I flower again.

I received this orchid as a gift from a friend after I had surgery in February of 2022.
I had always known orchids to be a very finicky temperamental flower that needs the right conditions care and love to flourish. And yup… was I right.

A year after having the plant trying all I could to get it to flower again I found myself disappointed that I wasn’t able to encourage growth, and that I wasn’t being a good plant momma!

Then… I took a look in the mirror. A dear friend told me “your plants won’t grow if you aren’t taking care of and loving yourself.” And this was true. I myself was in the midst of burnout. Depressed, anxious, stressed, unsatisfied with where I was in life and who I was as well. Attempting to turn things around I took a meeting at work to learn about a new position. I thought a new job would give me a fresh start and the ability to clear my brain and I’d be taking care of me.

Well- the meeting ended up sending me into an anxious spiral. The day ended with me going on a leave of absence from work. And that day began my journey of finding me and getting myself to “flower.”

I took care of myself. I started therapy. I was diagnosed with ADHD. I started taking a new combination of medications. I began practicing routines that helped me be successful and accomplish tasks I never had before.

A year later and life is so different… I am respecting who I am as an individual a human an educator. I advocate for the educators, for the children, for the families. And with this love and care for myself and these right conditions… they have helped me to flourish…. and just like that so has my orchid.

It’s hard. This journey took a lot. But you deserve it. You deserve the love care and the right conditions. Advocate for yourself, your practice your team your children. You deserve to flower again.