ilyIt seems to be all doom and gloom throughout the world at the moment. We're terrified of getting sick, losing loved ones or losing our livelihoods. Anxiety is at a high and we are constantly watching the news or reading reports about the Corona Virus.

So I'm here with a positive spin on this. No, I'm not going to deny the gravity of the situation, it's clear that this is serious stuff, but I refuse to let it terrify me into inaction. That doesn't mean I'm off out on packed trains, going to clubs (too old anyway) or meeting up with friends for hanami. Quite the opposite. I'm hunkering down with the family for a while, doing my bit so I don't spread this thing to the vulnerable in society.

First off, I'm picturing a moment in time when this thing has all blown over. Which it will, at some point. That gives me enough strength to keep going. Going out less means spending less, which means I can earn less for the time being.

Just before the triple disaster on March 11th 2011 I made an ikebana arrangement featuring early flowering Sakura (cherry blossom) branches.

The devastating earthquake at 14:46 on that day triggered a deadly tsunami taking more than 20,000 lives in one wave and the following explosion at the nuclear plant in Fukushima left Japan reeling. We were terrified by endless aftershocks and distracted by where to buy uncontaminated water and (of course) toilet paper.

Those little sakura branches lay forgotten in a bucket of water on our terrace for months. And when the earth had settled enough for us to finally get life in order, I realized that the branches were still sitting there. The blossoms had long since disappeared and in their place, bright green waxy leaves had sprouted.  Underneath the water, the branch had grown thick white roots.

Fast forward nine years and one of those little branches is now a tree that blossoms every year. It sprouts the same waxy leaves in the summer and turns golden in the Autumn. After dropping its crisp leaves in the winter, within a matter of days tiny pink buds appear. The cycle is seamlessly endless.

It feels like the world is in a similar place again. This time, a slowly unfurling disaster of epic proportions. But I know we can endure if we all work together. How can I be so sure? The Sakura told me so.

My name is Tanja Bach, the Founder of COntents Bridge KK, a learning and development company providing action-inspired soft skill training for corporations as well as executive and entrepreneur coaching. We will be adding graphic recording services to our offerings as soon as I have completed the certification process. 

I'm originally from Germany, grew up in Switzerland, studied in the US and have lived in Japan longer than anywhere else in the world. (Long enough to see that slivers of silver are starting to add sparkle to my dark hair). 

It's difficult to summarize why I love Japan so much.  For starters, my soulmate is Japanese. I also love that Japan is a country of contrasts, modern and old, innovative and traditional.  If you open your eyes, there's so much to see.  I learned  to appreciate the small things and look for beauty everywhere. That's also one reasons I love Bikudesigns. Victoria manages to transform old things into modern jewelry in an innovative and wearable way.

A few months later, Bikudesigns (aka Victoria), started to advertise the Leap Collection 2020, a collection of "unique and never to be repeated" earring designs. I mean: UNIQUE and NEVER to be repeated?!  Who doesn't want to wear one of those around town! Plus she turned it into a treasure hunt, only revealing the new designs on the day of. And so I woke up in the morning and checked the Bikudesigns webpage while I drank my cup of coffee.  `Cause, you never know, there might be pair I just need to have....