The branch leads up straight into the air and then sharply turns to the right as if it’s deflecting its head from the exposed sun. Right when one might think that the branch will continue its motion, it sharply twists to the left and moves itself upward. The bonsai plant (which I very creatively named Bonsee) sat on my windowsill next to my two other succulent plants.
When I first saw the plant, different branches jutted out of the main branch, making it feel crowded and bushy. As I snipped the little parts of the plant to shape it, I never thought it would yield the shape that it did. There is beauty to the way Bonsee twists and turns, seemingly leading its own life at its own will. There is nothing stopping the plant from doing what it wanted to or suddenly completely changing directions. While the turns are sharp, there is also a delicacy in the way it moves. When the sun hits the side of the plant, causing the shadow to fall perfectly on the edge of the pot, there is a sense of peace I feel in my mind. It’s a great view to wake up to.
Ever since I came to college, I think I have become a little more like the bonsai plant. I used to be someone who always needed a detailed plan before I embarked on any journey. Of course, that is still true to an extent, but I have learned to become more spontaneous as the days go on. There is an element of excitement to doing something that steers away from my daily routine. Going out on random walks during the night or taking the Path to the city makes me think of the sharp turns of my bonsai plant.
Before, I lived under the supervision of my parents and under their comforting shadows. At college, however, I’ve come to realize that I am in control of my own life. While this may seem obvious, for some reason, it took me a while to understand the true meaning of living on my own. There is no one to make the schedule for you or to restrict your daily schedule. While I appreciated the little confusion I had in life because of a clear schedule defined by my parents, I also wished I could go on spontaneous trips. In my household, everything had to be clearly planned a couple of days in advance. I always had to ask permission to hang out with friends and wasn’t allowed to go out for more than two or three hours. That completely changed in college. Living on my own means that I could define my own restrictions and limits.
While I’m still not completely comfortable with sudden turns, the bonsai plant reminds me that it is okay to welcome changes in life. No matter how the change affects your life, it always will work out in the end. Sometimes sudden changes are necessary to take away from the monotony of life. Now, whenever I wake up in the morning to see my bonsai plant, I am a little inspired to change up my daily routine and be a little more spontaneous. I have learned to not be scared of it, but instead to embrace it because what is life without a bit more excitement?
Be First to Comment