Houseplant LOVE!

... and why the messiness of life is always worth it

Hello my friends,

I remember being shocked when my mother would share stories of her early life and teenager years. I, like most self-absorbed teenagers, thought that my mother’s life began when she gave birth to her children (obviously). The reality is that our parents lived decades before us: training for jobs, sharing in special moments, getting their heart broken, and overall existing as a human apart from their identity as a parent.

For those of us in the thick of parenting, this seems impossible. But it’s good to remember.

When one of my beautiful children inquired a few days ago where I learned to grow “such enormous” houseplants, I smiled, remembering back to a piece of myself that existed a decade before I became a mother.

As a young teenager, I began working in a Flower & Garden House that not only arranged flowers for weddings, funerals, and everything in between, but also operated as a small-scale garden house, where we could curate and care for common houseplants. It was in these years that I learned perhaps the most important lesson of houseplants: each is unique, with unique desires, tendencies, and traits.

(Sounds like some humans I know.)

While it may seem a bit frivolous to put energy into something as benign as houseplants, I whole-heartedly disagree. I would argue it’s not frivolous at all. As with most tasks that we take on in the home, it is designed to point to something bigger, greater, and more important than the task at hand.

I don’t just clean my house because it looks pretty. A clean house points to a grateful heart and curates a peaceful atmosphere. It’s a reflection of something more! (By the way, Branch Basics has extended a 15% off discount for those of you who would like to get started with their non-toxic cleaner concentrate + bottles… use code “SHAYE”.) Again, a seemingly small choice that points to something bigger: in this case, my views on toxic chemicals in the home and a vote for something better.

When we care for anything, we learn how to be selfless. To look after the care of something else, and to concern ourselves with it’s well-being. It’s problems become our problems, it’s victories our victories. (If you’ve ever got an African Violet to rebloom, you’ll know what I’m getting at here…).

Perhaps even more importantly, when we welcome life into our home, be it people, plants, or pets, we welcome in disruption, discomfort, and dirt. We, in theory, are saying: I see your flaws, your mess, your requirements, and your challenges and I welcome you.

So come along with me today as we curate and care for my collection of houseplants and most importantly, reinforce (if only to ourselves) why the mess of bringing real life into your home is worth it.

Cheers,

Shaye