Springtime is in full force in the Northeast, and with it the hope that everything comes alive with color! It’s been beautiful to watch it unfold. It’s also been a time of festivities with multiple, overlapping holidays. I recently celebrated my seventy-fourth birthday with family and friends, and my favorite holiday, Easter, which we celebrated with our daughter and grandson in New York City.
I was given some tropical plants that needed a little love and tender care. I’ve fed and watered them, placed them in filtered sunlight, and talked to them. They’re growing and their leaves have a nice shine! Tender, loving care has made a difference.
As I was tending to the plants, I had to ask myself if I provide the same self-care, especially when I’m tired, overwhelmed, or under-nourished. We all need tender loving care so we can renew our strength and grow. Like the plants, we are given warning signs when we need to stop and take care of ourselves. It was easy for me to see what the plants needed as their leaves were turning brown due to a lack of water and sunlight. But do we always listen to or know our own warning signs? I know I’m guilty of not always paying attention.
Here’s what I learned from tending to my new plants:
- Plants need water to be hydrated. We need water to stay hydrated. Water is good for our skin, our muscles and energy level. When I don’t drink enough water, my legs start to cramp.
- Plants need the right soil and plant food to thrive and grow. We need the right foods to nourish our bodies. For me, it’s fish, chicken, lean meats, fat-free dairy, fruits and vegetables.
- Plants need the right light to grow. Sunlight is important to our health. We need vitamin D. I love being outside and feeling the warmth of the sun.
- Plants need to be repotted to grow as it helps the roots to spread and get stronger. Exercise does the same thing for us. It stretches and strengthens our muscles and gives us energy.
- Plants need rest. Plants go dormant for the winter and come back stronger in the spring. We need rest to re-energize so we are at our best. One of my warning signs that I need rest is I crave salty, crunchy food and ice cream.
- Plants respond when you talk to them. As I was spritzing the leaves with distilled water, I was holding them tenderly and talking to them. I said kind encouraging words to them: I know you will come back with the right care. Don’t we grow when we say kind words to ourselves? Positive words reinforce positive outcomes and help us see and love who we are.
Don’t you love how God shows us we need the same care that we give plants? He gives us the signs–when we need to slow down, breathe and relax so we can grow stronger. Our job is to know our bodies and listen to them. When we do, we take better care of ourselves.
Do you know the warning signs for yourself? Do you listen? Share your thoughts in the comments section.
Definitely, Marie! I like the idea of putting on my oxygen mask in self-care so I can better help others.
Thank you for reading the blog.
I agree. If we don’t put the oxygen mask on first, we can’t help anyone.
* plants 🌱
I like your plant
Oops meant to type in response to comparison to (Plants and Humanoids) seems serious tender loving care with exercise stretching yoga meditation is warranted to type properly 😉 Happy Spring Season everyone!! 🌱
Yes, tender loving care. We all need that.
One of the things I had to adjust to in self-care is choosing wisely who I will let into my inner circle. We call this ‘companion planting’ in the garden world.
Not all plants are suitable for each other. Not all people are suitable for each other. Sometimes we have to transplant something so it doesn’t get choked out if left in the midst of plants that are not suitable for it.
When choosing inner circle companions, my measuring stick is the traits of love. Are they patient? Kind? Do they rejoice when I’m blessed, or do they envy me? Do they boast? Do they dishonor others? Are they self-seeking? Are they easily angered? Do they keep track of wrongs? Do they delight in evil or good?
It’s also my own measuring stick to judge if I’m someone others would want in their inner circle. And it’s my measuring stick to judge if I am loving myself.
So true. Thank you for sharing. All of us need a measuring stick.
Thank you for this beautiful contrast between plants and people. You have made me think of God taking care of every living creature. We need to care for ourselves as we do for all nature
You’re welcome. God shows us through nature how to care for ourselves. I love that He uses our everyday surroundings to teach us.
A lovely analogy! I’d much rather compare myself to God’s beauty’ in our gardens than comparing myself to others
Lovely analogy to ourselves. I think being compared to God’s flowers is so much sweeter than when we compare ourselves to others!
And Happy Birthday, Marie!🌷
Yes, I agree.
Thank you for the birthday wishes.
Love the plant to self analogy with these great reminders for self-care!
Thank you
Thank you Marie. Yes I know my signs but tend to ignore them sometimes to take care of others. This is something I’m working on to improve and do what I really want to do for myself. Happy Birthday dear friend 😊🌺🌸
Yes, I understand about ignoring our needs. I think most women have tendency to do that.
Thank you, I had a nice birthday.
Dig correlation of plans and humans and ways to thrive being nurtured and nourished.
Responding to original reply of tender loving care blog
*Plants/People
Thank you