Goodbye, Resolutions; Hello, Houseplants!
Since February 2020, everything has been turned upside down. A deadly virus plunged the earth’s population into levels of stress we could never have imagined. Unlike most New Year’s blogs, this one will not focus on the top five habits you should adopt for a productive year or the effectiveness of setting goals for success, because, as we have all come to learn, Covid-19 does not care about our wants, desires, or plans. Beyond the physical consequences brought on by this aggressive and constantly mutating sickness, it has created isolation, separation, and stress. People everywhere are facing the reality that life is finite and, often, unfair. In the United States alone, we have lost over 800,000 lives. People with families and friends who were seemingly healthy one day and fighting to take a single breath the next. We have experienced the polarization of a society torn apart by fear and uncertainty. So, as 2022 approaches, what should we focus on? I found my answer reflected in the life span of a snake plant.
For those aspiring to be good plant parents, I am here to tell you it is possible—if you start with a snake plant. This hearty species adapts to its environment and can grow just about anywhere. Snake plants are not particularly pretty to look at; they are not soft and tend to lack the cozy feeling that other houseplants provide. These evergreen perennials come in a variety of shapes, sizes, and colors. They tend to grow slower than most other plants, depending on their exposure to light. They require little water. You could almost forget about them and, somehow, they would still manage to survive. They thrive in virtually any light, air quality, or soil conditions.
Like people, these plants are resilient, strong, and adaptable. Snake plants also have another characteristic: they grow flowers. Most people may dismiss this as common; however, snake plants rarely present flowers and only do so under stressful conditions. Although these plants are hearty and can survive in most any environment, a snake plant will only produce flowers if it is mildly and continually stressed (flowers typically grow when the plant becomes root bound). This is a survival tactic for the plant. It grows tall stalks of flowers that bloom at night and give off an intoxicating scent. The flowers allow the plant to grow and spread seeds to ensure its continued survival. Without the stress that the plant endures, we’d never see the flowers.
We have all experienced unimaginable challenges these past two years and no one yet knows how the stress from these past couple of years will affect our lives, but we do know that it will show its effects. In times of uncertainty, we must remember that the human spirit is strong. We are resilient. In the middle of constant stress, like the snake plant, we can find a way to flower. As we look forward to 2022, probably with some angst and trepidation, let’s look for opportunities to be loving over being right and to take those few extra minutes to let those around you know how much they truly mean to you. In the end, all that matters is how we cared for others.
We wish you a happy (and healthy) New Year full of hope, kindness, and flowers.
