| If you are tired of setting specific, measurable, | | | | rise a little even though the weather is often still |
| achievable, realistic and time bound goals, then | | | | cold and the sun relatively weak. They are |
| consider what the Cherry Blossom (Sakura, in | | | | coming! And when they finally do burst through in |
| Japanese) season in Japan has to teach us about | | | | a shower of white tinged with pinkness, their |
| spontaneity, fun and getting things done. This | | | | beauty may be freely and gladly shared with |
| combination is perhaps the secret of how Nature | | | | others at a Hanami party, or be a very private |
| creates such splendor and accomplishes so much | | | | experience. It is a time to be savored and |
| in such a short time. In this article we will examine | | | | enjoyed but most of all it is a happy time and in |
| how you can apply this truly natural goal setting | | | | quieter moments I find my heart filling with |
| mechanism to your own life. | | | | gratitude for nature's magical approach to goal |
| Lesson number one is that nature knows there is | | | | setting and delivering! Oh if I could do as well with |
| a time to start blooming and a time to finish. So in | | | | my own goals each and every year. |
| that sense the Cherry Blossom season is time | | | | And then it's all over in less than a week. Sure, |
| bound. It usually begins in subtropical Okinawa in | | | | the Tokyo blossoms will linger on for another |
| mid-January, reaching Tokyo in early April but not | | | | week or two until the spring rain and wind has |
| arriving in the northern island of Hokkaido until | | | | thinned their ranks. But it's not the same |
| some weeks later. Through long experience and | | | | anymore. Just a few days ago families and |
| trial and error, Nature takes into account the | | | | couples and senior citizens were gazing up |
| climatic and geographic variations of the Japanese | | | | admiringly at gorgeous blossoms while enjoying |
| archipelago when preparing her plans for the | | | | their picnics. Now those very same spots are |
| Sakura season. And we humans with our fallible | | | | mostly silent and deserted. The Sakura lie |
| weather forecasting science do our best to | | | | trampled and muddied and dying on the ground. |
| guesstimate what she's up to! | | | | And soon the first mosquitoes will begin to make |
| One of the fun things about waiting for the | | | | their presence felt for anyone who lingers long |
| Sakura to bloom is following the frequently | | | | enough. |
| updated progress of the Sakura Zensen | | | | It seems to me that Nature always knows her |
| (cherry-blossom front) in the newspapers and on | | | | limitations! Such that they are! When her goal is |
| television. This seems to be one of the most | | | | met and the fun is done, it's time to move on. As |
| important roles of the Japanese meteorological | | | | for most of the human players in this seasonal |
| service! Where I live in Tokyo it is very popular to | | | | drama, there will doubtless be Sakura celebrations |
| start planning a suitable day for a Hanami | | | | to plan for and enjoy in the years to come. But |
| (flower-viewing) picnic with a group of friends or | | | | never again will the specific combination of |
| work colleagues. Of course many of the most | | | | circumstances and people come together as they |
| beautiful sakura spots are well known in Tokyo | | | | have just done. And as the years pass and |
| and it is not unknown for some people to reserve | | | | photographs and videos are sometimes shown in |
| particularly popular viewing areas a day or so in | | | | moments of nostalgia and reminiscing, gradually |
| advance. That usually means one or more | | | | fewer and fewer of those happy and smiling |
| members of the group being volunteered (!) to | | | | faces will be there with you. So what are you |
| stay out overnight with a ground sheet and | | | | waiting for? Nature is already planning next |
| perhaps a sleeping bag. Getting the desired spot | | | | Spring's Sakura spectacle and the results will be |
| may indeed reward their persistence but there's | | | | clear for all to see. Every single goal you set can |
| still no guarantee of the weather being good, | | | | be a Sakura event - right down to the specific |
| although probability is in their favor. | | | | actions needed to bring even one action into |
| The beauty of the Sakura is something to behold. | | | | bloom. They all count! The happiness and pleasure |
| Every spring around March time I begin to see | | | | of yourself and potentially countless unknown |
| the small buds appearing and my spirits always | | | | others may depend on it. |