Kaija and I are proud plant parents of three. Mable (corn tree), Pokey (zebra aloe species), and Lazarus (soap aloe species). Today, I will tell you about our first plant baby, Lazarus. You see, Lazarus just got his name. You’ll hear his life story and a couple Hackz that we can learn from him. Before I continue: I want you to promise me that if this blog has a positive impact on you today, you’ll do three things at the end? Ok? Deal? Deal. I'm counting on you!
It all started with me grocery shopping at Smiths. On my way out, I impulsively decided that I needed to buy that 3 dollar aloe plant. The process of becoming a single plant dad only took 3 minutes! I was seeking excitement in my life, so kept it on my desk, and enjoyed it’s company. The newborn days. So special. While Kaija and I were dating, I realized I wanted a bigger pot than the plastic cup it was born in. That being said, I purchased a HUGE pot that made the aloe plant look incredibly out of place. A couple people asked why I used such a big pot. It was simple. I knew that my little plant would grow to be the most grand green aloe plant there ever was.
When Kaija and I got married, we became plant parents together. We wanted it to have the best chance at growing, and our basement window well wasn’t going to cut it. We decided to leave it at my sister in law’s house. Her kitchen and living room had open windows that allowed for optimal sunlight for our baby plant. Everytime we visited her house, we would notice how green and healthy it was. Had we left our baby plant in a better environment, and this allowed him to prosper!
However, during our cross-country trip from UT to GA, our baby did not fare well…. We tried our best to cover it from the harsh sun rays and we even buckled it in. Yeh, Kaija and I take our responsibilities as plant parents very seriously. However, the conditions on this week-long road trip were harsh. Moving is hard for kids, you know? Lots of change. By the end of the trip, it was half dead. The once beautiful leaves of green were now shades of purple and brown. Even though we had done our best (under those difficult circumstances) to take care of it, our little plant was practically on its way to plant heaven. This plant was such a special thing to Kaija and I! We didn’t want to see it go!
When we moved to our GA apartment we realized what had gone wrong, gave it a window to sit by, and watered it as needed. Although a portion of us felt our actions were in vain, we kept watering the aloe plant hoping it’d be restored to its green glory. Eventually, we noticed that leaf by leaf, the shades of purple and brown slowly transformed into a healthy green. At about two weeks, we had rekindled hope that our baby plant would make it! Now, at 1 month, it is greener and growing like never before! Jesus Christ rose Lazarus from the dead when everybody thought all hope was gone. I’m not trying to say that Kaija and I are messianic figures to our plant. Lazarus just fit. What Hackz can we learn from Lazarus the Aloe Plant?
Hackz from Lazarus’ Story
1. Give yourself permission to dream big: Just like I chose a pot that was incredibly disproportionate for Lazarus, you must give yourself the permission to accomplish big goals. Remove all limits on growth from your internal dialogue. A growth mindset doesn’t mean you shame yourself for what/where you are right now. Growth mindset means accepting yourself as a tiny seedling, but knowing and choosing to believe that you wilm become the tallest, strongest plant there ever was. What is your oversized pot in your life? My oversized pot is Happiness Hackz. I know only my family, friends, and a couple other loyal readers are reading this right now. I know that eventually hundreds, then thousands, will hear my message. (Eventually the entire world. Gotta start small!)
2. Give yourself a chance to grow: We had to make a hard decision and give our baby plant away for a little while. We knew the environment we had to offer was not conducive to its growth. While you are trying to grow, are you in an environment that will foster growth? Are the people around you making you better? Our bad habits are cued by the environment we surround ourselves with. James Clear, author of Atomic Habits, explains how the people we think have the best self-control and discipline actually have very similar levels of self control to the individual struggling with impulsive or self destructive behaviors. The biggest difference is that the people who appear to have the best self control simply do not put themselves in compromising positions. Let’s say you are curbing a smoking addiction. Don’t be around people or places that cue that temptation. You struggle with waking up in the morning because you hit snooze on your phone. Put the phone across the room so you are forced to get out of bed! Our bad habits are cued by our surroundings. When trying to break or create a habit, think about what cues will help you perform or prevent a behavior. “Grow where you are planted, but realize that a Redwood tree will NEVER grow in the Sahara Desert. Make your ecosystem one where you can thrive. Your ecosystem consists of your home and work environments, social atmosphere, and not only your physical state (fitness and nutrition) but your mental, emotional, and spiritual state.” -Kaija Bramwell (My Beautiful Bride)
3. Be Realistic: You wouldn’t expect a seedling to turn into a Redwood overnight, would you? Quit doing that to yourself! Merritt J. Jones, author of “This Book Sucks: The Scrappy Insights of a Self-Proclaimed Perfectionist”, addresses how unrealistic expectations relate to plants:
“When you give plants the right amount of water, it allows them to absorb a proper amount of nutrients from the soil. Overwatering often leads to root rot, which kills your plant. Underwatering leaves a plant malnourished, which again, kills your plant… Consider your unrealistic expectations the same as a plant with unbalanced care. Both will die and make you really sad.” (pg 19)
You will not hit your desired fitness goals if you go from a couch potato to joining a crossfit gym, attempting to do the daily WOD 6 days straight! No! You will give up. You will be disappointed and you will injure yourself. When embarking on a goal, we need to have a vision of exactly what we want to be, but start small, build confidence, and gradually increase intensity. Maybe this means starting by going on a walk, then a longer walk, a walk and jog, a jog, a jog and a run, and a run. You get the point.
4.Never, Never give in: Even though Kaija and I almost killed Lazarus, we didn’t give up on him. Maybe you, like Lazarus, went through a toxic time and feel defeated. Remember… You can do this. Jeffery R. Holland said, “However late you think you are, however many chances you have missed, however many mistakes you feel you have made or talents you think you don’t have, or however far from home and family and God you feel you have traveled, I testify that you have not traveled beyond the reach of divine love.” (April, 2012) Whether religious or not, we can all agree that YOU ARE LOVED. When things go wrong, identify the problem, make a plan to fix it, and give yourself time work through it a plan. Never give up on yourself! This principle is very easy to understand with a plant. Lets try to use it in our everyday lives for ourselves! Winston Churchill declared, “Never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never.” Be consistent in the small, daily actions and be patient.
That's all for today folks. BEFORE YOU GO! These three things! Here’s what I need from you!
Go buy a plant. Seriously. Any plant. They are a subconscious reminder of principles of growth.
Purchase Merritt J. Jones’ book on Amazon. I’ll provide the link below. It’s 3 bucks and 2 quarters... if you enjoyed my writing, hers will captivate you even more. Go check it out! CLICK HERE!
SHARE THIS BLOG AND SPREAD THE WORD with at least 3 of your friends! Who do you think could use this message today? Think of those three friends. Now send them the link! Follow my Instagram @happinesshackz for more daily positivity and Happiness Hackz. Subscribe below!
Until next week folks. Stay Happy. Spread the Hackz and the love.
Sources:
Clear, James. Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones, Penguin Audio, 2018
Jones, Merrit. This Book Sucks: The Scrappy Insights of a Self-Proclaimed Perfectionist, Kindle, 2020
Holland, Jeffery. Laborers in the Vineyard. April 2012 General Conference. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Bramwell, Kaija. AKA My Beautiful Bride
