P&G Check-in: 22 February 2021 - 28 February 2021
Hello wonderful people of the P&G Community !
The proposal I bring you in this Check-In is:
Let’s have our Green Pet !
Plants celebrate Life !
They are very different life forms than we are. In contrast with say, cats and dogs (very close to us in the tree of life) that feel intelligent, expressive, etc., plants project Life in itself.
These far cousins are also made of cells similar to ours, have their info coded in DNA, etc. They are family !
A lot has been said of the beneficial effects of having some plants indoors.
They make our rooms look more alive, more fresh and beautiful. They reduce stress just by being there. They inspire us, as the essence of sustained growth, and in our aspiration to a calm life.
Regarding the widespread concern against having plants in the bedroom, studies conducted by NASA (!!!) have shown that indoor plants clean air and help sleep, and their nightly carbon dioxide release isn’t harmful. HERE is a synthesis of the main study and a list of the top air-cleaner indoor plants (which are beautiful and low-maintenance as well)
Common excuses for not having a plant indoors are that “we don’t have the time” to take care of them, or “we are not good at it”.
But there are wonderful “low maintenance” plants that require very little effort to keep in good condition. There is a great list HERE
Most of these are not expensive. Plants that are easy to maintain, are also easy to produce, and thus cheaper (compare a pothos with an orchid...)
I suggest that, even if you have a jungle of exuberant plants all over the place, keep a simple, small, cute “Pet Plant” at your desk. You can even give it a name !
Your “Green Pet”, will bring companionship, aliveness and calm to your space and your hours there.
You can have a little plant at work too. Everybody will love it !
Summing up, having some plant(s) in the places we spend our time is an easy way of improving our quality of life.
And having your own “Pet Plant” would be so cute and cool...
Questions
- How do you feel today ?
- Do you like having plants in the places you spend most of the time ?
I look forward to your comments, and wish you all the best !
Marcelo.
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Lovely post! thank you for making it :)
I am feeling pretty tired, but okay apart from that.
I love having plants around. I have several and they all have names!
@Gozzil
Dear Gozzil:
Thank you very much for your compliments. I greatly appreciate them, coming from you !
I am sorry you feel so tired ! Make it a priority to rest and take care of yourself !
We all need to take rest seriously. It is increasingly difficult nowadays. We live in a culture that conspires against it in all kinds of ways. So we have to do an extra effort to counter this unhealthy influence.
How cute and fun that all your plants have names ! It's said that they grow better if we talk to them.
Calling them by their names will surely make them feel valued, loved and respected.
So you have a bunch of very happy plants...
I'm sure they send their good vibes back to you !
You are a true plant-lover !
Thank you very much for participating in this check-in.
All the best !
Marcelo.
I have a few plants at work. I like to have one visible from my seat at my computer. It makes a world of difference in my mood. At home I have cats, so no plants there.
@DeeGold
Nice to see you again !
How wonderful that you share your working hours with some plant companions !
And that you have a "special one" that you keep at sight from your desk at all times.
I am glad that they improve so much your mood !
This is exactly what I tried to propose in this Check-in.
You are already there !
It shows that you know the means, and take the corresponding actions, to make yourself feel better.
Congratulations on that !
Thank you for participating in this check-in.
All the best !
Marcelo
Hi @WelcomeToChat!
Answering your questions:
- How do you feel today ?
Great ! Hope you are also feeling the same!
- Do you like having plants in the places you spend most of the time ?
Yes I do. I have a few potted plants in my study.
@alphav7
Dear Alpha:
Nice to see you again !
As i told you in the past check-in you seem a wise, highly evolved person.
All you tell me tends to confirm it.
I congratulate you on that !
Moreover, it makes me happy you are a Listener in 7 Cups.
Wise, good people like you is what 7 Cups needs to grow healthy and improve as a healing resource for so many people that need help.
Thank you for being here !
All the best !
Marcelo.
I love the topics you come up with for your check-ins, Marcelo!
I do have a lot of plants indoors in addition to having a garden. I didn't really make it a priority to be around them but I do find them to be good! I would love to have my own green pet soon since I don't have one already. I will share a picture if I do! ^^ it really would be so cute and cool, haha
- How do you feel today?
I feel alright. I am trying to incorporate some rest time in my schedule, it hasn't been as effective but as you mentioned in your previous reply, rest is necessary for quality work. I have to get back to studying soon so I am trying to get rest and for some leisure time playing my piano/keyboard that brings me joy.
- Do you like having plants in the places you spend most of the time?
I do love being around nature. I like to just simply be surrounded by them but I plan on being around them more often!
@lumieremilkyway
Lovely Lumie:
Thank you for your compliments !
You are a powerful source of encouragement and motivation for my work here.
I am glad you live surrounded by plants ! That is very, very nice, a real privilege.
I hope these reflections we are having will make you appreciate them even more.
"I believe a leaf of grass is no less than the journey-work of the stars." (from "Song of Myself" in "Leaves of Grass" by Walt Whitman)
Thanks a lot for liking the idea of the "green pet" ha, ha !!!
I am glad you are improving your balance between study, and relax and rest. I struggled with that all my life, so I might be overemphasizing it a bit. But I really believe that it is crucial.
The other day, I heard a comment by Garry Kasparov, 10 years Chess World Champion (the best player ever, according to many) saying that the key strength he had to win tournaments, wasn't intensifying last-moment training, or some trick, but the fact that, even after losing several matches in a row (that is, under very heavy pressure), he was able to relax, rest and sleep well at night before the next (increasingly crucial) match.
This helped him win tournaments not only because it promoted a fast recovery and cleared his mind a lot for the next match, but also because it boosted his self-esteem, that he (even after losing several matches) had this particular strength of spirit that allowed him to devote time to rest even under the worst heavy pressure.
I wish you the same, that you can relax and rest well between periods of intense study, even under the heavy pressure of upcoming exams after having had some setbacks the previous round.
Let's hope for that !
I wish you all the best, Lumie !!!
Keep in touch !
Marcelo
@WelcomeToChat
hello Marcelo!
indeed, your post has made me appreciate the plants even more. I shared with my mom about your post and she was so delighted and encouraged me to even try talking to plants as she does, it seems really fun! my mom loves her plants haha and wow, I'll check out that song!
I agree it's crucial to have that balance, Marcelo. I had been trying to convince myself everything is fine and I just need to push through but when I did step back for a bit and just relax, I felt so much better and my studying session after that was much more productive! I also noticed a significant change in my mood and my eagerness to help out mom with household chores. I hope it's no longer a major struggle for you and thank you for reminding me to keep that in check for myself.
relax, rest or sleep time is really important. a lot of us often overlook its benefits because it seems that it isn't that big of a deal but it's funny how a lot of the problems that we do face can be tracked down to not having enough rest or not getting proper sleep. I plan on doing some more research on sleep and see how I improve the efficiency of mine since I've been waking up in the middle of the night, I don't have trouble sleeping back but I'd like to know the cause of it. it's really interesting to learn about things like this. thank you for sharing about Garry Kasparov! it really helped me see why sleep is important and how it can also give me good results. just the fact that I'd make my sleep and rest time a priority despite some setbacks is amazing and I hope I can really be like him in this regards.
thank you so much for your reply, Marcelo! ❤️
@lumieremilkyway
Hi, Lumi! It's been a while since we've crossed paths here on 7cups.
I just wanted to note that your mentioning of playing the piano caught my attention. I've been a pianist for about 14 years now. What types of songs do you like to play?
Good to see you again! (^_^)/ 
@TheAutumnWitch
Autumn! it's been a long while ❤️ *hugs*
you've been playing it for more years than me, haha! I bet you're an amazing pianist. it really brings such good joy to play it ^^ so, I'm not really all that great at playing the keyboard (it's not really a piano haha). I got a keyboard (a professional one actually) by my dad because it has always been his dream of learning how to play it, and on numerous occasions I mentioned wanting to learn it myself. before that, I only used to play the guitar and if I'm asked which one I can play better, the answer would be the guitar.
to answer your question, I'd call myself a beginner. I have learned to play some songs on it like Someone You Loved, My Heart Will Go On, Champagne Problems and I've learned it by following some YouTube tutorials. I don't know about chords exactly haha, but I practised them for a bit! what type of songs do you play? are you self-taught or you've been learning from someone? I'd love to know about your learning journey! I'm thinking of starting up some sort of classes, but I'm doubtful of it, considering being self-taught, don't know if that's a good idea haha XD
good hearing from you! I hope you're well ❤️ I hope I can catch up with you soon
@lumieremilkyway
*Returns hug* It has indeed been quite a while, Lumi!
Hehe, I try my best. (^///^) Ooh, that's a lovely backstory as to how you acquired your keyboard! I received a guitar from my grandpa a while ago, but I still haven't learned how to play it yet. It looks like we're the reverse of each other with musical instruments, haha.
I've learned how to play a few songs via YouTube tutorials as well, along with figuring out a few by ear. I play all sorts of songs ranging from classical to contemporary to jazz; the list goes on. I've been getting taught by a retired concert pianist, but ever since the pandemic occurred, of course she can't give me lessons, so I have to teach myself and rely on what I've learned from her for the meantime. If you really want to do so, I encourage you to start up classes in the future! :) If you get the right piano teacher, you can learn a lot of tricks for playing certain key signatures and hopping from one section of the board to the other more smoothly. I should note from my own experience that, as my teacher is a retired concert pianist, she's a bit pricier. However, in contrast, my little cousins have a teacher who is much cheaper, but also does not know as many tricks and flourishes for advancing in piano progress. It depends on how far you'd like to go with your keyboard, I think.
I've been doing okay, thanks! :D I just submitted my first resumé ever. I hope you're doing well, too! Looking forward to hearing more from you.
@WelcomeToChat
I know this isnt answering the questions but I wanted to share a quote!!
"If you don't know where you want to go, then it doesn't matter which path you take." -Alice in Wonderland
@hellogorgeous05
Hello Gorgeous !
Great quote !
I remember a similar one by the Roman stoic scholar Seneca (4 BC).
"Ignoranti quem portum petat, nullus suus ventus est"
That is, "To one who doesn't know to what port he is going, no wind is favorable."
Hope you like it !
All the best !
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat
Hello, Marcelo!
- How do you feel today?
I'm feeling okay. My closest friend told me about a job opportunity that would work quite nicely with my schedule, and he promised to give me a piggyback ride if I can maintain my mental health by the next time we're able to meet up. (Note: I am an absolute sucker for piggyback rides.) Hearing about both the job opportunity and the piggyback promise has been quite encouraging for me to take care of myself.
- Do you like having plants in the places you spend most of the time?
I'm not sure, actually. I haven't really had plants in the places I spend most of my time in before, so I would need to try that out first. I do like how the air seems so much cleaner and fresher with them around, though.
Thank you for the check-in and the list of low-maintenance plants! I appreciate you! 
@TheAutumnWitch
Hi !
Thank you for checking-in !
I am glad you have been offered a fitting job opportunity ! The job market has been hit very hard everywhere during the last year. So it's a great privilege to find any job opportunity at all, and particularly one that is almost "tailor-made" for you.
Your friend seems amazing, like a Guardian Angel ! You are very lucky to have a friend like him ! Let's celebrate that !
It makes me happy that you liked the idea to try with keeping some plant(s) around ! You could give it a try when you have some spare time...
And thank you for your lovely compliments !
I wish you all the best !
Keep in touch!
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat
I am glad about the job opportunity, too! I was expecting to remain unemployed for the entirety of this year due to how hard the pandemic has hit the job market. My fingers are crossed.
Oh, he certainly is a Guardian Angel; he's actually saved my life before. I don't know what I did to deserve such a wonderful man as him. Definitely celebrating his presence in my life.
I will definitely give it a try someday! (^_^)
You're welcome, and thank you for replying to me!
Take care!
I'm feeling okay today. I'm answering this on mobile so unfortunately I'm not able to dress up my writing like I usually do, so that's a bummer but other than that I'm doing okay. As for the plants... yes! I actually have an aloe vera, moon silver succulent, lavender and devil's ivy pothos growing currently! They're all in my living room.
@HoneyHalcyon
Hi !
I thank you very, very much for participating in this check-in, even while feeling uncomfortable with doing it through your cellphone instead of a PC, as you seem to be used to.
Stylistics don't matter, what's valuable is participating, and so enlivening the forums.
I am grateful to you for this.
You have wonderful plants ! I love all those kinds.
Succulents are like... likable. Lavender is fragrant, it perfumes the whole place.
Pothos are beautiful and easy to maintain (if you don't forget to water them.). And to grow new ones from your first one.
Aloe Vera is the queen of succulents. It's beautiful and it's so beneficial in many ways... Here we have a joke, we say of a wealthy person that "She has more properties than Aloe Vera".
Thank you for participating in this check-in !
All the best !
Marcelo.
- How do you feel today ?
Terrible, but going to manage it.
- Do you like having plants in the places you spend most of the time ?
Yeah, I like. And I prefer cactuses. They are nice.
@windSpirit
Hi !
Thank you for participating in this check-in !
I'm sorry that you don't feel all that well...
But you have the attitude, the strength of spirit (as your nickname hints) to face it upfront, and take the initiative to do something about it. Congratulations on that !
I like cactuses too. When a child, I had a collection of tiny cacti.
Near my home now, there is a house with a garden 100% made of cactuses. The house has a very austere, minimalist design, and the garden soil is all covered with pebbles and rocks. It all has an intense Zen feeling to it... I like it very much, the "house of the cacti"...
Thanks again for participating !
I wish you all the best !
Keep in touch !
Marcelo
I'm feeling good today. It's a very sunny day which I really like. It's a nice break from the cloudy days this week.
I really like plants. I have a lot of them. I view them as a reflection of my self care. When I take care of myself better, I tend to pay more attention to my plants and take better care of them. But, when I struggle with my self care, I also neglect my plants.
Plants, like us humans, have the basics that they need to thrive - water, sunlight, and nutrients. When those things are missing, they will start to suffer - leafs don't grow, roots may rot, leafs may turn yellow or fall off. Simlarly, humans have basics we need to thrive - sleep, exercise, eating well (there are a few more of course, but those are the fundamentals for the body). When those things are missing, we start to suffer - we get cranky, stressed out, anxious, have aches and pains, etc.
purpleWheel873
Thank you for checking in !
I am glad that you are feeling well, and you are enjoying a beautiful, sunny day.
What a wonderful, beautifully crafted post !
I totally agree with you ! But I couldn't have written it as well as you do. You have a very clear mind, and you write beautifully !
Your great insights about the connection between self-care and caring for your plants are deep, they go deeper than this check-in article, for sure.
Thank you for sharing them !
I am very grateful to you for such a thoughtful and valuable contribution to this Forum !
Please keep participating as much as possible !
All the best !
Marcelo.
@WelcomeToChat
- How do you feel today ?
I'm feeling ok. It's my last vacation week and I'm doing quite good. It is also the last week with mom because she'll have to go back to work on monday, which means I will be alone during the weeks and I'll see her only on weekends. That has me a little sad.
But I'm grateful because we had a great time together. I'm also looking forward to go back to school. I'll see some of my friends on monday and that makes me happy.
- Do you like having plants in the places you spend most of the time ?
I do. I had one plant in my bedroom called Filomena and I took good care of her. But my little dog ate it when I was away 😢
I'm not too good taking care of plants; I forget to water them often, especially in summer. Some times I water them a lot and that's not good for them. I miss my Filo.