Are you good with plants?
I, for one, am not.
Or, maybe I should say was not.
See, I never have had a green thumb. I always thought it would be nice to be a plant mom but I have killed more plants than I can count. All of which included a cactus, no doubt. I pretty well gave up the desire to have plants and settled for the fake kind. Until one day, I decided to try again. A friend gave me a little jade plant, whom I named, Henry. I was assured he was going to be an easy plant to care for. So, I took him home with me and gave it my best.
I’m happy to announce that Henry is almost a year old and thriving. Wow, go me!
Seeing as I could take care of Henry, I decided I could try other plants. I’m in all in kind of gal, I couldn’t get just a second plant. I decided to get four more; all different kinds, none of which I have ever cared for before. One of which was a braided money tree plant that I later named, Hank the Tank. Evidently, he was supposed to be lucky but he seemed anything but.
Like I said, Henry the Jade plant, was the only plant I have successfully cared for in my life thus far. So, was I a bit optimistic about thinking I could confidently take care of new plants including a small tree? Yes. Likely so. But I was up for the challenge.
However, despite the additional three new plants that were seemingly doing well, Hank was not.
Some of his leaves began to turn yellow and fall off. It was only a couple here and there so I didn’t think much of it. Perhaps, he needs to be watered more since he is a tree and I’m used to smaller plants. So that’s what I did.
Overtime, Hank lost more and more of his leaves. He looked worse each day and he appeared to be dying before my eyes. At one point, I think I counted only ten healthy leaves left. As a long time plant killer, I wasn’t completely surprised. I was more so disappointed in that I was struggling to help him flourish.
Given his state, I was left with essentially two options. 1) take the loss and move on, or 2) do the best I can in hopes I get him to thrive again.
I chose option two.
I would rather try and fail than to ever give up and quit.
So, began operation, ‘save hank.’
I did research.
A lot of research.
I needed to know him and the kind of tree he was in order to care for him properly.
Turns out, moves are incredibly stressful for him. I was testing out new sun spots in different rooms of the house. So step one: don’t move him around anymore. Got it. I can relate little Hank; moves are stressful for us humans too. Step two: I realized I was over watering because I was afraid I was under watering in my first attempt to save him. Ok little Hankie, we have a new nutrition plan for you. Three: the pot he was currently in, was potentially too small. Copy. I’ll get him a new pot and soil because when I don’t fit in something I outgrew, I’m uncomfortable too.
A couple weeks into operation ‘save hank,’ I was still finding myself discouraged as his leaves continued to fall.
It seemed as though I was still failing despite my efforts. I was about ready to accept defeat. But as I went to pick up more fallen leaves one afternoon, I took a closer look at ol’ Hankie.
And what did I see?
A new bud.
And another.
And another.
While I was so incredibly fixated on the leaves that had fallen, I couldn’t even see the new growth that was happening before my eyes.
And then it hit me.
As much as I was caring for lil Hank. He was caring for me.
I learned a lot from him.
My first takeaway was how aware I became to my own pattern of focusing on my past and what I had lost. At times, I’d be too consumed by the fallen leaves of my life that I was unaware of the new buds that have sprouted in the present moment.
So, friends, this is your reminder to toss the dead leaves in your life. Because if you do, the new ones can feel the sun. They can grow. They can thrive.
Next, comes the reminder that you grow whatever you put effort, time, and genuine care into; wether that be yourself, a goal, a relationship, or a simple house plant. Without it, it’ll wither and fall, becoming a lifeless leaf. But, with it; with it, comes life.
So, friends, I must ask:
Have you tended to your plants today?
Kristie is a travel nurse, adventurer, and truth seeker on all levels. She employs wisdom and perspective that is clear, value-driven, encouraging, and absolutely refreshing. You can find Kristie at any moment with her toes in a lake, her elbows on the family table, or gazing at the wonderous views from the top of a mountain. She is a bright light of our future.