What My Plants Taught Me About Life
/I have developed quite a green thumb. What started as a COVID quarantine outlet for me has evolved into propagating, replanting, and sharing the love with others! My office continues to acquire more and more plants. Now, I’m not a pro, but I find it is a great hobby for me. As I was repotting more plants that I salvaged from the Lowe’s clearance section (hoping they just need a new pot and some TLC!), I was reflecting on what I’ve learned from my houseplants and how applicable it was to life. So, here are some thoughts on what my plants have taught me…..
Enjoy the sun! Just as plants need sun, so too do we humans. Sun helps boost our mood, which is why Seasonal Affective Disorder is common in the dreary winter months. Even just 15 minutes in the sunlight can help. So, get outside today!
Give them what they need and then let them grow….whether that’s water, or varying amounts of sun, or dry soil, or a trellis to climb on. They go where they want to and do what they know. So too can we take a bit of nurturing or sustenance from a significant other or loved one or friend and thrive.
Be resilient. Let’s take a wandering Jew (or dude plant or inch plant). Those things can keep growing through anything! I’ve never seen a plant where the roots are basically dead, or out of water, or out of the soil, but the end of the plant is still growing and budding new leaves. Stay focused on your goal and you can do anything.
We are all unique creations. Not all plants are the same. Some love moisture and wet soil, and some don’t. Some vine and some don’t. Some like high amounts of sun and others can survive in low light. We are all unique and that’s ok. It’s our differences that make us beautiful and give variety to this world. Don’t hide what makes you different, rather celebrate it as unique!
Think about them every so often. Don’t obsess- that’s a sure fire way to kill most of them! Don’t overly complicate things. Think about them once or twice a week, or every other week and they’re good. I joke that I kill most succulents because I care too much. Anxiety often leads to over thinking. If you can work to minimize your overthinking tendencies, I bet your anxiety will likely subside.
Let go and let grow. Focus on yourself, not others, and you can then flourish.
Now, I don’t mean to oversimplify mental well being, but I hope some of these thoughts can be applied to you, and help give you a new perspective. What are some other things your plants have taught you?
The mental health therapists at our office offer counseling for a variety of issues including trauma using EMDR, depression, anxiety, grief, and couples counseling. We work with kids, teens, adults, and couples. We also offer online counseling services which can be great for people with busy schedules or for people who live in parts of Pennsylvania with limited counseling options. You can check out our website to see the full list of counseling services that we offer. Or, Request An Appointment here.