Room To Grow

When it comes to houseplants, sometimes you notice dropping leaves.  You study it a little, maybe touch a finger to the soil, and you conclude that it's not too wet, not too dry.  There's enough light coming in.  You pick up the pot and turn it over and there at the hole where water drains, you can see your plant's roots.   It's become root bound.  There are some plants that prefer to be root bound, but not all of them.  

It's the same for people; we tend to get stuck in a rut, or maybe we've stopped visualizing or dreaming about what our life could be.  Or maybe we can't remember the last time we laughed.  When that begins to happen over time, if you're noticing those signs week after week, then perhaps we're root bound as well.  We need to gently loosen the soil around our souls, find something that sparks our imagination or creativity, brings a smile, or yes, even makes us laugh! 

This root bound situation doesn't mean we have to quit our job, or leave a spouse.  It just means we need something new.  What about taking a college course?  And if you're a senior like I am, check out the local colleges.  Sometimes seniors can sit in on classes for free!  Maybe you can try your hand at sewing again, or baking goodies.  What about taking up writing?  I think all of us have some kind of novel within us.  

When you work with plants to re-pot them, you can see where the roots are stunted.  With gentle fingers, you begin to untangle them.   Leaf.  Stem.  Root.   or   Body.  Mind.  Soul.  Three in one, Spirit's thread of mystery.   But when you place your plant into a new pot, make sure the new one isn't too big.  You want to encourage, not overwhelm.  It's the same for us:  Don't take on too much,  just enough to lift yourself up, to find that there's room to grow.