Bringing nature indoors

Don’t underestimate the power of nature.

I used to buy fake plants because I’m a serial plant killer.

I’ve killed so many plants... even a cactus.

(I literally didn’t know you could kill a cactus.)

The truth is, I’m often so deep in my head that I forget things like eating or sleeping.

So of course the plants suffered.

It wasn’t their fault.

It wasn’t mine either, just survival mode.

Pets are different.

Pets tell you when they need something.

They cry, they stare, they paw, they nudge.

They force you into the present.

My 4-year-old golden retriever puppy changed my life in the most chaotic way.

She stormed into our home, destroyed half of it, and pulled me out of my darkest thoughts instantly.

Because who has time to spiral when a tiny dinosaur is chewing the table leg and pooping on the carpet?

But again… pets are a big responsibility. Life-changing, but definitely not for everyone.

Plants, though, are a gentler start.

How nature found me anyway

It started accidentally with a Valentine’s Day bouquet from my husband.

The roses wilted, of course, but I noticed some of the leafy greens stayed alive.

For weeks. Even though I forgot to change the water.

Four months later, they were still thriving in a little glass on the kitchen counter.

And I realized something simple - the air feels different when there is life in the room.

(Science agrees, indoor plants can improve air quality and reduce stress.)

So I thought, maybe I can do this.

The start of my plant era

I ordered a few plants from easyplant - they have a self-watering system, so you only check them once a month.

That felt safe for a recovering plant murderer.

But oh… was I wrong, in the best possible way.

They were so cute. I started trimming them. Talking to them. Checking their leaves for new growth.

I found myself making time to care.

And that’s when it hit me...

The lifestyle where I didn’t have time to shower or eat or sleep was the real problem.

Not the plants.

Slowly, my home became a sanctuary

Now I have two large plants by the couch and a little one on my desk.

It feels like I’m on vacation every day.

Then I added an indoor garden, Click & Grow, where herbs and veggies grow under a self-timed light.

I barely do anything, and yet something grows.

You can even eat it. Wild.

Then I redid our balcony - wood tiles, a small table for outdoor lunch and wine,

and a water fountain with the softest flowing sound.

I stopped going to cafés because sitting at home feels better.

Maybe it’s an LA thing, but I keep the windows open almost every day.

We installed a pet-friendly screen so our dog can run in and out freely.

The breeze flows through the house, and it’s just right.

With just a little help from nature, everything starts to feel lighter.

When you care for living things...even tiny ones, you start caring for yourself again without even trying.

When your space feels alive, so do you.