Hello and welcome to my newsletter! I’m Jor-El and I’m a therapist and author of The Shadow Work Workbook and Self-Care for Black Men. I’m here to share my perspectives on life, mental health, and self-compassion. Thanks for being here!
I’ve been in my mindfulness bag recently (more on that later) and I wanted to share with you something that came to mind recently.
Last week, I was co-facilitating a support group. This group meets monthly and provides its members with the space to share whatever is on their mind and get support in community. This particular month was an active group in which the topics shifted rapidly and everyone seemed very present.
As people started to share all the ways, both simple and sophisticated, how they manage to make it through their days I was reminded of the the importance of being out in nature. I then shared a reflection on the story of the cherry blossom.
For the uninitiated, the cherry blossom (or sakura) is a plant that is found throughout the Northern Hemisphere. It’s the national flower of Japan and is adored for its highly decorative nature. The flowers also have a slightly sweet smell, which I find gently scents the air, especially when there’s warmth and a gentle breeze.
Sakura season can start, in some areas, in late March often reaching peak bloom during the month of April. The white and pink flowers welcome in the spring season before departing abruptly in May. Cherry blossoms are highly celebrated for their beauty, and many areas around the world offer celebrations and viewings throughout the season. Japan widely celebrates sakura season, and in the states, Washington D.C. is known for his annual Cherry Blossom Festival.
That being said, many cities offer viewings. The season attracts visitors to botanical gardens and areas with cherry blossom in droves.
I’m one of those people.
But, why are cherry blossoms so popular?
For one, they are particularly beautiful. They are often white and shades of pink which make them the perfect ambassadors for spring. Again, if you’re lucky enough to catch a whiff of their scent, you’ll may notice the faintly-vanilla smell that people are so fond of. It’s also common to see the little leaves floating off in the breeze, as the flowers are quite delicate.
That’s what makes cherry blossoms so special.
The main reason why cherry blossoms are so highly regarded in Japan is because of this delicate and fleeting nature. Cherry blossom season is widely considered very short. This makes the season a hot commodity. You have to run to a viewing as soon as you can because the blossoms will be gone before you know it.
The cherry blossoms’ short season serves as a mindful reminder of the bittersweetness of life. Their beauty is unmatched. So is their short blossoming season. Their existence is a reflection on the transient nature of life. It’s a meditation, a recognition even, that with the good (blossoming beauty) comes the bad (shedding and death). It’s a reminder to be present when the moments of beauty when you can, especially when it’s as simple as listening to the cherry blossoms flowers when they speak.
I shared my reflections on the blossoms with the group on the call. It was my call to action to remind everyone that 1) cherry blossom season is here and beautiful and 2) that being mindful and present can be profoundly soothing and healing to our hearts.
Life has a lot of challenges. Odds are, they will keep coming, albeit in different forms. We don’t just have to stay present with the hurt and difficulty they bring. We can, and should, also make space to be present with the small moments of beauty around us. When we do so, we feel a greater sense of calm and grounding. We gain another perspective. We don’t feel as burdened by our problems and concerns.
This is your reminder to be present with the little moments.
Let the cherry blossoms speak to you.
Bonus: Listen to my reading of Noriko Ibaragi’s poem Cherry, as translated by Peter Robinson and Andrew Houwen.