So I was thinking of my plants today, and I think they’ve taught me a very valuable lesson.
I initially bought 5 plants at the same time. 4 flowering plants and one all green plant. The next day a lady saw me with them and asked me for one. I told her it was okay to take one of them. She did, and I never saw that one again. Down to 4 plants.
Let me digress for a minute and talk about giving. Today I realized something I genuinely miss doing. Giving. If you know me, then you know that I love giving. All kinds of giving. Of myself, my resources, my time, but I especially love to give my resources. I’m not a spendthrift, but whenever I have money I somehow find a way to give a good amount of it away. It’s something God had to deal with in me tbh, and now I give, but not because I feel guilty for having. Anyway there’s this joy that giving gives you. It makes you feel good inside. I love it. I definitely encourage generosity.
Anyway, back to my plants. I now had 4 plants to care for. I gave all 4 of them the same amount of care, love and attention, however all 4 of them did not respond in the same way. To be fair, this might be because I’m still new to this being a plant mum thing, but I don’t think that’s what it is.
Two of them are flourishing greatly. Soekun the white flowering plant is growing even new buds and leaves. She’s getting taller and looks so pretty and healthy.
My green plant whom I’ve decided to name Ufuomanefe is honestly a delight. Every time I check on her, she has a new leaf. She’s grown taller than the stick that helps her stay upright, her trunk is getting fatter, and she’s all round healthy.
The other two who received the exact same amount of care did not turn out the same way, however. I’m still full of hope that somehow one of them, the white and pink flowering one survives, but the all pink one is dead.
Thinking about it all made me realize that not everything you pour yourself into will give you the satisfaction that you expect from it. Sometimes things die, even with all the love, care and affection you pour into them. Sometimes it’s even the extra love that kills them.
However, in those moments, focusing on the things that remain alive, the things that flourished as a result of the love and affection is the best thing to do. Also replacing dead things, and learning from failure is okay too.
I’m going to buy new flowers, who knows I may buy the exact same ones just to try again, because I’ve learned that just because things died doesn’t mean you killed them. Sometimes they die to make room for the new.
Love, Yoma.
Comments