ON PRUNING PLANTS, THE PASSING OF TIME, AND LEARNING THE VALUE OF A MOMENT

Conversations With "M"

Last night I had to prune my plant, and my heart broke just a little.

I purchased this plant back in February as a gift to commemorate how much my YouTube channel had grown since the start of the year.

There is much to be learned by watching and tending to the growth of a plant, especially for those of us recovering from the traumas of others who have squandered our value, gambled the sacredness of moments in our presence, and wagered our preciousness in treacherous ways.

Befriending plants and animals, in a world of fakery where people smile and laugh in your face, and tear you down once you’re out of their presence, feels safe and smart.

I name my plants and talk to them. I also believe in the sacredness of names, and the privacy and intimacy that can be tapped into with the knowing of a name. So, for the sake of this article, I’ll call my beautiful plant “M.”