5 Life Lessons Learned
A few months ago, I moved to a new home and in the process two of my plants froze. It was the middle of February and just my luck, the coldest day of winter. I was devastated to see the leaves had withered and the vibrant green color was nowhere to be found. Once settled, I hurriedly researched all the ways in which I could keep my little plants alive and help them thrive again. I kept them warm and as much in the sun as possible. I checked their water levels frequently and cut away all the sick and dying parts, opening space for new life to bud. To my surprise and overwhelming delight, they are both on their way to better days. With heavy care and attention, I have managed to save my greens and learn once again the wisdom and spectacularity of these beauties.
Resilience.
Resilience is an understatement when describing plant life. Have you ever seen grass, plants, even flowers sprouting from beneath a rugged, rocky surface? A single leaf blooming from concrete? It’s an incredible feat and just one of the many strengths that plant life embodies. If you look with mindful eyes, you can see the lesson to be learned. No matter how tough things may seem, there is always room for growth. I found this to be true once again when caring for my plants after a shock of extremely cold, dry weather. In fact, I thought they wouldn’t make it at all. But, of course, I should have known. Plants are so much stronger than we give them credit for, truly. And so are we.
Growth.
Growth is one of the more obvious lessons we can take from plants. But when you own plants and have to care for them regularly, you become more connected and notice their monumental moments of an unfurling leaf or a new flower blooming. You don’t always get to see the before or the during when you aren’t up close. Hiking in the woods, you see tall, stoic trees that have been there for decades and you feel their presence; their power. But you never saw them as skinny little twigs mere inches from the ground. You’ve only seen them at their peak. Owning plants help you tune into those “lesser” moments. The sometimes boring ones. The beginning stages. Watching a new plant grow from nothing into a gorgeous display of life is such a fulfilling and joyous experience. And again, it’s a reminder to ourselves that patience is all it takes. We can’t force things into our own, selfish timing. They must unfold how they will, no rushing, no restraint. All in due time. Just as our own lives unfold patiently, allowing us to soak in all the moments of serenity and joy surrounding us constantly, if only we’re paying attention. The more we can slow down to appreciate, ironically, our growth will accelerate all the more.
Breath/Life.
Breathing is quite literally our life force and one we continually take for granted, as it happens involuntarily for the most part. While we can learn to control our breathing, most of us operate from the “automatic” sphere so we can focus on other tasks at hand more efficiently. However, while breathing is absolutely essential and requires oxygen for us to properly operate our bodies, somehow we forget that at all times we are literally breathing in our environment. And more often than not, our environment does not have the best air quality. Our society has advanced immensely during all this time of not having to think about breathing and therefore surviving. And in doing so, we have created problems that cause issues to the very thing that keeps us kicking. Breathing is an exchange, a give and take. Yet, we seem to only be taking without an equal act of giving back. The equilibrium no longer exists. Plants are that gentle reminder that we need each other. That our life is dependent on theirs.
Seasons.
Plants can also be an example of going with flow, changing with the seasons. As weather changes throughout the year, you can watch the different phases each plant is going through at that particular moment. A spring bud that blooms vibrant in the summertime, retreating in the autumn, maybe changing colors only to decay into the ground come winter, fertilizer for new life again. We too, have seasons and sometimes we forget to recognize those moments of growth and budding or even dying and fertilizing. We see these times as inconvenient, uncomfortable, sometimes even painful. However, without these moments, how can we bloom? It’s incredibly necessary to experience each season as it is, while it is. Only then will we understand ourselves as whole beings, capable of a range of emotions, ideas, and changes.
Individuality.
While we notice our seasons, whichever one we may be in right here and now, it’s also important to remember that we are unique. Each one of us has a distinct thumbprint, DNA, experience, and life. Yet, we often forget how wonderful it is to be our own person. We twist and tug our faces and loose skin and wish for better hair or different colored eyes because someone else has those attributes. We want to behave like that man or sing like that young woman or make funny jokes like that co-worker who’s always getting laughs. Always comparing to everyone around us in such ignorance to the fact that we have something no one else does. Just like plants, we each have our own way of doing, of being. We are different in shape, size, color, growth levels, exposure. Like plants we can bloom in our own time, not comparing to our peers. No competition. Only living out our inimitable beauty. Individually within the whole. A flower in a garden of variety.
Reflecting in this way on how plants can influence our lives and provide wisdom is rewarding. Just as we are living, breathing beings, so are plants. And tuning into this connection we have with them is nothing short of inspiring and magnetic. It has been helpful for me to consider these lessons and implement them into my daily life. When I encounter plant life in my day, I stay open to all the teachings it may have for me. For we are always learning, always students to this magnificent and mysterious world. And I intend to soak up as much knowledge as I can before my time here runs out.
