As a plant lover, I have difficulty not buying a plant once it has caught my eye. I like well-known and rare species that are either easy to manage or finicky. Ironically the finicky ones give me enough of a challenge that I somehow find peace and relaxation when caring for them.
With the increase of sunlight and warmth over the past couple of months, my plants have been flourishing to the point that most needed to be repotted, and one in particular needed a good pruning. It was simply growing out of control and looked quite unruly, so I did what was required to get it growing, but this time in the right direction. And being who I am, I took the time to associate the pruning of my plants with people and life in general.
"The purpose of pruning is to improve the quality of the roses, not to hurt the bush." - Florence Littauer
See, pruning plants and practicing the act of pruning in various aspects of life is beneficial. It promotes growth and health by removing dead, damaged, or overgrown parts, stimulating new growth and improving overall plant health. Similarly, pruning certain aspects of life, such as unnecessary commitments, toxic relationships, or unproductive habits, can create space for personal growth and enhance your overall well-being.
I was terrified to begin pruning, my little friend, because what if I cut off too much? What if I was disturbing its peaceful habitat? What if I killed it and undid all the care I had initially put in? In the end, all of that worry was in vain. This was wasted energy, like all worry, because my plant is thriving and doing even better than before.
By cutting back the overgrown areas, I created space for better air circulation and sunlight penetration to the essential parts. Similarly, pruning distractions, such as people, time-wasting activities, or excessive commitments from our lives, can help us focus on what truly matters.
I noticed today as I looked at it that this plant has so many new leaves coming in simultaneously. This type of growth hasn’t happened in the three years I have had it. The leaves are a fantastic shade of green and are healthy, and one dared to grow in a random place in the soil in the shape of a heart, which is not a typical feature of this variety. Pruning plants encourages new growth, rejuvenation, and adaptation to changing conditions. Similarly, pruning people and things allows us to release the old, embrace change, and adapt to new circumstances, fostering personal growth, resilience, and flexibility.
Pruning plants require careful observation, assessment, and decision-making. Applying these principles to life encourages self-reflection and intentional decision-making about what to keep, what to let go and what to nurture, leading to a more purposeful and meaningful existence.
So let me ask a few questions. How often do we prune people, habits and situations from our lives? How often do we take the time to observe the things attached to us yet suffocate us simultaneously? And at what point will we cut those things off in an attempt to let the sunlight and nourishment of the right people in our lives nurture us and help us grow in the right direction into bigger and better versions of ourselves?
Remember, pruning should be done with care and consideration, both in the physical world of plants and in the metaphorical sense in various aspects of life. We must balance pruning and nurturing to achieve optimal growth, well-being, and fulfillment.
Be Inspired!
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