~:[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.