Pig Post 1

I can't believe it is the year of the pig already.

I would like to start this blog off by commending everyone involved in making last night's celebration a huge success. Congratulations to everyone who was promoted and to all the award recipients.  This was a very proud yet very humbling night to witness and be a part of.

As we transition into the this new year and I return to the I Ho Chuan team, I have been contemplating, planning, preparing and yes to a degree, stressing about the year to come. During my year away from the team, I left the Monday to Friday world and am once again doing shift work. This has been a stressor for me for as I start this year, I already know I will be unavailable for many of the meetings, the formal classes and team commitments as a lot of these do center around weekends.  Having said that, I will need to be mindful on how I can support team commitments as well as the team culture and dynamics. Engagement, inside and outside of the Kwoon will be instrumental in this.  A strong focus on my personal goals with an open testimony so others can learn and be motivated by my successes and my "unsuccessful attempts" (thought that would be better than using the failure word) is something that should be unhindered by my schedule.

As I am still pondering last nights festivities, I realize that I am starting this year on the team with a new perspective.  Although, I stepped back from the team last year, I was given the opportunity to see what a year in a candidate is like. I witnessed an amazing year of growth for Simon, Hannah and Andrew as well as many others.  A small understanding of what a year of hard work, commitment and dedication can help you achieve.

I am looking forward to a year of growth, new friendships and building on old friendships.

Thanks for reading.

Mike