A Note from Julie, the Greenhouse Curator: |
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The other day, I noticed white specks on the edges of my jade plant’s leaves. My first thought? Uh-oh . . . pests. After all, I’ve lost plants to mealybugs, thrips, and scale. ☹️ A quick online search calmed me down. Those white spots aren’t bugs; they’re mineral deposits. Over time, even filtered water can leave behind bits of calcium or salt. When water evaporates from a leaf’s surface or moves through the plant, it leaves a faint residue.
Totally harmless, but not the glossy jade look I'm going for. |
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Here's my plan to help my jade: - Wipe the leaves gently with a damp cloth every few weeks
- Flush the pot with water once in a while so minerals don’t settle in the soil
- Refresh the soil (it’s never been changed since I bought this plant)
These little specks on my jade plant made me think of what happens when we take in a lot of heavy content. It could be while proofreading a transcript with tough subject matter, editing a challenging manuscript, or simply scrolling through the news.
Even if our work isn’t heavy every day, the things we read and watch can leave their mark. Just like I’m wiping my jade’s leaves and refreshing its soil, we can find ways to clear the buildup in our own lives. Here are a few ideas: - Step away from screens for a short walk or stretch break.
- Keep one fun or uplifting book or podcast in your rotation.
- Talk about what you’re reading with a trusted friend to help lighten the load.
- Build little resets into your day: a hot cup of tea, a plant check-in, or some deep breaths.
Those white specks don’t mean my jade is sick, and our emotional “buildup” doesn’t mean we’re doing something wrong. It just means it’s time for a gentle reset so we can keep thriving. Take a moment today to notice any “buildup” you might be carrying. What’s one small step you can take to lighten your load? 🪴 |
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Favorite LinkedIn Posts This Week: |
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Here are three posts I enjoyed reading on LinkedIn recently: - The power of a thoughtful farewell: Adina reminds us how important it is to think about the last impression, not just the first one. Whether it's a client or a reader, the way we say goodbye matters. A warm, personal sendoff can be the reason they come back for more. 😊
- How are you doing, really? Jeanette gives a thoughtful framework for checking in on more than just business metrics. Her eight-part well-being wheel is a powerful reminder to notice which areas of your life need a little more care or attention. 🤗
- 20 mantras for a focused mind: Nir shares 20 powerful sentences that act like a mental reset button whenever focus starts to slip. The mantras are simple, sharp, and a great reminder to use our attention with intention. 🌟
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Two errors in one sentence!️ The first is a homophone mix-up: steel vs. steal. The second is a hyphenation error. Without the hyphen between “foot” and "wide," it sounds like there’s a wide easement that happens to be 100 feet. Catch of the Week screenshots come from my transcript proofreading. I can't change what a person said, but I can make sure words are spelled correctly and punctuation marks are in the right spots. If you're interested in learning more about transcript proofreading, I wrote an article about it here. |
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This Week's Featured Proofreader or Editor: |
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The Proofreader Greenhouse asked: - What type of content do you proofread or edit?
Anything/everything! I've proofread academic books, dissertations, and articles; non-academic books of nearly every genre; blog posts and articles for online magazines and tech companies; transcripts of interviews on everything from healthcare to fast-food restaurants.... You name it, I've probably done it.
- Did you complete training for proofreading or editing?
I have both a BA and an MA in English; otherwise, I've learned all my proofreading skills via experience.
- What's your favorite thing about your proofreading or editing work?
I love to learn, so I'm always interested in editing and proofreading anything I possibly can on all topics, but especially ones I don't necessarily know as much about. I also love that I can work from home, which my 17.5-year-old cat appreciates as well!
- What's the most challenging part of your work?
I'm currently searching for more work, be it freelance, part time, or full time, and the amount of scam positions being posted is quite frustrating! Regarding the actual work, though, as I know a little bit about a lot of things, sometimes I can go on too deep of a dive while editing and fact-checking a topic I find particularly interesting.
- What tip(s) can you share with other proofreaders or editors?
Everyone is stressed and dealing with something (often more than one thing) outside of their work life, so extend a little extra kindness to anyone and everyone you can, when you can. Cheesy but true!
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If you haven't noticed, I love the colors pink and green. So this Hoya “Krimson Queen” is a welcome part of my plant collection with her occasional pink leaves. Yes, I realize Krimson appears to be a spelling error of Crimson, but that’s just part of her charm. 🩷👑 |
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Let's keep growing together! |
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7893 Old US Highway 52
Lexington, NC 27295, United States |
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