Winter Break: CAS Reflections

Over the winter holidays, I managed to do much more CAS than I had initially imagined. Obviously, knowing me, most of it was Creativity and least was Service. Activity always lies somewhere between the two:

Source: https://worldbycycle.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/db898682-0398-437d-9036-254dd0de4096.jpg

Creativity:

• Having purchased my new '2017' sketchbook, I couldn't not try it out and so I completed my first sketches of the year. For this year, I have undertaken the 'One Drawing a Week' challenge. Initially, I was going to do the 'One drawing a Day' Challenge, but with exams approaching sooner than I could every have expected
• Photography - Winter is one of the best times to take beautiful pictures and over the christmas break, there was nothing stopping me from getting up really close to the frosty leaves and clean-cut icicles. These pictures will soon be up on my CAS Photography Blog
• Practicing piano - After ending my piano lessons early this year, I found that I was practicing piano much less than I had planned. I intended on playing at least 5 times a week for around 15 minutes each time, but this ended up being more like 10 minutes about once or twice a week. Over the winter break, I managed to fit in more practicing.
• Baking for christmas - This one is a given, as during the Christmas season, it seems only right to make (and eat) as much gingerbread and other festive treats as possible.

Activity:

• Running - Despite the cold weather and occasional snow, I managed to force myself out into the frosty air and went for a run. Although I came back with an icicle on my nose and no feeling in my hands, I was generally always glad that I had gone on a run. Because of the weather, my runs were most about getting out and moving than to improve my speed and technique.
• Yoga - During the festive season, it was nice to stay inside and do yoga by the fire while following along to videos or making up my own 'routines'. Having practiced my yoga more and more, I am now at a point where I know enough moves and poses to create my own practices.
• Stretching - Although this is encompassed within yoga, I wanted to incorporate daily stretching into my 'exercise routine' to get closer to the goals I set for myself at the start of the CAS programme in my introductory blog. I am much closer to achieving all three splits and my crow pose is coming along nicely (but I am still miles away).

Service:

• Planning our last Cystic Fibrosis Activity - It's sad that our CAS project is coming to an end as I have genuinely enjoyed every single minute of it. I've loved working in a group with others who are just as motivated to raise awareness for this cause as I am. We are currently planning out our final CAS project activity and how we want to end our time working towards the cause. A post detailing the whole CAS project and reflecting what we have achieve will be coming very soon.