Lesson 1: Sometimes, Less Is More

My first instinct was to shower my new plant friend with attention, which, in my mind, translated to copious amounts of water. Every day, I’d drown the poor thing, convinced I was being a benevolent plant parent. Unsurprisingly, the leaves started drooping, turning yellow, and generally looking like they were about to stage a dramatic exodus from their pot.

Panicked, I consulted the internet, the oracle of all modern-day conundrums. And there it was, staring me in the face: “Overwatering is a common rookie mistake.” Who knew? Turns out, my little buddy just needed some space to breathe (or whatever it is plants do) and a little H2O every now and then.

It was a valuable lesson, and not just for the plant world. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves and others is to step back, give space, and resist the urge to smother everything with our good intentions.

Lesson 2: Embrace the Sunshine, Weather the Storms

Plants need sunlight. It’s kind of their thing. But I, in my infinite wisdom, decided my plant would be perfectly happy tucked away on a bookshelf, far from the harsh judgment of the sun’s rays. Of course, it wasn’t. It started stretching towards the window like a desperate sunbather trying to catch the last rays of summer.