Walking down the street in Osaka, I was excited to see cherry blossoms for the first time. I am grateful for the opportunity to work in Japan for several years now, and this is the first time I have been here during springtime. It’s been a dream of mine to see these beautiful, delicate flowers in person and experience all that they represent.

Hanami, or cherry blossom viewing, is a cherished tradition in Japanese culture that spans centuries. Seeing these lush pink flowers is a thrilling sight to behold, particularly because they only last from one to two weeks. After that they fall, fluttering to the ground and decomposing back into the earth.

Cherry blossoms, or Sakura as they are known in Japan, symbolize the fleeting nature of life. Seeing these feathery pink flowers swaying in the wind delights the spirit, even though we know that their vibrant existence is so brief. We have all heard the saying that life is short, and that we should appreciate our time here while we can. And yet, in the daily ebb and flow of life, how many of us feel gratitude when presented with the opportunity? If we knew that today was our last day on earth, we would likely soak up every last moment of it. Eating a good meal, taking a walk in the park, and spending time with a loved one would be intensely appreciated. Cherry blossoms’ brief bloom time reminds us to feel gratitude as often as we can.

I had heard of this symbolism for years and was eager to experience the beauty of Sakura for myself. The trip was planned eight months in advance with my Japanese colleagues, and although there is no way to guarantee it, we estimated the best time to come based on when cherry blossoms bloomed in the past.

The very first morning of our trip, my husband David and I made our way to Osaka Castle. We had heard that there are many Cherry Blossom trees there and that they were lovely to see with the castle in the background.

Crowds of people were walking around, hoping to catch a glimpse on one of the four thousand Cherry Blossom trees on the grounds of the castle. It was colder than expected for this time of year, and the trees had not begun to bloom yet.

The little buds were visible on the branches, but alas, no blossoms. After strolling around for an hour, we decided to head back to where we were staying.

We planned this trip for almost a year, and my hopes had been high. Seeing these flowers was a bucket list item for me, something that I truly wanted to experience.

I had heard in the news that they were in full bloom in Tokyo but I was in a different city with different weather and its own timeline. I began to have the awareness that I might not see them in their full bloom the idea of that at first started to frustrate me But as the night wore on and my thoughts percolated, my perspective began to shift.

Seeing Sakura is meant to help us appreciate the gift of living, to have gratitude for every small moment that brings us joy. But there is also something to be said for releasing control and allowing things to happen when they are supposed to.

So many of us plan for things that we want. We may try our best, but certain things are out of our control. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and that’s okay. In fact, it’s a beautiful lesson in flexibility.

I smiled as we walked, feeling a swell of gratitude and appreciation for the natural flow of life. I may or may not get to see a sea of Cherry Blossoms, I thought to myself, but I will be grateful either way.

And that’s when we turned a corner and saw a beautiful cherry blossom tree in full bloom!

Much Love,