Plants: Beyond the Beauty

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When I was younger, I remember being told to go outside and put our feet in the grass whenever we were feeling down. Even when we weren’t feeling well physically, my grandmother would sometimes tell us to go lie in the sun. She always said we needed to spend time in nature.

I remember thinking she was a little crazy.
How could any of that help?

Well… it turns out the old lady wasn’t crazy at all.

In recent years, scientists have begun linking gardening and time spent in nature to improved mental health — and suddenly, everything my grandmother said started to make sense.

Have you ever heard the term “earthing” or “grounding”?

Earthing is the practice of making direct skin contact with the Earth — like walking barefoot on grass or soil. The idea is that reconnecting with the Earth can help improve both physical and mental well-being.

One scientific connection researchers have made involves a naturally occurring soil bacteria called Mycobacterium vaccae. This bacteria lives in soil and, when absorbed through the skin, has been shown to increase the production of serotonin — often referred to as the “happy hormone.”

Serotonin plays a major role in regulating mood, sleep, digestion, and overall emotional balance. Healthy levels of serotonin help us feel calmer, more centered, and better equipped to handle stress.

So yes… there really is something healing about getting your hands in the dirt.

Like most people, 2020 was a heavy year for me and my family. It was filled with loss, fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty. And yet — somehow — it was also the year I found peace.

Before March of 2020, life was already overwhelming. In 2017, I became a foster mom to my brother’s children, which meant going from two kids to five almost overnight. Between working full-time, school, sports, and adjusting to a new family dynamic, “overwhelmed” doesn’t even begin to describe it.

When the world slowed to a halt, I didn’t know what to feel. Like everyone else, the uncertainty created an intense amount of anxiety. I desperately needed something to ground me.

At the time, I had a few plants around my home — mostly for aesthetic reasons. I loved how they made my space feel warm and familiar, reminding me of growing up surrounded by greenery.

So when everything outside felt chaotic, I started looking for ways to calm my world.

The weather that year felt especially beautiful. I found myself spending more time on my patio, soaking in the sun. During trips to the feed and seed store for dog food, I’d wander into the garden center — every single time.

It was like the light shined brighter there. The air felt fresher. And somehow, I always left with a new plant… or three.

Before I knew it, my home had turned into my own private oasis.

Being surrounded by plants brought a sense of calm I hadn’t felt in a long time. While the world outside felt uncertain and overwhelming, my home became a place of peace.

As the year continued, the emotional weight of the world grew heavier. Watching the news, seeing loss pile upon loss, and witnessing deep pain and injustice unfold around us made the anxiety come rushing back — stronger than before.

One morning, after staying up late consumed by the noise of it all, I made the decision to step away.

I noticed some of my plants needed attention. I grabbed my AirPods, turned on some music, and started tending to them. When I finally looked up, hours had passed — and for the first time in a while, I felt at peace.

The next day, I invited my children outside to help with the garden. We laughed, played in the dirt, and spent the entire day together under the sun.

That was the moment it clicked.

Being outside.
Feeling the soil.
Breathing fresh air.
Letting the sun warm your skin.
Caring for something living.

That is what grounding feels like.

In that moment, I finally understood what my grandmothers had been teaching me all those years ago. I understood why, sometimes, we really do need to step outside and “touch some grass.”

Plants didn’t just help me decorate my space — they helped me survive a difficult season. They reminded me to slow down, to breathe, and to stay rooted when everything else felt unstable.

And that is why plants will always be more than just beautiful to me.

What I learned during that season — and what I still carry with me — is that growth doesn’t just happen in soil. It happens in us, too.

That’s what we're really about.
Not just plants, but the quiet, steady act of tending to something living — of showing up, of nurturing, of allowing growth to happen in its own time. Whether it’s a seed in a pot or a moment of stillness in your day, everything begins at the roots.

Plants remind us to slow down.
To breathe.
To stay grounded when the world feels loud.

And just like people, plants don’t need perfection — they need care, consistency, and space to grow.

That’s the heart of Root Life. 🌿