International Business

Another course done!
1) I went in to registering this one thinking that this would be one of the more difficult courses, based upon my lack of experience with current events and the international world of business and economics. As I went through this course, I feel like this is one of the courses I have the best understanding of and everything makes logical sense with flow.
2) This course, I kept up with it during the semester for the most part. Even if I didn’t finish my own set of notes, I’ve read the slides and text and have a good understanding of each chapter by the end of the module. When studying for finals came around, I really didn’t know what to study. I’ve done all the readings and notes, I understood everything already, reading it twice over to catch some of the smaller details was good enough. Didn’t feel confident with the process going into the exam, but I knew everything. Maybe this is what being caught up and organized feels like.

Anyway, this is the end of my part time 1 course/semester with full time work life. Next semester, 3 courses and CTH and who knows what exciting things I add to my daily life 🙂

Ogopogo 2019

Finally 30 years old so I entered in my first Masters tournament – Ogopogo at the Kelowna Badminton Club. Results was good and I’m satisfied, but I think the process was great.

1. Tournaments are like exams and report cards. It’s a reflection of preparation and performance. I didn’t practice any particular shots or skills since the last tournament, but I have significantly better quality of shots and coverage of the court. Fitness wise, I may not feel I’m stronger than before from the past month going to the gym, but my shoulder and back not being stiff was a good sign.
2. Requesting a partner to play together, you have no idea what you get. This time, I got a player that was not as strong for doubles. She’s likely the weakest player in the WD pool, but she’s really serious and wants to get better. She recognized that she was not as strong and asked me to not play like mixed because she wants to learn. I respect that and want to support her, so I told her to play how she wants to play, gave her a few tips if she’s in trouble, cover for her, and capitalize on my opportunities to make it advantageous for us. Between the sets, I let her give me feedback on how we’re doing, hear her out first on how we should change it up, add a few things, and play as discussed. At such a time, there’s no point for me to give her pressure or tell her to do something that’s not within her skillset. In the end, in 2 matches, we won one and pushed to 3 sets in the other against a really strong pair. Even though we didn’t win the event, I really enjoyed that process and what we achieved.
3. There is no being low key. Apparently, I’m being watched and talked about, how well I play and etc. It’s great but I am that much younger and spend a lot of time working toward it. I’m sure no one is talking about that. Being recognized and complimented but not in the way you care, thanks but no thanks.

Back to training. In need of my next timeline checkpoint…

Better late than never

While I was digging through some old posts to find some leadership notes on the go, I decided to read my entire blog last night, newest to oldest. Things I’ve learned about myself:

1. It’s very positive, motivated, and driven. I write the daily prompts but on a positive note. I write/take note when I read/watched something inspirational. I write when I’m feeling beat and just need to push on or reset.
2. While I felt the learnings from school was a little thing/improvement at the time or trying to make it become part of me, it has become a part of my views and values now.
3. There are a lot of people, things, and events that I appreciate in life. I write about it so it’s obviously somewhere in my head, just need to surface it a little more.
4. One of the recurring goals I have made over the years is developing a morning routine and becoming more disciplined to gain productivity. Finally, in 2019, I think I’m finally getting there. I have a good 7am routine now, trying to modify it to 6am. The productivity is definitely working for the morning, need to work on evenings and weekend. I’m making progress, getting some studying done, but there’s still more I would like to achieve: exercise, reading, extracurricular learning, hobby, social events, and just general relax down time to seem like a normal human 🙂 I’ll get there.

2019

2019 will be a year of change. Instead of SMART goals to achieve, I have themes I would like my actions to be consistent with, forming a better me.

1) the Chinese quote I found few months back that really stuck with me. 知而不做，實為不知. Knowing but not doing, then in reality it’s not knowing.

2) If going to do something anyway, do it sooner rather than later.

3) I have spent years to learn it’s okay to be not okay. It’s time to learn it’s okay to be okay.

So, with that, I hope to smoothly exit work, finish school, and find my next career path in 2019. In the process, I hope to develop a life routine and start one of the side ideas I always found inspiring.

To an exciting and eventful 2019!

Kamloops 2018

It was nice to play in a tournament again. Some games, after the warmup or half a set in, you know you got it. Just finish it, get it done. Some games, you know they got something, it’s not going to be a blowout. It’s a “more important” match, you need to perform. Then, the pressure hits and you’re not performing. This isn’t just practice or training where meh, I lost, beat you next time.

Overall, the tournament was okay. Got a really good partner for mixed, met some new people hopefully see again, reintroduce myself to this world. Most remarkably, I’m impressed with the last singles match. If I played my usual level, I would probably be okay, but it didn’t come together as easily as that. My usual go-to strategy didn’t work out, or I was scared to keep using it because she had a good return. I had to resort to my #2 and #3 strategy, string it together to make it work out. It took 100% effort, that thing I feel I’m always lacking. I’m glad I didn’t give up, I’m glad I put in that kind of effort, I’m glad I dug deep into my repertoire and executed. Those make me happier than winning.

It’s time to go back to training, keep building those tools for the day I need it.

Comeback

I realize that I look up to those who had a setback, worked hard, and come back stronger and better than ever before. Not everyone have the motivation for it, not everyone can be that disciplined, but for those on succeed, hats off to you.

Kento Momota. I cannot imagine what that one year is like, but this new level of maturity and skill, it’s unbelievable.

不忘初心

Sometimes, we need to dig deep to find that resilience. We know it’s challenging, we know it’s discouraging, but we need to believe and push on. Don’t let the emotions distract your goals and divert your course.

Borrowing from Jia’s reflective conclusion piece from the Uber Cup: “雖然我們的口號是不忘初心,無所畏懼…你真的能像剛出道比賽一樣天不怕地不怕嗎?…我們只能心裏暗示自己,我們可以做到 “

Where is the green grass?

There’s always 2 sides to everything, or more.

For my entire life, whether for myself or being a friend to others, it has been an experience of job/school/program application, interviewing, and waiting. There was always a lot of impatience, anxiety, frustration, and disappointment. Even after receiving an offer and accepting it, there’s the self-doubt after the excitement subsides.

What about the other side?

Recently, I have the unique opportunity to be on the other side of this process. The other side is definitely not necessarily the “advantaged” side as  I or other people may have thought. There’s the waiting for applications, then waiting for the interview, then deciding to take the chance or not on the person, then waiting for them to accept or decline the offer. Same as the application process, there’s the self-doubt process  of whether we chose the right candidate or if things turn out well in this thing I’m so invested in. And then, if the ideal candidate declined, there’s the what if scenario that would play forever. Who would have thought things were so difficult on this side?

The grass is not always greener on the other side.

Rebel

Logged into wordpress after a long break away. I actually have something to blog about, but I noticed the daily prompt today and can’t not post that first. Rebel.

Burnaby South Rebels! Didn’t think much of the mascot and high school back in the day, but as time passes, I realize how much of an influence that 5 years has on my experience and today’s views. And of course, can’t believe how I’m so proud of this history and mascot I can’t resist not posting this daily prompt!

Uncompromising

There’s a fine line between uncompromising and stubborn. How does one be uncompromising on their values and not be misinterpreted as stubborn?

Some good reads: https://dailypost.wordpress.com/prompts/uncompromising/