The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant




The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant

My Brown Thumb Gets a Green Roommate

Let’s be honest, I’m not exactly known for my nurturing nature. In fact, my thumbs are practically the opposite of green. I’m the kind of person who can kill a cactus with kindness (or, more likely, forgetfulness). So, when my friend gifted me a peace lily for my birthday, I accepted it with a mixture of delight and apprehension.

“It’s low-maintenance,” she assured me, probably sensing my impending plant-parent panic. “Just water it when the soil is dry.”

Easy enough, right?

Percy, thrived for about a week. Then, inevitably, my neglectful tendencies kicked in. I’d forget to water Percy for days on end, only remembering when its leaves started drooping like a sad accordion. But here’s the thing about Percy – he always bounced back. A little water and some sunshine, and he’d be back to his vibrant self.

Percy, in his own silent, leafy way, taught me that resilience isn’t just about avoiding hardship. It’s about getting back up, even when you’ve wilted a little (or a lot). It’s about remembering that even after a dry spell, there’s always the potential for growth and renewal.

Lesson #2: Patience is a Virtue, Especially When Growing Houseplants

One of the things I love about peace lilies are their elegant white blooms. They’re like little flags of serenity, reminding me to take a deep breath and appreciate the simple things. But Percy, the little drama queen, seemed determined to teach me another lesson: patience.

Weeks turned into months, and still, no blooms. I consulted Google, convinced I was doing something wrong. Was I not watering him enough? Too much? Did he need a bigger pot? More sunlight? A therapist?

Finally, after what felt like an eternity (probably closer to six months), a single, glorious bloom emerged. It was magnificent! And you better believe I took approximately 500 pictures of it.