One of the wonderful things about living near Washington, DC, is the cherry blossoms. The first cherry trees were planted in DC in 1912 as a gift of friendship to the people of the United States from the people of Japan.
Cherry blossoms are a symbolic flower of spring, a time of renewal, and the fleeting nature of life. Their life is very short. Every spring, they come and remind me to take in the beauty of nature in the city.
There are the “official” cherry blossoms down by the Tidal Basin. Then there is a neighborhood very close to my own with a long line of cherry trees on both sides of the street. That neighborhood suffers the influx of tourists because it has become rather well known. In peak season, the police come by to make sure that everyone behaves themselves as it is a residential neighborhood. The area is flooded with onlookers.
Unbeknownst to the vast majority of cherry blossom seekers, there is another little enclave just a few blocks from my house. Nobody is there except the locals. And that is where Kaya and I are in the picture above. Isn’t it wonderful when you have a little secret that allows you to enjoy a bit of peace without an overabundance of others?
I think life is like that. We all need little respites that can care for our souls without dealing with the crowds. What will you do this week to care for your soul?
“The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.”
– Audrey Hepburn
