I’m not going to lie, there were some dark days (or rather, weeks) for Percy the Peace Lily (yes, I name my plants, don’t judge!). I overwatered, I underwatered, I put him in a spot that was too sunny, then moved him to a spot that resembled a dungeon. Poor Percy was drooping, leaves turning yellow, looking like he’d rather be pushing up daisies than being tended by me.

One day, while lamenting my plant-parenting failures to another friend (who actually has a green thumb), she gave me some simple advice. “Just listen to what it needs,” she said with a knowing smile.

Easier said than done, I thought. But I decided to pay attention. I started feeling the soil before watering, observing how much light Percy was getting. Slowly, almost miraculously, he began to perk up. New leaves unfurled, vibrant and green, and then, one day, a beautiful white bloom emerged. Percy, my brown-thumbed miracle, was thriving.

That’s when it hit me. Just like Percy, we all go through periods of struggle and growth. There are times when we feel wilted, like we’re barely hanging on. But with a little self-care, attention to our needs, and maybe some advice from a wise friend, we can bounce back stronger and even blossom in unexpected ways.

Lesson #2: Patience: The Secret Ingredient for Growth (for Plants and People)

Now, I’m a bit of an instant gratification kind of gal. I like to see results, and I like to see them fast. But Percy, in all his leafy wisdom, taught me the value of patience. Watching him grow was like watching paint dry – if the paint occasionally sprouted a new leaf. But those small changes, those subtle signs of growth, they were worth waiting for.