We have a golden pothos plant in the kitchen. Sometimes as a result of overwatering or under-watering, the leaves turn yellow or brown and fall off. One or two lost leaves is not a problem, but over time, this causes unsightly empty gaps on a branch. When this happens, it impacts the beauty and fullness of a vine, so
I trim them back, cutting off every place of lack.
When the leaves wither, it doesn't mean the plant is dead. The whole branch isn't even dead, just the specific leaves which stopped getting their needs met
properly.
This weekend, I did some major trimming because I’d rather have short full branches for a season, until they grow back, than long vines missing half of its foliage.
You only need one of these plants because through pruning, it will multiply exponentially into more. When I put the trimmings in water, they grow roots, which can be re-planted in the same pot, or used to start a whole new plant.
While the root development happens relatively quickly, it doesn't happen overnight. The cuttings will sit in water for a while. Being in water is very different than being in rich soil, hanging out for everyone to admire their beauty. They will
be overlooked for a season, but it doesn't mean they're less important than the actual plant. It just means they're in the process of becoming … again.
The process of becoming is often not very glamorous or
exciting, but it is critically important to living a full life.
Renewal takes time. Time takes time. There's a lot of waiting that happens in this life. I've learned that how I wait often dictates my daily state of
being. Am I anxious, fearful, joyful, or thankful? It all depends upon the story I’m telling myself while I'm waiting through the process of change.
What areas in your life are dying from lack of nourishment, or too much
of something? Are they too far gone, or salvageable? Are you willing to acknowledge what’s really happening? The truth is already true whether we choose to see it or not. When we're willing to accept reality, we’re more likely to gain the willingness to make the necessary changes.
We have to get rid of what’s dead when there is absolutely no hope for resurrection. While the brown and yellow leaves make it pretty obvious that their time is up, it's not so obvious in our lives what needs to go. We need to prune carefully if what we're thinking might be dead, for instance, is a relationship or a career.
Start with naming what's wrong and then see if you can name what your part is. That will take a lot of humility. In many cases. even if I appear to be completely innocent in a situation, I can ask, "What about myself, my past, or my tendencies brought this situation into my life?” I can't just cut and run without
asking that question, or I am likely to repeat the lesson.
Lessons are available in everything, but especially the hard things. I'm sure we all have friends who seem to get in the same jams again and again. Or maybe that
describes us? Oh God, help us get our lessons so we don't have to keep experiencing the same painful situations. Help us spiral upward on this beautiful path, learning and growing along the way.
When it's time to
say goodbye to something that's already gone, prune it back and let it go. Assess what remains and determine the best way to nurture yourself back to life.
In plant terms, we were designed to be full and healthy,
not a sparse plant with our collective losses accumulating on display. However, we have to be willing to move on and cut ourselves away from the reminders of what used to be.
Change is good. Change shows us what we care
about, what we value, what we’re willing to fight for and what we're ready to let go of. When change presents itself, get curious. If there's resistance, what is that trying to tell you? If there is fear, what need must be met before you can move forward?
As we start a new year, let’s take an honest look at our lives, what’s working, what needs pruning, what's already gone. Ask for open eyes, insight and wisdom. The present moment is always a perfect time to assess our needs, our wants, our intentions, and take action so that we set our future up for prosperous growth and our fullest life.
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