Why I’ve always wanted a plant.

Jan Johan
When I think about: Life
2 min readOct 24, 2017

I was in the third year of my undergrad when I realized I wanted to own a Bonsai tree. More like grow my own rather than simply buy one that’s already matured. On top of the all the visual appeal, I’ve always loved the idea of growing and taking care of something.

I first had the idea of getting a plant when I was going through a stressful time in school. It wasn’t just a stressful time academically, it was a lonely time where I was dealing with personal challenges as well.

When I’m going through stuff, I usually go to the gym to clear my head. But sometimes just clearing your head isn’t good enough. I started feeling like I needed a purpose rather than just getting it things off my chest. I wanted more purpose and reason in my life.

Maybe I was tripping out one time, or maybe I got the idea from being at a friends place. But wouldn’t it be nice to have something “living” in your house/room? The idea stuck with me, and in a way, I saw it as a way to have purpose and reason. I could channel my thoughts and energy into this little thing that would grow with me over time. Isn’t that cool?

I don’t have a plant yet, unfortunately. I’m still moving between houses, and when I land a place more long-term, I am definitely going to get one. But I look forward to having something I can take care of and nurture. I would talk to it (which I hear is good for plants), and I would get to see something grow.

Sometimes when I’m at my lowest point, I question my purpose and things I’m doing. But I think having a plant would give me an extra purpose to keep pressing on and take it day by day. It would give me a reason to maintain my space, not for my own sake, but for my plant’s.

Obviously, I’ve put a lot of thought into getting a plant….

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