Cherry Blossoms ~ A Breath of Life

Cherry Blossoms ~ A Breath of Life

Written By: Pamala A. Fulcher

     As I drove through my neighborhood looking at the cherry blossoms their beauty took my breath away and it made me stop in awe.   Cherry blossoms are a popular indication that Spring has Sprung.  When we drive and see these beautiful trees in bloom we see new growth in a beautiful array of pink and white flowers.  These trees hold a wonderful symbolic meaning to life and death.  Because these trees are only alive for a short period of time, around two weeks, they represent the fragility of life and how precious things are now.  These symbolic trees hold these dainty blooms, soft and sweet, then they are freed by the winds to absorb back into the earth.  In Japan, these trees are celebrated and looked upon as a looking glass into the future.  

     The Cherry Blossom has been used historically as a blessing, gift and tool to embody courage and strength.  Emiko Ohnuki-Tierney, a Japanese-American anthropologist explains that the Cherry Blossom is, “Held above all other flowers by the rulers of Japan, Ohnuki-Tierney writes the cherry blossom or sakura has been a symbol of “the cycle of life, death and rebirth, on the one hand, and of productive and reproductive powers, on the other” throughout the history of Japan.” (PBS.org)

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http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/for-more-than-1000-years-cherry-blossoms-move-world-to-emotion/) 

     In 1912, 3000 Cherry Blossoms were given to the U.S. as a gift from the people of Japan.  Out of these original trees only around 100 still remain across the National Mall in Washington, D.C. 

     These blooms are a symbol of rebirth and a chance for newness and new beginnings.  Spring is the time for reconciliation and starting new things.  Take the first step to start your new beginning, breathe in life and enjoy all the facets of the things around you every day.   Utilize your time to take your breath of life, and take a first step to something you have been putting off;  whether it is organizing, starting a new exercise program or diet, buying a new house, planting a new garden, maybe you have been thinking of how you can protect your family so start with that small food storage system and water barrel just in case.  Maybe you don’t want to start anything new, maybe you are barely getting through what you have on your plate now, which is most of us here, running the rat race of life, so enjoy this spring time bloom to just simply taking some time for yourself, sit and reflect.  Be proud of who you are and what you do no matter how small it may be you can look at the cherry blossom and gain the strength, power and insight to be successful in your endeavors.  Life is short, life is fragile, and we only have one to live so why not live it the best we possibly can every single day.