There’s this cute little app called Viridi. By @icewatergames. You take care of lovely little succulents and a snail, watering them, singing to them, helping them grow. There’s gentle music in the background. (You even get to name the pot the plants are in - and your snail, too!)
Why am I telling you about this app?
Because it’s become something personal for me.
I’ve used that app’s gentle music and calming atmosphere multiple times when I’ve felt myself getting a panic attack. I use it to grow plants I cannot grow in soil conditions here, to further my love for gardening. The biggest thing I use it for, however, is to note how I treat myself.
Every day I strive to do at least one thing that is good for myself and my personal growth, whether it’s something as simple as just following the day’s planned timetable, or being productive, or something as big as confronting my problems and fears. And every day that I succeed, I water those plants. And watch them thrive.
Every day I fail to do something like this for myself, every day I let my fears and issues stop me from doing something for myself, I don’t water those plants. And at the end, I’m able to see how I’ve been treating myself.
Are those plants healthy and vibrant? Or are they wilting, losing their sheen? Are they brown and bent and devoid of energy and life?
Isn’t that what I’m doing to myself if I continue that streak?
It helps me visualise what I’m doing to myself.
And for that, thank you, app devs. Thank you so much. I know I’m not using it in a very conventional fashion, but you’ve done a fantastic job of creating a tiny little space where people can just slow down and take a breath.
Here’s my pot now. I’ve been productive the past few days. My plants are healthy, and I’m on the way there.
