Cherry Blossom photo diary & and what Sakura teaches us

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Cherry Blossoms in Japan have a special, bittersweet meaning and is an important reminder once a year. But I think even now, with the season we are currently in – the meaning holds more weight.

The Sakura season doesn’t last long (it can be a fickle season to plan travel for). For a few weeks, Cherry Trees all over the country bloom in an explosion of pinks and whites to be viewed together with family and friends. However, soon after they bloom, they begin to drop and another season is eagerly waited for.

The symbol of the Cherry Blossom is how fragile life is. It can be beautiful and full, but is also fleeting. You often see them in cemeteries for this reason. This metaphor teaches us to live in the now – to be present in the moment as we enjoy the height of the blooms. This is lived out through “Hanami” in Japan. The old custom of viewing and admiring flowers (and it is still done all over Japan today). Hanami often includes having a picnic among the trees with food and drinks to admire the beauty that they bring, and to simply enjoy.

This may not be a time of enjoyment – you may feel frustrated, enraged, discouraged. But I hope we can all find ways to enjoy whatever life is presenting in this moment. Spring is a time of renewal, and although the grand plan was not to embrace it indoors, let’s try and find ways to still take on this season of “new” and be present.