I have really gotten into plants since getting sober. I really love having something living to focus on and tend to. Plus they just make me happy and beautify my space and clean the air. And I’m learning bc I really know nothing about plants On my 40th day clean I went to the nursery and purchased a succulent in the coolest pot I had been in love with for a while. The lady planted it for me and put so much love and care into it. Everyone at the store who saw it was going on about how beautiful it was. She offered me a box to put it in but I declined thinking it would be okay. Well it was a little top heavy and ended up falling over, breaking some points off and dumping out all of the rocks and some of the potting soil. I was SO BUMMED. SO BUMMED. It had been so perfect. And then I hurt it by not being careful enough. I got home and with my fingers carefully tried to pick up as much of the soil as I could followed by the rocks. It wasn’t as perfect as it had been but I tried to view the situation as an exercise in letting go and acceptance.
Tomorrow is my 60 days. I had to run to the grocery store and came across the cutest little succulent that would be perfect for my windowsill. I swear I was attached as soon as I touched it. It was in near perfect shape and again the lady ringing me up went on about how cute it was. Got to the car and put it in the cup holder and then accidentally dropped an apple on top! A freaking apple. And damage it, It did. Some of the ends got all mushy and opened up or broke off completely. Oh my goodness. Replay of such disappointment. SO! One of my top goals: work on slowing down and being more mindful. I am getting pretty good at accepting disappointment, I think at least there’s that.
And there is something poetic about a reward for sobriety that is flawed while very loved.
@Elisabeth I figure the accidents are tests from the universe. Like “so…you’ve abstained for this long and seek a reward…first you must past this test to prove your growth!” the universe demands a display of healthy coping skills and positive goal-setting.
This is so great @carmen071. You took me along for the ride in your story telling. I love the message. What growth you have, being able to see the lesson in the difficulty. I, too, love planting. I have several succulents and cactus. I plan on doing a tree and some native drought tolerant plants when I move to represent my sobriety. As they grow, so do I.
@Melrm That sounds like such a lovely plan. I wish you could teach me in person about succulents and drought tolerant plants! Very different from the PNW but with the extreme humidity we can get some nice tropical plants growing. My husband bought me a prayer plant for Valentine’s day as well and I just repotted my snake plant. Mostly basic beginner type stuff haha.
I’m sure it will get better! My wife and I have killed every plant we were ever given or purchased. I even managed to kill off one of those bamboo-type plants that require very little care. There is not a stitch of green in my house, except for a salad bag.
This is a fun video I found, if anyone wants to check it out (also I love this YouTube channel)… https://youtu.be/aY4upseb-aw
@JohnSee super cute video. I have found that a lot of the so called “carefree plants” (like those air plants for example) require just the right perfect environment so while they may not require much but a mist.of water here and there , it might be dead from the get go really if it’s environment isn’t PERFECT. have you tried a heartleaf philodendron? I got one for 3 bucks from Wal-Mart last summer and I couldn’t stop that thing from growing I tried!
My suite is very low light with lack of air circulation plus high humidity so I use fans and have most of my plants by our one good window. I tried to put a snake plant further in by other living room windows and when I first got it my green thumbed friend said THOSE THINGS NEVER DIE! well. Had to do an emergency surgery and repot and move to the good window and let’s pray it makes it.
@carmen071 Thanks for the tips. Think the only things I would be interested in growing at this point is indoor herbs - basil, parsley, etc. I killed a basil plant last summer.
@SallyD killed one. But to be fair! That was at the beginning when I knew absolutely.nothing about plants and it was also in a pot without drain holes which is definitely not for a beginner haha
On my 40th day clean I went to the nursery and purchased a succulent in the coolest pot I had been in love with for a while. The lady planted it for me and put so much love and care into it. Everyone at the store who saw it was going on about how beautiful it was. She offered me a box to put it in but I declined thinking it would be okay. Well it was a little top heavy and ended up falling over, breaking some points off and dumping out all of the rocks and some of the potting soil. I was SO BUMMED. SO BUMMED. It had been so perfect. And then I hurt it by not being careful enough. I got home and with my fingers carefully tried to pick up as much of the soil as I could followed by the rocks. It wasn’t as perfect as it had been but I tried to view the situation as an exercise in letting go and acceptance.
the universe demands a display of healthy coping skills and positive goal-setting. 
every plant we were ever given or purchased. I even managed to kill off one of those bamboo-type plants that require very little care. There is not a stitch of green in my house, except for a salad bag.
killed one. But to be fair! That was at the beginning when I knew absolutely.nothing about plants and it was also in a pot without drain holes which is definitely not for a beginner haha
let us know what you pick out!