“Growth is uncomfortable because you’ve never been here before.”
After much dragging of my feet, it’s finally arrived. I’ve spent a few years trying to figure out what my passion project will be, what should I do for a side hustle, etc. While I have not stopped taking on consulting gigs and marketing strategy for small businesses, I needed to find the time to do what brings me joy and build my own passion. Enter 2022.
Following a year of loss, stress, shock, grief and much more, I decided there’s no time like the present to go after what you want. See, it’s always been an easy thing for me to pursue my career, and I’ve taken leaps over and over in that part of my life. But on the other side, I’ve been slow to take chances. But, if I learned anything through the past year’s experiences, it is that you really don’t know how much time you have, so you might as well get doing something with it that makes you happy.
Growth is hard, and it’s something that takes time. I figured what better way to kick off my own growth by trying to actually grow something.
They’re here…
The first box of little succulents arrived on Thursday, January 20. I had no idea what was in the box until I opened it, and couldn’t believe that’s how plants are shipped (learning experience 1 ). I unpacked these teeny little things, put them in a giant casserole dish and splashed some water on them.
Next, I needed to get my potential planters. The goal is to repurpose pre-loved things, like coffee mugs and dinnerware, to give them new life and use. As I headed to Goodwill, and arrived, I realized I forgot my wallet (off to a great start). So, in order to save myself a trip and really find out if this is something I can do and like to do, I settled for a quick stop at Dollar Tree (did you know it’s now $1.25 Tree?) so that I could use Apple Pay to get a handful of mugs to test my skills on.
Fast forward two hours later, and I am fighting to drill al hole into the bottom of a coffee cup. I LITERALLY BROKE OUT INTO A SWEAT! After 20 minutes of drilling in one spot, there was barely any progress! This was supposed to be smooth sailing and it was a dang workout!
After a quick Google search revealed I could do this with a screw and a hammer, I proceeded. Now, while my Dad would be the first one to say “Chelsea, you cannot just hammer a screw into a coffee mug” - I will assure all of you, yes, you can. At his warning to not cut my hand open, I wore safety gloves. In about 13 seconds, I had a hole through my first mug. Within 2 minutes, all drainage holes were put into all of the mugs and bowls.
Lesson? Work smarter, not harder.
Did any of them break? Yes, one did. But out of 20 successes, one failure ain’t terrible y’all.
I added stones, soil and popped in the tiny tot succulents into all of their new homes. Once settled and watered, I moved them into a warm and south-facing room that has lots of natural sunlight. They will rest and settle here for the next two weeks.
Where I broke one mug, I swapped in a mason jar. I am not convinced I am in love with using colorful glass beads for drainage, but, we’ll see! I did note that I’d like to find a chalk paint marker or paint pens so that I can add doodles or art to the plain mugs. You’ll see above the Sharpie just doesn’t look great. Noted for next time (yay - learning).
To be determined on how these first babies grow, but that’s the whole purpose of this passion project. Trying new things, creating, and learning. Round 1: DONE!