Have you noticed that kids love to plant and pick fruit and vegetables? Maybe we adults aren’t so different. The excitement and anticipation of planting a vegetable and expecting a result based on what was planted. Then picking the colorful vegetable is a delight. But what about all of the watering in between the planting and picking? The discipline of regular watering can feel tedious, but without it, we watch the life wither out of the plant.
Nurturing our relationships can be similar to watering a plant. Whether at work or in your personal life, you meet someone who seems interesting, make a connection, then without following up, the relationship dies out. Maybe it was exciting and new at first, then harsh weather hits with a disagreement or neglect causes the life to drain out of the relationship.
Fortunately, relationships can often be revitalized unlike plants who die before your eyes. Some of the most enduring relationships are like the Ficus tree I had for many years. I moved it a few times to different areas outdoors and it survived. Then I moved it to my indoor office thinking it would be nice to have this lovely greenery with me in my space. The leaves turned yellow, then brown, and finally they all fell off. My tree turned into a long stick with nothing on it, so I took it outside to the patio not sure what to do with it. After much neglect, I saw some green leaves appear on the tree. Hmm. Maybe there was life after all. I put the tree on the front porch, and it began to thrive.
A friend who contacted me after 20 years was kind of like my Ficus tree. I hadn’t followed up on our relationship and assumed it had died out. It was such a delightful surprise when my out of touch friend responded to my newsletter and we reconnected. Sometimes a friendship can thrive after years of neglect, but it’s preferable to nurture important friendships rather than letting them die of neglect.
Supportive friendships carry me through life’s many struggles whether it’s an occasional chat or a friend that got me through a very difficult time.
Referenced websites
Friendships for health and emotional support, https://www.verywellmind.com/the-importance-of-friendship-3024371
Support through tough times
Copyright Nancy J Miller @ 2022. www.nancyjmiller.com. Content may be duplicated in its entirety with attribution including the link. Thank you for sharing.
The purpose of this website is for personal information only and is not intended as counseling or coaching. Consult your physician or mental health provider regarding advice or support for your health and wellbeing.
Nancy J. Miller, M.S. Creative LifeWork Design 
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