Money Plant

We have quite a few plants in our house.  We used to have about 5 Heartleaf Philodendrons.  We were free to ignore them until they began to wilt and whither.  Those wilting leaves told me it was time to water them and they would graciously come back to life.   We  tried to send them to my husband's classroom and they ended up freezing in the car.  

After some research confirmed the health benefits of having certain plants in your house to take up the toxins in the air we bought some new plants.  These ones weren't as forgiving as the Heartleaf Philodendrons.  They required good light and regular water.  

We've been living in our house for over a year now.  We have two Money Trees, a Peace Lily, a Palm and a Snake Plant.  It has only been the last 4 months that these plants began to thrive.  We finally found the optimal place for them where they got the exact amount of light they needed and discovered the right amount of water.  We set a day to water so we wouldn't forget.   

These plants have grown 3 times their original size and haven't shown any signs of stopping.  

We gave them light from the beginning, but until it was the amount of light they needed, they struggled to grow.  We gave them water, but until we gave them enough water so they never felt lacking, they became healthy for moments, then weak. 

Those plants are a reminder to seek out our optimal environments for our growth.  We want to do more than survive.  We want to do more than thrive one day and struggle to stand the next.  We want to grow to our fullest potential and have our greatest strength.

I'm still looking for that optimal environment.  I found it this summer.  I spent every moment of every day making choices that benefited my health.  Once school started and I began teaching again, I tried to stay healthy and make healthy choices, but my environment didn't always let me.  By the 3rd week in September I had a bad cold that lingered for 3 weeks.  I've noticed I gain weight throughout the week and lose it on the weekend.  The only factor that is different between weekdays and weekends is my job.  

I love my job.  I'm good at my job, but it is exhausting.  I've described it as running uphill on a treadmill at too fast a speed for 8 hours straight.  My mind and body don't get a break throughout the school day.  I'm doing everything in my power to educate 29 seven and eight year-olds, to motivate them to do all the things they don't want to do, to encourage them to work hard when all they want to do is nothing.  I have to know what I'm teaching, see all they are doing and motivate and engage them at the same time.  Many people find it exhausting to do these things with one child, I do it with 29 each day.

On top of the normal exhaustion that comes with teaching, I have MS.  As much as I'd like to ignore my MS and pretend I am capable of all I was capable of before, none of that is true.  By Wednesday, if I haven't managed my energy, I feel the weight of 10 semis on my shoulders.  My face is tired of talking and my brain struggles to find words.  I move slowly through my evening like I have spent 12 hours doing hard labor.  

So how do I find my optimal light and water so I can grow like my plants?  I don't know.  I'm still trying to find it. I give my students more responsibility so they work harder than me.  I try not to do unnecessary tasks.  I give my self flexible deadlines.  I let myself sit.  I go to bed as early as I need to.  I keep exercising.  I keep eating good food except that moment when all I want is chocolate and  no amount will satisfy me. 

Try to find the right light and water so you will grow and be strong and shine, but if you struggle, enjoy the moments when you thrive.  Keep track of what works and keep trying.  A dried out leaf signifies you need something more, not that you are dying.