bit crazy to see the fires spread. As I heard the winds blow while inside my house, I knew there would be trouble brewing outside. Sadly, as I hear about friends being evacuating and watching person after person seeing what they lost, it's difficult to imagine what they are going through. I was sitting at school just before 8pm, as we wrapped up our Nationals prep. It was a long and grueling day, but it was routine and I was doing something I normally would do. For thousands of others, they wouldn't mind working late in the night if it meant normalcy, allowing them to go back to that place they called home. Often times we inflate the difficulties and challenges we face, when in reality, there are times that are faced that are much more challenging than our own predicaments. When we see the devastation that people are facing, it helps put our own struggles into perspective. Things don't seem so challenging when we think about the challenges that others around us face. Today was one of those days for me. I took a moment to pray for those who were struggling as I reached out to a few people I knew in the area. I kept hoping for their safety and had them in my thoughts all night. As while I was tired, I could imagine how much more exhausted they were as they worried about what was ahead. For some, they will be lucky and be able to head back to their homes, but some will not be as fortunate. In these difficult times, it is important that we do what we can to help. As I read the numerous social media posts online, it makes me want to do what I can to help. At the same time, I was a little disappointed to read such divisive comments as well, as instead of sharing posts about where people could get help, seek shelter and more, people were playing the blame game, while others took to the streets to loot these poor individuals who already almost lost everything. It's an opportunity, but not one to gain politically or economically, but rather, to gain a bit of humanity. This is our opportunity to reach out, to support, to connect, and to love. Giving a word of encouragement, donating, volunteering and more, it's our opportunity to give whatever we can to help those who've had a harder day than ourselves. Instead of making it worse and throwing hate, division, and politics into this disaster, let's find a way to positively contribute and help out those who need it most. At the very least, let's pause and send a litter prayer in hopes that those who need it most are heard.

~:[CH14 - Day 7]:~ Focusing In

 

~:[CH14 - Day 7]:~ Focusing In

I've been uber productive the past few days. I've shut out all distractions and focused in on what I had to do. At work, I got most of the tasks done I could do while teaching and thus, when I got home, I was able to sit down and get to work right away. It takes a while to process and organize the files. From the first step of photoshopping to creating the graphics, then exporting via After Effects, then weaving it together on FCP, it's definitely a process. After exporting all the lineups, I burned the files to a disk and wrapped up the project. I wanted to finish a little faster so I could make it to the games, but I decided to stay in and wrap this up since I'll be pretty swamped. Although I've neglected a lot of my social media and communication over the past few weeks, I've been able to get a lot of work accomplished and soon will catch up on reaching out to everyone again. Sometimes you need to put those distractions aside as while some of the messages may be important, focusing in and getting something out of the way can even be more important. I did that over the past few weeks and I can now say that I took care of the majority of what I needed to accomplish during this first week of January. Are you disciplined when it comes to focusing in on a task?

~:[CH14 - Day 6]:~ Predicting the Mood

 
~:[CH14 - Day 6]:~ Predicting the Mood

I was a bit excited as I headed to school. You're probably thinking, "what?" Being inside most of the time, it was nice to get out a bit, although I had to work. As I thought about what to do on the first day back, I knew that the students wouldn't be in the right mindset to handle a lecture. I passed on that idea. Instead, I gave them a bit of work, without overloading their minds to ease them back into the year. I also needed the same easing as soon we'd be rolling into a number of things including Edison, Vancouver, and Security Council, all within the first month or so. Of course, I've been prepping for everything over the break and so I got into my room, organized a few things, sorted through my boxes, filled out all the paperwork I needed, and then got ready for class. It actually was a lot of work accomplished before school even began, which felt a little unexpected as I thought I'd be running around, but for the most part, I was in the groove, going with the flow. I predicted the mood in class correctly, but strangely, didn't predict how well my first day would go. I guess my excited mindset set the tone for the day and I was rewarded with a nice dinner to refuel me after the day. There are times you know will be rough, but when you approach them correctly, sometimes you can create a feel that was unexpected. Take control of your day and sometimes it will meet you can have a lot more power than you think. As while some things are unavoidable, when you control your mindset and approach, it will be easier to not only predict the mood, but also control it. 

~:[CH14 - Day 5]:~ Who Knows Me Best?

 
~:[CH14 - Day 5]:~ Who Knows Me Best?

I got a package from my friend in Japan and who knew they'd get me exactly what I wanted and needed. I got a few boxes of some of the most sought after packs that are pretty pricey here, but if you get them in Japan, you end up saving a bit. It was a much needed gift to allow myself to have a little fun on the last day before break. I continued to clean and prepped what I needed for tomorrow, but took a few breaks in order to sort through my cards that I acquired over break. I never was a big collector, but I start to get more into it over the past year or so as I figured out how to spot out cards to keep and those I could put aside. It's been quite an uneventful break as I recovered from a cold and had to rest for most of it, but I also had a few highlights including a fun photoshoot, a few wins, and a little more organization at home (although I still have 60% of the way to go). I thought I would be a lot more depressed as I thought about school tomorrow, but having someone knowing exactly what I needed to lift my spirts helped ease the pain a bit. I hope that we find that person in your life that can lift your spirits at just the right time. Thank you my dear friend :)

~:[CH14 - Day 4]:~ Right on Cue

 
~:[CH14 - Day 4]:~ Right on Cue

After staying home for most of the break to rest and clean, it was nice to get out and do something. We ended up eating on this cold day and then hit up Aloha. We were both thrown off when we walked in since we had not been there for awhile and they had redesigned their interior. It actually felt off to me as I didn't like it was much as the old layout, still yet, there wasn't anything necessarily wrong with how it was setup. I was definitely a little off since I hadn't played in a while, but I wasn't too off considering how long it's been since I played. It was a much needed break after a morning of training a new school in MUN class, Japanese class, cleaning, and prepping for the upcoming school week. Sadly, my days of sleeping in and resting are coming to a close as I ran out of time to clean, yet still was able to accomplish a decent amount. We'll see how the rest of this school year in 2025 goes, but part of me is a bit excited as the year always starts off with a sprint as we head into conference season. It will be busy, but it will also be fun. With one more day left, I'll do my best to make the most of it. 

~:[CH14 - Day 3]:~ Tossing & Turning

 

~:[CH14 - Day 3]:~ Tossing & Turning

For no good reason, I couldn't sleep last night. I laid in bed, but wasn't tired as the sun peeked through my window. Finally, I went to bed after watching a few dramas and the stock market, however, it was a bit strange, as that never really happens to me. Because of it, I woke up a bit late an started working even later. I made a lot of progress cleaning, however, I took a break to head out to the market and pick up a few things. I had no plan, as I just wandered from aisle to aisle. I settled on making a fried noodle dish. The timing was perfect as my mom had to leave early for a game and we were thinking about what to do for dinner. I used a few of the leftover vegetables and what I purchased today and stir fried it all together. It must have energized me as I wrapped up the remaining of a portion of my room I didn't expect to have cleaned up. Even with a late start, I finalized my reservations for Vancouver, held my meeting with my colleagues in Tokyo, and made my cleaning progress. I am definitely tired after losing a few hours of shuteye last night, however, I still powered through. Sometimes when we get off course, it doesn't take much for us to get back on track and even surpass where we expected to go. Sometimes we take detours, sometimes we scrap our plans or don't have one at all, but that doesn't mean we can't figure it all out. In the end, my dinner was a success, my to-do list was completed and my room, well, there's been progress at least. Don't get discouraged when things don't work out as planned and just go with the flow to see what comes out of those moments when you're left tossing and turning. 

~:[CH14 - Day 2]:~ Discovery

 
~:[CH14 - Day 2]:~ Discovery

I cleaned and cleaned today. I love cleaning as I find things I had lost temporarily. I hate it because I suck in all the dust. Of course, decluttering is always nice, but I'm not sure if that's the right term for what I was doing. Regardless, I discovered a number of things I thought I lost, reorganized a few things and finally put a few things up that were buried away. It was quite nice. As I did, I uncovered some cards I had previously purchased and opened the packs. Not really playing the games much, I jumped onto the online version of the games and realized how bad I was at it. In life, not only do we find things, we also discover things about ourselves. We find out what we are good at and sometimes what we are not so good at. It doesn't mean we have to pass on participating in the future, it just means, if we actual want to do a good job at it, we need to work at it to improve or simply just enjoy being able to participate. I went back to cleaning and didn't make as big as a dent as I had hoped, regardless, I uncovered somethings I was happy to and started to make the pivot into 2025. While I wish I had finished cleaning before the end of 2024, my body is finally up to the task and the grind will now begin. 

~:[CH14 - Day 1]:~ Finding a Foundation

 
~:[CH14 - Day 1]:~ Finding a Foundation

As the new year begins, many of us will be setting resolutions and soon thereafter, failing at them. Some will thrive and follow through, but many will not succeed. A current commercial says it typically takes two weeks before that happens on quitting Tuesday. Why are we so motivated to start anew and then fail at it so quickly? As I said in the closing post of 2024, we don't necessarily have to reset, but build off of what we have experienced. Of course, building requires a strong foundation. Luckily, I've been supported by a strong foundation all of my life. Amazing family, great friends, and many others who have stepped in to help me build what I want to build with the foundation I need to keep me sturdy. Many many not be so lucky, but you can find a way to surround yourself with people who can provide you with that. There's always the case where people around you try to sabotage you and compromise that foundation, but more times than not, those who seem loyal, are just that, even when they are quietly cheering for you from afar. Find the foundation, which comes in may forms, that will allow you to build what you want to build and also be the foundation for those very same people. Together, we can help each other rise to heights we never could have imagined as we confidently climb higher. Even when you have all the tools and materials you need, just know that it all is worthless without the support to keep your life stable. Thank you all for being part of my foundation and I wish you the best in 2025.