This past week, the cherry blossoms have been calling to me. Images and memories from time spent in D.C. stir up something deep—like a soft, sweet ache, delicious and almost heartbreaking at the same time.

Part of that ache lies in the fragility and brevity of the blossoms. They bloom so spectacularly, then vanish. Yet, that impermanence doesn’t diminish their impact—it heightens it.

Like short lives, brief encounters, or unexpected connections, the impact can be even greater because of their fleeting nature.

When I was eight, my family moved—again. We arrived at an empty house in Colorado Springs, and I ran through it to a window. Outside: a snow-capped Pikes Peak, majestic and still. Even at that age, I had a strange clarity. I thought, When we leave in two years, I’ll stand here again, and it will feel like only two weeks have passed.

And it did. But in those short years, so much life unfolded. A special best friend, my first bicycle, learning to play softball, moments of wonder and young wisdom. Two years that felt like two weeks but with memories that have lasted a lifetime.

The cherry blossoms echo that same story: The impact of an experience is independent of its duration.

And they teach us other lessons as well. Gifted by Japan before any World Wars, they bloom every year as a symbol of an enduring connection. Nature is often wiser than humans. Connections endure even through horrific trauma and conflict.

In Japanese culture, cherry blossoms also symbolize the samurai spirit—strength and resilience in the face of impermanence. A life lived with presence and honor, no matter how long.

So from petals to peaks, our ever-changing world tells us to:

🌸 Engage fully.

Let the beauty of a single moment crack your heart open. Don’t sleepwalk through spring—or life.

🌸 Connect to what endures.

The beauty returns, season after season. Know that we can always renew ourselves with kindness and compassion even after the blossoms drop.

🌸 Live with honor.

We’re all giving parts of our lives each and every day, through care, creativity, love. Don’t overlook the small offerings you make. They matter.

May your heart stay open to the blooms that come and go in your life!