--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I watched that plant in the office every…" description: "\"“I watched that plant in the office every day. Watered it; misted it. I loved thinking about it like G.T. said, but part of me was worried the tree sur..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/joan-bauer-3032_every-day_i-watched-that-plant-in-the-office-every_22099.png" --- # I watched that plant in the office every day. Watered it… ![“I watched that plant in the office every day. Watered it; misted it. I loved thinking about it like G.T. said, but part of me was worried the tree surgery wouldn't take. Something would go wrong and then I"d be stuck with a metaphor that couldn't go the distance.” quote by Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/joan-bauer-3032_every-day_i-watched-that-plant-in-the-office-every_22099.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/joan-bauer-3032_every-day_i-watched-that-plant-in-the-office-every_22099.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/050/joan-bauer-3032_every-day_i-watched-that-plant-in-the-office-every_22099.png) > ““I watched that plant in the office every day. Watered it; misted it. I loved thinking about it like G.T. said, but part of me was worried the tree surgery wouldn't take. Something would go wrong and then I"d be stuck with a metaphor that couldn't go the distance.”” [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker cares for a metaphorical plant, fearing that if it fails, the metaphor will be ineffective and reveal a personal vulnerability. **In simple terms:** Fear of a metaphor failing. Key Takeaway Metaphors need to survive scrutiny. Themes growth vulnerability symbolism self-awareness risk Mood contemplative anxious hopeful Type reflective personal creative When to use this quote - personal writing - creative brainstorming - public speaking - team building - coaching Key Concepts metaphor care failure self-reflection Practical Applications - using living symbols to illustrate ideas - teaching about resilience Questions to Reflect On - What does it mean when a metaphor 'fails'? - How can we protect our ideas from being undermined? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gardening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gardening/) [Trees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trees/) ## Related quotes > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [You never quite know what you do in life that leaves a seed behind that grows into an oak tree.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-portillo/you-never-quite-know-what-you-do-in-life-that-leaves-a-seed-behind/) [Michael Portillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-portillo/) > [I liked climbing trees and could often be found up one reading a book. I played games with Dad and drew maps for him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhianna-pratchett/i-liked-climbing-trees-and-could-often-be-found-up-one-reading-a-book/) [Rhianna Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhianna-pratchett/) > [Meanwhile, the trees were just as green as before; the birds sang and the sun shone as clearly now as ever. The familiar surroundings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-hardy/meanwhile-the-trees-were-just-as-green-as-before-the-birds-sang-and/) [Thomas Hardy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-hardy/) > [The problem with drinking and driving is that trees defend themselves very well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-problem-with-drinking-and-driving-is-that-trees-defend-themselves/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You could be the leaf that never falls from the tree you could be the sun that never leaves the sky this might be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/you-could-be-the-leaf-that-never-falls-from-the-tree-you-could-be-the/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [“Sentinels of trees breathe life into bodies of earthly flesh As their mighty arms reach to the stars we join in their quest for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramon-ravenswood/sentinels-of-trees-breathe-life-into-bodies-of-earthly-flesh-as-their/) [Ramon Ravenswood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramon-ravenswood/) > [“Nevermore Tree was gargantuan, a word which here means 'having attained an inordinate amount of botanical volume.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lemony-snicket/nevermore-tree-was-gargantuan-a-word-which-here-means-having-attained/) [Lemony Snicket](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lemony-snicket/) > [“a crime to fell a tree and light it on fire, where coals of hardened shit warmed and stunk up homes,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-howey/a-crime-to-fell-a-tree-and-light-it-on-fire-where-coals-of-hardened/) [Hugh Howey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-howey/) > [Suddenly a mist of green on the trees, as quiet as thought.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-richardson/suddenly-a-mist-of-green-on-the-trees-as-quiet-as-thought/) [Dorothy Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-richardson/) > [A tree is a self: it is 'unseen shaping' more than it is leaves or bark, roots or cellulose or fruit ... What this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-swimme/a-tree-is-a-self-it-is-unseen-shaping-more-than-it-is-leaves-or-bark/) [Brian Swimme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-swimme/) > [“Sitting at the old patio table she’d cleared of leaves, she smiled and leaned back. The stars looked twisted in the limbs of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-addison-allen/sitting-at-the-old-patio-table-she-d-cleared-of-leaves-she-smiled-and/) [Sarah Addison Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-addison-allen/) > [Sometimes it's about less is more. It's about the seed. Thinking about this gigantic tree that you think is so beautiful but it started…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-durst/sometimes-it-s-about-less-is-more-it-s-about-the-seed-thinking-about/) [Fred Durst](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-durst/) > [He removed several pages of death certificates, which were picked up by another breeze and sent into the trees. Some would fall with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/he-removed-several-pages-of-death-certificates-which-were-picked-up/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) ## More by Joan Bauer > [“You need a negative charge and a positive one to get something moving. We've got the negative; we're going to find the positive if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/you-need-a-negative-charge-and-a-positive-one-to-get-something-moving/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [I'll tell you something about tough times. They just about kill you, but if you decide to keep working at them, you'll find your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/i-ll-tell-you-something-about-tough-times-they-just-about-kill-you/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [“Why do you think, A.J.," they say in unison, "that you find these boys so attractive?" I didn't say that this fiery chemical explosion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/why-do-you-think-a-j-they-say-in-unison-that-you-find-these-boys-so/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [“Millstone sputtered, "I don't know where you're getting your information, G.T., but that's as bogus as a barking cat!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/millstone-sputtered-i-don-t-know-where-you-re-getting-your/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [“How could a man with so much heart die from a heart attack?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-bauer/how-could-a-man-with-so-much-heart-die-from-a-heart-attack/) [Joan Bauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-bauer/) > [“Mother, this is a confidential business discussion. I hardly think that your driver can add anything noteworthy." 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