Cherry blossom time is one of the most magical times of the year…
As I have traveled the world in springtime, I’ve realized that cherry blossoms are revered everywhere. They create a mosaic of beauty as they shower their magic on a springtime breeze.
But of all of my memories, it’s the time spent in Japan that stands out from the rest. In Kyoto it’s a celebration that defies all others. In a beautiful area surrounded by cherry trees, blue tarps are laid on the ground as far as the eye can see. People come to sit under the blossoms for hours at a time…some bringing tents to spend the night. From students to business suits, young and old gather just to spend time in nature and absorb its beauty. It was in this setting that an elderly gentleman approached me and said: “Do you know what I think? I think that each petal is a blessing to attract ‘good things.’ Each petal should stand for one worthwhile thought.”
A smile can change a day.
A touch can heal a wound.
A word can make it better.
A laugh can ease the pain.
One life can make a difference.
A night in Kyoto, walkways are strewn with petals…lanterns are lit for moonlight walks amongst the blossoms. As I walked along the paths I thought of what I had learned that day: if you change the way you look at things, THINGS can change.
Sometimes we spend time
Counting wrong things…
Like calories and money and days until spring.
Try counting your blessings,
It’s a much longer list…
And see what it brings…
More joy…even bliss!
Photographed in Japan During Cherry Blossoms
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