Why I repotted all of my houseplants

Was it my recent plant purchasing spree that brought them into the house? Or was it the overzealous watering habits of my dear husband, who is convinced plants will die if not thoroughly watered on the daily?  We may never know the origin, but there was no doubt about the outcome.

We had fungus gnats. Lots and lots of fungus gnats. Suddenly, these pesky little guys were everywhere. 

The Google machine informed me of a few remedies: let the soil dry out, water with hydrogen peroxide to kill the larvae, get "cute" little sticky fly paper cutouts to put in each planter. And yes, tiny gnats stuck to fly paper in the shape of a flower is still really gross. 

Our gnats continued multiply. 

Radical action was needed. I blocked an afternoon and got to work. Every plant was repotted with fresh, new soil. 

Voilà! The gnats are gone. 

Often our thoughts can be like those pesky gnats. One negative or judgmental thought leads to another and another and another. Before we know it, we have an infestation in our minds. As we continue to think negative thoughts, we solidify neural pathways in our brains that reinforce those negative thoughts. We unconsciously seek validation that our negative thoughts are right, so we begin to only see the negative in situations.

Change your Thoughts, Change your Life!

It makes a great Instagram quote, but how do you really change your thoughts? 

By being Grateful.

The practice of actively seeking, acknowledging and being present in gratitude enables us to see the beauty, the joy and the good in life. It reinforces positive neural pathways in our brains and we begin see the positive, even in difficult situations. 

Currently, my favorite way to foster a gratitude practice is through photography. Phone camera or big camera, I make a conscious effort a few times weekly, to take a quick pic of something or someone I appreciate . . . like this tulip in a field of tulips.  

What might change in your life if you embraced the habit of gratefulness? Cultivating gratefulness is not difficult, but it does require intention and presence. I'd love to know how you will bring more gratefulness into your life!