I am not sure where the first two months of 2026 have gone to, but here we are. It’s time to recalibrate and delve into a “new start” to the new year. There are a million things I need to do, but I will continue to honour my time on the weekends. This form of REST is honouring and self-preserving. It’s a practice that I did not do when I was teaching in K-12 and for the first handful of years when I started teaching at the university. As much as I thought it was something that I needed to do to be viable and valuable, it took me several decades to realize that I am important and valuable too. I needed to re-navigate my life so that it would or could be sustainable. A couple of years ago, I almost burned out in January and I thought that I needed to respect my health and wellness. In doing so, I needed to figure out who I was, what’s important to me, and do what I wanted to do (not what I thought I needed to do). It’s taken some time for me to figure this out.
For example, today was a gorgeous day. I was inspired to get outside and go for a walk. I needed to connect with the land and place. It’s something that I don’t do that often, but today felt different. Maybe it’s a day for renewal, but I wanted to enjoy the sunshine and make the most of my weekend. I know that I have a billion things to do, my health and wellness are important to me. I loved getting outside and I predetermined a route for me to participate in, with a brief pitstop at the local Tim Hortons. I enjoy a cup of a medium dark regular coffee (and I needed to use the washroom too). Seemed serendipitous, and I even bumped into a former student from last semester at the restaurant (who gave me a couple of chocolates to complement my coffee… which were delicious). I enjoyed my time at Tim Hortons and on my walk, listening to my podcast. I loved the walk and coffee too.
I am also enjoying my time blogging tonight. Normally, I would be prepping for my two Monday classes, but the students are currently on practicum. It provides a little break from the enormity of my teaching schedule, but I continue to teach the undergraduate and graduate courses I am teaching as night classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Another thing I enjoyed doing today was cooking dinner for me and the kid. My kid is currently doing clinical, which involves 12-hour shifts. It’s nice to have dinner ready for her today and I was pleasantly surprised that she enjoyed the veggie fried rice. I thought she would not have any of the fried rice, and I would be left with days of having this veggie fried rice. Apparently, it’s not the case. She enjoyed the lemon chicken, but was not a fan of the frozen veggies. Two out of three is not bad. I felt like tonight’s dinner was a WIN!!
As we delve into the new year, I am having second thoughts of my #OneWord2026. Initially, it was PRACTICE, but I’ve been feeling that it should be JOY, instead. Maybe it can be PRACTICE-JOY… a hyphenated word. That seems reasonable. It makes the word “practice” a bit more specific and intentional. Hmm… I like that. There is nothing I like more than a reflective practice. Blogging for me forces me to practice writing, but really, writing is thinking. Getting to a place where I can elaborate on my #OneWord2026 has turned out way better than I expected. I feel “joyful” and happy with this adaptation.
YES… practice-joy. I can do that!!
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, March 01st, 2026 | Comments Off on Changing My One-Word
Just returned home from my trip to Winnipeg. I went to present at the WestCAST 2026 conference at the University of Winnipeg, but also support and mentor 3 teacher candidates from the UNBC Teacher Education program to present as well. What an amazing job the conference organizers have done to make this event possible, memorable, and incredible. I had a wonderful time, and I believe that this event will be one that the teacher candidates will never forget. The kind of thoughtfulness, organization, and orchestration were outstanding and I was so impressed by the number of attendees and quality of the presentations as well. The UNBC teacher candidates all did an amazing job in preparing for and presenting at the conference. I loved how personalized each inquiry was and how they were able to present their work that was meaningful to them and reflective of who they are. I am so proud of them. As for me, I did A LOT of OVER THINKING and preparing for my session… and I have no idea why???
I was definitely noticing that I was pouring a significant of time in this presentation and I approached my presentation like I did when I was a school trustee and I was writing a speech. It was so important to stay on time, but there was so much to say. Unfortunately, in speech writing, I lost the “pragmatic” or personal approach to my presentation. I tried to blend a bit of ad libbing during my presentation, but I went a bit overtime so I quickly rushed the end. Anyway, all went well and the group that was following my paper presentation would really see what I was trying to say… so much so, they were able to ad lib their work and incorporated what I was saying into their presentation. That was a true compliment and I loved what they had to say with a student led initiative in Indigenous Education at the University of Calgary at Werklund. I feel very lucky. The photo below was a posed picture taken after the conference. Sad, I know. I did not take a good photo when I was presenting, so I wanted to take one posed. What was amazing about this photo was, the teacher candidates I was working with made it possible. Very grateful.
I had such a good time at WestCAST 2026. I loved that I got to present with some colleagues from BCTEN (see image below) about Connective Professionalism and we just riffed off of each other during that presentation. I made the PowerPoint for the group and we collaborated after discussing what we wanted to talk about and after a follow up meeting to decide who was going to speak to which slide. What was fun… or amazing… about this presentation was, although we had “assigned” each other which slide we would speak to, we each created space for one another to speak and add to what each of us had said about our slides. It was, in essence, us modelling connective professionalism and the process of the Métissage that we had co-created for WestCAST 2025 at SFU. I just loved working with these folks and how joyful working together can me. I love BCTEN and the work we accomplish. I feel so wonderful about knowing who I am and understanding what’s important to me. These people are important to me an the work we are doing. I am so happy to be part of a group where we can lift each other up regardless of role of institution. It’s extraordinary. I am thankful to be a part of BCTEN and for these people.
I did not know what to expect from Winnipeg or from the conference, but overall, I am very thankful for everything that Winnipeg had to offer. Not only did I have the pleasure to coach and mentor three amazing teacher candidates from the UNBC teacher education program who volunteered / expressed an interest in presenting at WestCAST 2026 (see images below), but also for all of the fun things we got to do together while at the conference. We went to the Forks, a beading shop, the Canadian Museum of Human Rights, and Festival de Voyageur. The keynote speaker, David Robertson, resonated with all of us, and I think we each did a bit more shopping than we had anticipated. I think what surprised me the most, was reconnecting with folks in teacher education (i.e., from UBC, UVic, and SFU) but also folks who are from Winnipeg. I loved connecting with members of the WestCAST 2026 organizing team, and I got to bump on to a friend and former school trustee colleague who is currently the president of CSBA (no photos). I love my career in education, and the teacher candidates made it known that they were impressed with folks who know me. I said, you have to make your teaching career what you want it to be. For me, human connection was important to me… as a K-12 educator, school trustee, and now academic. Connecting and networking with people make my work fulfilling, FUN, and fruitful. PS. love conferencing!! I’ll be back in May, Winnipeg.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, February 21st, 2026 | Comments Off on Returning from WestCAST 2026
Here is a beautiful picture of my family… from the archives. I remember this day. I love this photo and I believe that I am taking the selfie, even though my dad’s head is right in front of mine… LOL. Obviously, my siblings and I are all adults, my mom did not quite yet turn the corner with her illness at the time, and my dad still had his memory. We all look a little younger, which is nice, and we are at some restaurant in Burnaby, BC. I think we are at the Chinese restaurant on Kingsway between my parents’ place and the Metrotown mall. It’s likely a Saturday and I commuted from the Sunshine Coast. We are having dim sum (except for my sister who is vegan and thus, she gets a mushroom dish).
Anyway, today is FAMILY DAY in BC and the first day of the mid-semester break. Normally, I would be teaching today, but I have the day off. Sadly, the truth is, I’m working and trying to catch up with work. It’s not that I am not getting things done, but rather, everything is taking way more time than I am anticipating it to take. For example, I was writing a draft copy of a chapter for a book and I was not going to make the deadline. I tried, but it was not going to happen. Luckily, the co-editors provided a weeklong extension. I thought that was generous because I thought I was close. NOPE. I have a full teaching week with 4 courses and no shortage of meetings, I ended up taking the whole week to complete. What helped was asking for help. For that, I am so grateful.
A long story made short, one thing at a time, one deadline after another, I have landed on this long weekend with some work (well, lots of work) to do on Monday. What I am proud about is, I prioritized sleep (as best I could), eating, and rest. To have this work somewhat sustainable, I need to take care of myself. Over time, I hope to add walking into the mix too. Anyway, I am just making each deadline and acknowledging that I can only do one thing at a time. That’s it. Everything (well, most things) so that I can get something done. I am pleased that I got the chapter done, and I also got my PAR (professional activity report) done on time (barely), as well as a task for one committee completed this morning. Again, I’m so grateful for help and time. It’s never planned.
I’m not disappointed, but rather grateful. I even took my “be a person day” this Saturday because I missed at least the last 2 Saturdays with hopes of getting things done. Honestly, rest is an excellent way to improve one’s productivity. I know, it sounds counter intuitive, but I just find that I can email, blog, and respond to what I need to do in a clear-headed, restful, and mindful way. I feel that way right now because I tried to start my blogs yesterday, but I was not ready do. I even missed last week’s blog and I just have to be ok with that. Anyway, when I am rested, things get done. The one-thing-at-a-time approach seems to be working in my favour as well as being kind to myself too.
As I get older, I have so much more gratitude for my family. I feel that my growing pains and perceived positionality in my family have taken a step back and I know my agency and my self-worth. Having lots to do is a good problem and I love everything that I am doing too. Every day is a gift and I will not take that for granted. Also this week is Chinese New Year and Saturday it was Valentine’s Day. These 3 particular days remind me of a pivotal week for my mom when she was in the hospital during her last “20 days.” She was admitted to the hospital on Family Day long weekend, she decided on Valentine’s Day to stop any intervention, and on Chinese New Year, we spoke to the palliative care doctor. It was a big week and my mom ultimately decided on MAID. That was 8 years ago.
I will not lose sight on the sacrifices my mom (and dad) took to give me and my siblings the good life of which we reap the benefits from. I am also grateful for the relationships I have with my brother and sister. We are so different from one another but we manage to connect and support one another that is enduring, loving, and caring. Right now, we are supporting my dad in his final chapter and I am grateful for my siblings and mom and dad for making me the person that I am today. I am also thankful for my kid and my cat. They make my life full. And, I am very happy to be doing work today because I love the work that I do. I was meant to be here and slowly but surely, I am learning what’s important to me, and having voice in expressing why it’s important. My mom would be proud of me.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, February 16th, 2026 | Comments Off on Catching Up on Family Day
It’s been a few years since I have been teaching in teacher education. I will say that returning back to teaching has been a calling. I stepped away from teaching high school mathematics in 2010. I did not return to teaching until 2018 at the university. During my 8-year hiatus, there has been many changes and transitions from where I was and where I am today. I would not consider myself an outdoorsy person, nor would I consider myself adventurous. I would say, I am somewhat curious and I am in constant exploration of who I am and my identity. I will admit, I often feel combobulated most times and will engage in reflective practice to wonder, question, and reflect. When I moved to Prince George in 2018, my sense of self was seriously disrupted. I lived in small communities by the ocean for most of my life, in Prince Rupert and Sechelt, with exception to Vancouver where I had completed my post-secondary degrees at UBC and SFU. Being by the ocean was an integral part of who I am and how I identified. Moving to the central interior of BC was very dramatic, along with the weather and river. I was starting all over again.
For the first couple of years, I was essentially coping. I lived in my apartment, from which I commuted to the university and back. Nothing out of the ordinary until we had a faculty association strike in 2019 and the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. In both instances, we were walking the picket line outside in subzero temperatures and then trapped in isolation from others during the pandemic. Going outside and taking a walk seemed like the only normal thing we could do when we were in lockdown. Also, walking around my neighbourhood helped to to understand place and space. I did not feel as isolated or lonely when I was walking outside. Being outside felt like freedom during the pandemic and I was grateful to be forced to get outside as something to do, but also acquaint myself to this new place. Upon returning back to the university in-person from remote learning, going outside seemed aligned to the signature pedagogy of the redesigned BEd program that was first implemented in 2020. Going outside was an opportunity to take my classes and learn more about this place and the land and who I am in this place.
My friend took me out to a place called West Lake Provincial Park. I was asking her of possible places to take my class and learn outside. We drove out to the lake and walked around. It was the perfect place, even though when we were there, there was a bear strolling along the waterline. As we were drinking our coffees, she held my arm and said, “don’t panic, there’s a bear.” Good thing she said that because, I would have panicked. We slowly got up from where we were sitting and quietly left. As you can see in the photo, I love West Lake and I brought one of my classes that year to West Lake to learn about land-based learning, the walking curriculum, “land as teacher,” and being intentional using curriculum to be outside. It was an amazing experience and I feel that it brought us together. Although many of the students are from the local area, it was an opportunity to reconnect to a place with a different intention, but also for those who are not from the area to acquaint oneself to the beauty and awe of the land and place. For me, it was also an opportunity to learn more about this place, with this place.
I have also taken my class to Cottonwood Park as an introduction to curriculum and lesson planning, and to other places in Prince George such as the Prince George Public Library and Two Rivers Art Gallery. I have also taken classes to the Forest of the World near campus to walk to the pit house to learn more about the First Peoples Principles of Learning, the Ceremonial Fire Circle at the university to acknowledge the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, the Wabooz Garden to facilitate the Blanket Exercise, and Lheidli T’enneh Memorial Park in the middle of winter to explore teaching and learning at different places and different times of year. The weather can be tricky in the fall and winter, of which the terms I teach in the teacher education program, but also also going to places, as mentioned, also embodies the School of Education signature pedagogy of People, Place, and Land. In the winter term when I have been teaching the elementary cohort only, we have held classes in schools via in-situ learning and numeracy night with families. Teaching and learning in schools alongside with the school community is powerful, meaningful, and impactful. There is a reciprocity present, but also learning in context and community through experiential learning help deepen one’s understanding.
I do get some comments from students saying that being outside was their most favourite part of the course or learning in-situ. These comments are reinforcing and I am also aware that my colleagues are also taking students outside by going to Barkerville in the spring, going canoeing in the fall (near the end of their program), and going on nature walks with knowledge holders to learn the Dakelh language. Language and land informs one’s identity and connects them to their history, culture, and place. I am also aware (and have observed) students on practicum taking their students outside to learn, to wonder, and to be well. Working with one group of students who’s inquiry involved the sit-spot and student wellness. They hypothesized that going outside was good for student wellness and would help them to self-regulate and enjoy learning more through engagement with the land and with others. I recall one of these students saying that during the summer term of the program, they could not wait to go outside during the break because both of their classes were held inside. They needed to go outside to self-regulate and reconnect themselves to land and place. For me, going out on the land helps me to understand myself. It challenges me to embrace the new and the unknown.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, January 29th, 2026 | Comments Off on Land-Based Learning
It’s 1 am and I am writing my weekly blog post. I’m needing to reflect on how I spend my time and what I am accomplishing. Sorry… I’m having a moment. This weekend, I went to Vancouver for the day to visit my family. It was a 12-hour turnaround and I felt like I had maximized my time. I saw the ocean and loved people watching. Folks were walking along the waterfront with friends and a coffee in hand, or running along the waterfront, or rowing with friends or on a team. It was amazing to be back by the ocean. I loved listening to and watching the seaplanes… and seagulls. And, I too had a coffee in hand as a walked along the waterfront with my sister. We went to Burnaby and visited my brother and dad (and mom too at the cemetery), and I got some ME-time with a massage.
Anyway, I was having a conversation with my brother and sister during breakfast and my sister was very clear with what motivated her. She loves the idea of climbing a mountain and she’s at the base of the mountain. She loves the challenge. She loves the unknown. And, she loves the thrill of problem-solving. Whoa. I think my brother and I think otherwise, but what she had to say caught my attention. I don’t think she’s too far off with her self-assessment of what motivates her and why. I was really caught off by her certainty. She KNOWS that about herself. I was enamoured by her certainty and her ability to articulate this knowingness about herself. The clarity was also notable. I replied that I like it flat like the prairies… LOL. I was joking, but really, I don’t think I know what motivates me as clear and concise as my sister had demonstrated. That said, I think this unknowning of what MY WHY is has been on my mind for quite some time.
This noticing also happened a few weeks ago for a grant application. The PI was collecting information from collaborators in terms of why they should be part of the grant and what they would present about in context to the application. I sent my form in, and even asked one of my friends to send a copy of what they sent as an exemplar to help me write my short submission. When the draft application was sent out to each of us to review, my submission sounded like a short version of my CV and others sounded like a description of their soul and spirit in context to their work. I was shocked and disappointed (in myself), so much so that I offered to rewrite my submission. I did not, in the end, but damn… why can’t I identify THIS THING that makes me, me. Admittedly, this has been on my mind since reading the grant application and I am hoping that my existence is more than the selfies, patio pics, and food pics I take (for fun).
Now, as I am thinking about it, my kid said something to me at dinner after returning from Vancouver. I came home around dinner time and I was not going to be cooking anything. All I could think of was to steam some dumplings and go to bed. I was tired. It was an early start that day. Instead, we went out for dinner. Mid-meal, one of my students entered the restaurant. She came by our table to say hello. It was good to see her and she said it was weird to see me outside of the university because she has never seen me outside of the university. I mean, that’s fair. I like staying at home. Otherwise, I’m at work. Anyway, near the end of our meal, my kid goes to the washroom. My student is also in the washroom and shares a little about me to my kid. My kid returns to the table to share what this student had said to her. I did not make too much of it… and kind of didn’t take it to seriously. My kid then replies, “I don’t think you are confident…”
I mentioned during my graduate class this term that it’s hard for me to remember what “nice things” people say about me and/or my practice. It’s not that I take it for granted or expect good responses. It’s the opposite. I don’t expect it (and don’t deserve it). I am also fearful of getting bad or negative comments as well, so I guess I am ignoring or dismissing all comments. This behaviour is not humility. It’s fear. I do want to do a good job and I do make an effort in making sure I am steering the ship forward, but I’m hesitant to make any lasting impressions (or being my full self). That tracks… a lack of confidence. I get scared of pushback and being clear of MY WHY and why I do things matters. It happened last week when I was asked about the amount of reading I was assigning. In that case, I knew why and articulated this why to students. I was open to adapt, but also provided an articulation of what the readings could be otherwise. Some students after class thanked me for this articulation. I think that surprised me the most.
Understanding MY WHY and what motivates me is critical to my work and the way I live. I know I am delving into work-life balance and taking Saturdays as “be a person” day. My peers have acknowledged this movement and have only complementary or supportive words to share. Taking things slow and being intentional with these days and with my time has been incredible for my mental health and sustainability. If anything, I am learning more about myself in this new chapter in my life and I am building up my courage and confidence over time. I believe that I am learning how to trust myself, and trust others too. If anything, this life is a journey, not to sound cliché, and noticing is part of the learning. I have a sense of MY WHY, but I will elaborate in another blog post.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, January 26th, 2026 | Comments Off on Figuring Out My Why
Look at what I found at Costco this week… DUMPLINGS!! Finding these is a moment to celebrate. Let me explain… I moved to Prince George from the Lower Mainland. Access to Chinese/Cantonese food was very easy. I have a lot of good memories having dim sum or double duck dinner with my mom and family. Food brought us together. I moved to the Central Interior of BC about 7 years ago (and 2 of those years were spent on the Sunshine Coast during the pandemic). Anyway, Chinese food in this area tends to be more of the Canadian-Chinese genre and finding places with authentic Chinese food is hard to find. We did find a few yummy dishes at one restaurant called Fortune Palace. It’s pretty close. There are also a few dishes that taste pretty good at Famous Wok in the mall too. So, I do like going there sometimes if I don’t want to spend $100 to get a meal. But, it would be nice to cook at home. What I really want are DUMPLINGS or dim sum.
One year, after the pandemic and returning to Prince George, I spend a whole year investigating where I could get yummy Chinese food, in particular, dumplings. I found some in Superstore. I found some refrigerated potstickers with that yummy vinegar sauces. That was excellent. I have also found Hong Kong style rice rolls, deep fried bread, and frozen onion pancakes. Lastly, the Superstore also have some delicious frozen vegan dumplings, egg tarts, hargow, and rice noodles. All of these items are pretty good. And taking the time to list these items makes me realize that there are quite a few things here in Prince George. There is a local store call the Marquee and I love getting the frozen dumpling there and sticky rice. AMAZING. I also try to by my sauces there and anything that seems to catch my attention. I love supporting a local business. And, I did find Hon’s potstickers at Save-on-Foods. That said, I love the Bibigo dumplings at Costco (and Superstore and Save-on-Foods). It’s my favourite, but can be pretty pricey. As you can see, I found bags of suimai and hargow at Costco. I’ve had the hargow before and now in stock, but the suimai was a new find. Both products are made in Canada. #winning
FOCUS ON THE JOY
I tried both dumplings yesterday along with some BBQ Buns from Costco (of which the taste was spot on), and the dumplings were pretty good. They are a 7 out of 10. You cannot compare these dumplings with those found in Vancouver. I go to a restaurant called The Neptune near Metrotown and The Boss in Metrotown. These two places are must go-to’s for me. The food reminds me of my mom, but one of the very few things that I hold on to as part of my ethnic identity. I feel that’s why I am so determined to find items like these to keep me grounded to who I am. As I reflect on this dumpling find and the dumpling-hunt overall, I am reminded by the process. There were lots of wins, but also some losses. And, that’s ok. That’s learning. You have to try some things out to see if it’s something that you want, or not want. Ironically, it serves as a metaphor for my work as a practitioner-scholar. That’s probably the first time that I have identified myself as that, but I am coming to terms that the term PRACTITIONER-SCHOLAR best describes who I am. I am deeply invested in action-research, program evaluations, and self-studies as part of my scholarship. Identity, experiential learning, and reflective practice are at the heart of what I do. The context is mathematics education, teacher education, and professional learning. Leadership, policy, and governance weave into my work ask well.
I feel very lucky to do what I do. I love going to conferences, I love presenting, and I love learning. I love working with others, whether it be students or colleagues, and I love learning from experience. I understand that in my work, there is a sense of urgency, productivity, and publishing to attain tenure and promotion, but my position is a bit different. As much as I could “complain” or be distressed about not being tenure track, but I feel lucky nonetheless. I live in a community that is just the right size for me. I live in my home (that I bought all by myself) with my kid and cat. And, I live in a way that works for me and my pace of life. I am learning that I am not living my life for anyone else, but for myself. There are wins and losses, much like the dumplings. For example, I have won 2 internal grants as the principal investigator to support two research assistants and I am currently working with 3 teacher candidates to go to a student teacher conference and 3 recent graduates to publish a chapter. I think my only barrier is… ME. No one wants to eat a yucky dumpling, but how else do you learn? Yes, there is a potential to be rejected (which I have been) but the focus is what I can learn from the experience and feedback. You never know… it might be a winning dumpling!! Just try.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, January 16th, 2026 | Comments Off on Focus on the Joy
A return back to school… with classes on Monday, January 5, 2026 and Thursday, January 8, 2026. My Wednesdays class does not start until next week. I had plenty of meetings this week and I am anticipating more to come next week. It was an excellent jump into the new year with a deep dive into my teaching term with so much more on the go. One of those things I had to tackle this week was filling out my first FRASP for work, that is a Field Risk Assessment and Safety Plan form. I tried to do this last year, but I felt so flooded. It’s a shift in practices at the university and taking students off campus has become a little more challenging, even though they are adults in our program.
It only took a few hours to fill out the form, get confused, ask a colleague for an exemplar, go back to the form and do my best to complete the form. The questions seem not adjacent to taking students to a K-7 school for classes versus somewhere outdoors or at a health care facility, but this form had to be completed and I was committed to do so. The next day, I went to the university to ask teacher candidates in my class to sign the form as well in addition get signed approval from the Chair and Dean. It was a process, and admittedly, it’s 99% complete. I have one more student to sign the form, but I have been approved to start in-situ earning at Harwin Elementary on Monday. Yay!!
Another aspect of the FRASP is for the supervisor (aka., instructor) to have their first aid certificate. Oh my goodness… I needed to get this done before Monday’s class… and when I was getting the formed signed, it was Thursday. No pressure, right? I looked online for Basic First Aid courses in Prince George. I had to try. And yes, there were a couple of classes I could take. It turns out that they program has changed since I had taken it last (i.e., 2 decades ago) and it’s now called Basic First Aid versus Level 1. Nonetheless, I signed up for the Saturday class knowing that that I had to pass for the FRASP, in-situ learning at Harwin, and compliance to my course syllabus. No pressure.
Many, many years ago… I used to be the first aid attendant at my high school. I did that role for years and had to be trained in Level 2 first aid (now called Standard First Aid). Back then, I did quite well in those first aid classes. They used to be a week long and I got time off work to train. Now, that course is only 2-days long and I can imagine, very crammed. We practiced a tonne in those courses, and what I had appreciated about first aid was the logic, the protocol, and the sequence of events that are needed to save someone’s life as the first responder. I like the rigour. Maybe I missed my calling?
Sadly, I was never good at biology. I might attribute that to my high school and university experiences in biology. High school involved rapid note taking via the ongoing scroll of the overhead notes (and the ink was so faint, I could never read it. Or the politician who said, here’s the textbook and there will be weekly tests on the subject matter. Or the professor that talked about dirt. Truth be told, I did not like dissecting a cow’s eye ball, a preserved fetus pig, or freshly killed rat. Not a fan. I like the care aspect of first aid, and maybe making a difference (hence, education). Even when I took care of my mom on her last days, many health care workers asked me if I was a nurse. I said, “no, I am a teacher.”
Anyway, I took the Basic First Aid Course in Prince George. From 8:30am to 4:30pm on my “be a person” day (aka., Saturday). I noticed the length of time of the day. It’s very much like my classes on Monday… so, it is possible. Hmm… but admittedly, an endurance test and there was a lot of content. We did not do a lot of practice compared to what I had remembered from Level 2 decades ago, but I needed a 70% pass on the test, which was multiple choice and held at the end of the day (i.e., 4pm). There was no pre-reading, and the course was primarily direct instruction, PowerPoint, the odd reference to the books, and some demos and practice. I was not sure how I would do on the test.
There were so many acronyms and things to remember. As mentioned, biology was not one of “my things” because of all the names, terminology, Latin… and I know that my brain can be a sieve. I really tried to pay attention during the day. Some things were repeated, but you never know how much you know, until you know. We got the test form at 4pm. I am such a slow reader. I did not want to miss, misread, or misunderstand anything. I think I was on #10 out of 30 and people were finished and getting their test marked. I was trying to self-regulate and focus on the test. I was the last or second to last to finish with 9 questions I was unsure of. In the end, I got 30/30. Woohoo!!
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, January 11th, 2026 | Comments Off on Missing My Calling
Sadly, this photo was taken from the archives… LOL. It’s a photo from September 2025 and it kind of reflects my current feeling. So, why not? The reason why this photo was in my recent images, I was reviewing my photos throughout the year and selecting a photos for each month for a photo collage of highlights for 2025 (see below). I guess this image of me did not make the cut. It’s snowing today and I just finished my PowerPoint presentations for my classes on Monday. I still have to prep on Sunday, but it’s nice to be ahead on the “lesson plan” and then prep the details the night before. I’m hoping to figure out my routine for the winter term. Last year, it was terrible. Having 8-hours of instruction on Mondays does not lend well to “be a person Saturdays.” I am a little combobbled right now. I totally forgot to recycle today because I was working today.
Recycling will now have to wait a week… a natural consequence to being combobbled. I did do the weekly cat-cleaning duties this morning, but I guess working on the PowerPoint and planning offset my momentum for the week. Nor here or there… I’m not even sure why I’m writing about it. LOL. Actually, I do enjoy recycling. I love the closure of sorting and emptying out my recycling bins and bags. I did realize that I did not recycle this afternoon and it would have been viable to “get up and go” to recycle this afternoon, but it was snowing A LOT and I just came back from a short outing with the kid (and she was driving). I made the executive decision NOT to recycle. I did not want to go outside. Accept the consequences and move on. But here’s the deal… NOTHING HAPPENS.
No one cares if I had recycled today or not, or if my photo was just taken yesterday or four months ago. NOTHING HAPPENS. This life’s lesson has taken me a very long time to understand. There are always natural consequences, but the intensity of anyone caring or that life will end or that “something terrible” will happen… doesn’t happen. I learned this lesson almost a handful of years ago when I rented a car. I backed into a planter on my way back to the airport and I was stressing the whole way there. During the whole trip, I imagined many different outcomes… and none of them were good. My anxiety was at an all time high as I approached the parkade to drop off the car. I told them about the back bumper on the driver’s side. One of them went out to inspect the car and confirmed my claim. They asked me to sign in a few places and said that the bill to repair the vehicle would be in the mail. There was no judgement, no shaming, and no blaming. NOTHING HAPPENED. I got the bill and for such a “small” ding, the bill was a doozey, but not unreasonable. I realized then that I was the one who cared… but no one else did.
There are some instances when people do care, but the actions are my doing and others may have been negatively impacted. Again, there are natural consequences, but I can take ownership for my actions. That’s another life’s lesson. Take ownership of what you do or what you believe in… that’s my agency but also my responsibility. I can understand that, for sure. I will admit that I do appreciate when “nothing happens.” It was almost like I had to cool-down my nervous system and not overthink or overreact to a situation. That fear was deeply embedded in me and I needed the time to unlearn or deprogram myself into a different way of being. I can see that I can be my biggest obstacle. The fear of failure or success is overwhelming sometimes that it just leads me to avoidance, procrastination, or self-sabotaging behaviours. That’s not a good thing either, even though NOTHING HAPPENS. And, even if something did happen, I would potentially be deeply triggered into cognitive paralysis. The fear would be and can be overwhelming.
Of course, I see Adam Grant’s post tonight as I was writing this blog post and I was heartened by the message of focussing on habits and not outcomes. The outcomes will come. I would give that message to my math students (when I taught high school math). “Don’t focus on the grade, focus on the math… the grade will come.” How full circle is this? It’s the pot calling the kettle black. I am so grateful for my #OneWord2026: PRACTICE… in particular, “deliberate practice.” What I really intended with this word are HABITS. Changing one thing at a time… nothing major… but with a real focus on improving my health, courage to take (academic) risks, and be present. Today, I exercised for 30 minutes, I had 2 Stanleys of water (with electrolytes), and I’m getting used to using my NEW electric toothbrush and brushing for 2 minutes twice a day (and flossing). I am also trying to blog on Saturdays (even though it’s now Sunday after midnight).
There are a few habits I want to break… or minimize… but it’s these small victories I need to be celebrating and PRACTICING different habits and “alter actions that are in my control.” I also finished my planning for Monday on Saturday (with some prep on Sunday). THIS IS PROGRESS. I am also going to bed at a decent hour and I will get up tomorrow morning to start anew. I can do this and I am realizing that I also need to be reasonable with all the things I put on myself as well. I can’t expect that I can do a million things (plus one) just because I perceive other people are doing that or if I believe that is something I should do. There you go… another habit I am practicing. When do I say no? What do I love to do? What makes me happy? I also believe I am trying to kick the PLEASER-mindset to find my self-worth, but rather I am understanding my self-worth and learning how to act accordingly. Focus on the process. In the end, NOTHING HAPPENS.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, January 04th, 2026 | Comments Off on Nothing Happens
Is that what I want for myself? It’s starting to look like a habit… re: blogging every second week. That’s not my plan, but it’s turning out to be that way. Normally, I would like to blog to reflect on my week but also think about some of the lessons learned during that week. Moreover, blogging often helped me as a warm-up to work. Is this something that I am making up? I think I am, but lately, I have not been prioritizing my blog time as part of my “things to do.” Blogging would be something that I looked forward to, particularly on the weekends. I would also blog when I was inspired so more than one blog post would emerge from the week. Now, I perceive blogging like work (i.e., something that I have to do). Blogging is not part of my work, but maintaining a reflective practice is part of my work. Anyway, here I am… two weeks later… writing my blog post… on a Monday.
If anything, I do need to get motivated or geared up to do the list of things I need to do. I have been prioritizing sleep and rest. Unfortunately, last weekend I opted to work… and I did… all weekend. By the time the week rolled around, I was somewhat tired, I needed a lot more to recover from the day, and my days remained fairly full. As a result, things that did not get done just spill over into the next week. Last Friday, after two weeks of full-output with respect to ending the term and doing additional work I have signed up for, I had nothing left in me after an afternoon meeting that day. The weather dipped deep into the cold, it was snowing, and I just wanted to REST… and so I did… all weekend, guilt-free. I just needed the time to restore myself. I had no idea that recycling, vacuuming, and doing my laundry would have such a restorative effect on me.
I was not in the mood for anything Friday night. I did not have the will. I did some housework on Saturday, as mentioned. On Sunday, I just slept in, took a nap, and chilled for most of the day. I did not even want to blog, so here I am on a Monday afternoon, the day after winter solstice. Dang, it did get dark early yesterday. And, I made my kid and her boyfriend dinner. I cleaned up and just enjoyed my time with my cat. I’m becoming one of those ladies… a cat-lady… and, I’m liking it. I was looking forward to the next couple of days to catch up on a very big list on some very big things to complete that rolled into this week from the last few weeks and beyond. Sadly, I almost missed the one Monday morning meeting I had scheduled. Holy moly… there needs to be a balance between rest and work. I am loving BE A PERSON Saturdays, but it does trickle into Friday nights and Sundays. I don’t think it’s a bad thing, but it does make the week full.
If anything, I am not complaining, but I am honestly grateful to have this work to do. I love what I am doing. I love where I am. And, I love the people that I get to work with. In the end, prioritizing my time only highlights what’s important to me. All of what I am doing is important and I have learned to walk away from things that do not fill my cup, sucks up too much energy, or I do not love to do. So, how lucky am I? VERY LUCKY.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, December 22nd, 2025 | Comments Off on Prioritizing My Time
My kid was hanging out in my office for a bit last week. I invited her to see a talk with me on Friday afternoon. she agreed to go with me as she had a couple of meetings after the presentation. We went to my office to charge her iPad and she started looking at some of my collectables in my office. One of the things she found was my dad’s slide rule. She asked, “What is this?” I said it was a slide rule. She said, “What is it used for?” I knew it was used for mathematics, but of course, I looked online to see what the slide rule is really (see image below). It’s used for math… for logarithms, exponents, trigonometry, etc. It was a device used before calculators. She then asked me if I knew how to use it or if I ever used it for school. The answer was no and no, but I did say to her that it was one of those gems that I took from my dad as a keepsake. My brother and I have so many memories of things that were in the house that we remember as a kid (i.e., a copper globe that opened up and it was a cigarette holder… LOL).
Anyway, we started talking about logarithms. I asked her if she know what a logarithm was. She did not take Pre-Calculus Math 12, so I wondered what she knew about logarithms. She was not aware of logarithms, so I started talking to her about it. I started to give her some examples, orally, and then asked her some questions. Through trial and error, she started to get the concept. This activity was so fun. It reminds me when she was 3 of 4 years old and I’m teaching her about square roots when we were driving in the car. Yes, it’s true. We did math problems in the car instead of singing or telling stories. I talked math… and she would get it. So, it was really cool for me to see that she was getting logarithms base 10. So of course, I changed the base and started asking her different questions. She started to get it. Classic mom… I asked her what was log 1? Hence the picture, we needed to talk and write it out in terms of a logic using exponents. I was so impressed that my kid persisted. LOL. I thought it was a good sign even though she ended the conversation with “I was never good at math.” I would strongly disagree.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slide_rule
Here is what I love more… the next day, she asks me… “When do we use logarithms anyway?” She insisted that I give examples… and so I did. Example 1: Earthquakes and the Richter Scale. Example 2: pH values and acidity of solutions. I think I might have impressed her. LOL. I’m giggling… with joy and wonder. I love that my kid was interested in mathematics. I took joy in her curiosity and willingness to learn and engage. I mean, I’m her mom. I can get potentially annoying and I’m talking math!! Finally, I took much joy in talking about math and I loved teaching math to her and with her. I did say to her that I was not the smartest in mathematics, but I did ok. She said I was smart. I said, I taught high school mathematics for more than a decade. You just get better at it over time. Anyway, that experience told me that I would love to go back to K-12 education teach math. In the meantime, I am teaching numeracy to elementary teacher candidates. That, in itself, has so much to learn as well. Math is too fun and that’s where my joy sits.
Written by Christine Ho Younghusband, November 23rd, 2025 | Comments Off on Talking Math
