What Plants Teach You About You
Having houseplants can bring so much joy and cleaner air to a home but unfortunately, I used to kill them. After buying a grand fern or other grandiose tropical plant from the nursery, I could almost swear that I’d heard them crying as if they knew their end was now fast approaching. Time and again I brought home a plant of some size or variety in hopes that eventually one would survive longer than three two or three months. It’s a sad thing, really, to watch the demise of a plant and it’s also annoying, expensive, and even smelly, but I hadn’t paid attention to the signs that their deaths was mostly my own doing, even though I tried to place the blame elsewhere.
Fast forward to present-day, I’m now the proud plant-mom to thirty-four gorgeous and healthy plants. I have many favorites including fiddle leaf figs, ZZ plants, peace lilies, etc., but my ultimate favorites are my numerous pothos. My pothos plants are some of the vibrant, healthy, shiny, and pleasing plants I’ve ever cared for; however, their growth process has provided me with many nuggets, not just about good plant care but also personal happiness.
Learn the Signs
Although pothos plants are usually recommended as an ‘easy’ houseplant, they can still suffer from abuse and neglect which is mistaken as attentive care. Generally speaking, their leaves and soil are the first visual aids for identifying their health status. Leaves that are yellow, brown, brittle, drooping, or soil that smells like mildew are indicators of either underwatering, overwatering, shock, disease, or nutrient deficiency. Similarly, although I’m far from a health or fitness expert, when it comes to my advocacy for happiness, I’ve learned that paying attention to any signs that my mind, body or spirit needed attention and immediate corrective action is imperative. It’s more than a trending meme or fad. Adjustments to what I was taking in — physically, mentally, and spiritually — was essential or would inevitably be reflected in unattractive attitudes and actions. I’ve often heard the phrase “you’re doing too much” and sometimes it is true because too much of any single thing is a lack of balance. I used to convince myself that the more you did demonstrated care and skill; however, balance is knowing that care and skill can simply mean doing less, having an actual plan or schedule, and accurate comprehension rather than impulse and assumption. At that time, assuming that more vitamins and water were what my plants needed was definitely wrong and harmful, just as I used to overextend myself in my life’s pursuits without a clear plan and trusted professional input. This obviously led to stress and loss of precious things like time or money, just as my previous pothos plants lost healthy leaves, time, and suffered stunted growth.
Learn the Environment
Pothos are extremely popular and aren’t hard to find for purchase, unlike other rare or seasonal plants. It’s a common misconception that because they are sturdy and widely available then they can thrive anywhere and under any condition, but this is a mistake. The environment of any living thing is an important consideration since all living things are unique in their own way and should be treated accordingly. I used to have the unhealthy — and at times desperate — view that I had to fit in everywhere and be all things to all people, and thrive wherever I was planted, figuratively speaking. While I have always been great at adapting to environments I was not always thriving. Adapting implies merely subjecting to expectations, routines, and rules for the sake of uniformity and to play the assigned roles I had, but thriving is altogether different. The latter means to flourish, prosper, and blossom because it is connected to joy and satisfaction. Clearly there were environments where one could see, like a pothos plant, if I truly belonged or needed to remove myself for my own health and well-being. Not only are pothos plants adversely affected by extreme temperatures but they can suffer when they’re placed near certain toxins like tobacco, high disturbance areas (accidental knocking over or a random toddler’s cup of grape juice — yep, that happened), perfume dispensers, or when they’re allowed to drape and attach onto wall paint or electrical cords. Just as I needed to strategically place my pothos where they would be safe and comfortable, I had to do the same for myself. Life certainly isn’t perfect but there are situations, places and people that really don’t help you to thrive but you’re instead merely going through motions, “meeting expectations”, moderately satisfied year after year, stunted and joyless.
Learn the Pests
All living things will attract or repel other living things at some point. Just as pothos plants can be toxic to cats and children if ingested, these plants can greatly suffer if inflicted with diseases carried by many annoying pests like mealy worms or fungus gnats. These nuisance pests are the result of the pothos being in the wrong environment or it had signs of maltreatment, as discussed above, that went ignored. Sadly, many people dismiss the pests as a normal part of its life, underestimate the devastation they can cause, and neglect to take corrective action to remedy the situation. I didn’t always use my voice — my personal power — to advocate for myself, to expose untruths (e.g. political, religious, or cultural), and to protect my space, spirit, and most precious resources like health, time and money. Without my voice I was mostly defenseless and at the will of whoever had access to me and just like a few gnats, they seemed harmless…at first. Pests multiply once they’ve found a source to supply what they need to survive. So, a few people with requests, favors, and promises eventually became many. Needless to say this was detrimental as people with self-serving interests invaded my space, blocked my view, drained the best of me and left me frustrated and annoyed because I was occupied with battling them rather than directing my energies to my own personal and professional growth. While it may be hard to view certain people we’re connected to as pests, perhaps if you think of yourself as a beautiful and strong plant with potential, you owe it to yourself to treat yourself as such and take steps to correct what doesn’t help you achieve this
Pay attention to and address the signs that you’re in need of physical, mental or spiritual care, that your environment matters to your growth and must constantly be evaluated for your safety and peace, and that pests of all forms should be taken seriously and minimized to keep from damage, repelling odor, and infestation. Do what nourishes, protects, heals, respects, and beautifies you. Enjoy your shine and growth!
Da-Nel Euwings is a self-published author and a certified national motivational speaker with an emphasis on personal development. @iamdaneleuwings
