Observation and patience are important aspects of taking care of plants that apply to our relationships too.
Think about it: If you grow plants, you know that no two are the same.
Experts in This Article
Haley Neidich is a psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience.
In my yearlong plant parenthood, Ive learned four things about caring for these living things.
Applying these lessons to my interpersonal relationships has helped me become a better daughter, sister, and friend.
Here are four rules for plantsand relationships, too
1.
Haley Neidich is a psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience.
Observation is key
The appearance of your plant is highly indicative of how its doing overall.
Is it dry, burnt, yellow, or droopy?
Plants offer an opportunity to practice mindfulness, says psychotherapistHaley Neidich, LCSW.
Caring for them is simple when you pay attention.
The same is true with humans.
How did they seem then?
Whenever I sense that somethings off, I check in.
Abide by the Platinum Rule, not the Golden Rule
We learn the Golden Rule as children.
(Treat others the way you want to be treated, if you need a refresher.)
Haley Neidich is a psychotherapist with over 10 years of experience.
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(Dang TikTok!)
As it turns out, Lady Valentines dont like to be bottom-watered.
I cant assume to know what a plant (or a person) likes or doesnt like.
I look up what each plant needs to thrive.
Luckily, this is also easy to do with our personal relationships.
All you have to do is ask.
Ive overwatered my plants and scorched their leaves more times than I care to admit.
What Iwilladmit is that these both directly resulted from my lack of patience.
(Sorry, plants!)
You cant forcibly accelerate the growth of anything (or anyone).
New leaves grow slowly, like some relationships and some people do.
Sometimes, plants die as do relationships.
We have familial relationships, platonic relationships, and professional relationships, to name a few.
Not going to lie, I was distraughtbut I ultimately accepted that plants sometimes die.
Similarly, not all relationships will last forever.
Friends move away, we quit old jobs and get new ones, and people break up.
(Good one, Dr. After all, they both need to be taken care of just the same.
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