My first instinct was to shower my new plant with attention. I watered it every day, sang to it (don’t judge!), and even invested in a fancy plant mister. You know, the works. Turns out, I was loving my poor peace lily to death. Its leaves drooped, turned yellow, and generally looked like they were about to stage a dramatic exit from the pot.

Panic ensued. I frantically Googled “Help! My plant is dying!” and stumbled upon a forum for, well, people like me—plant killers trying to reform. That’s where I learned about the fine art of “benign neglect.” Turns out, overwatering is a thing. Who knew? I cut back on the H2O, let the soil dry out between waterings, and much to my surprise, my little green friend perked right up.

Life lesson? Sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves (and others) is to back off a bit. Give space, allow for independence, and trust that things will work out—even without our constant intervention.

Lesson 2: Embracing Unexpected Growth Spurts

After my initial near-death experience with the peace lily (sorry, buddy!), things settled into a comfortable routine. I watered it when the soil felt dry, gave it a bit of sunlight, and mostly left it alone. Then, one day, I woke up to find a new leaf unfurling, reaching towards the sky like a tiny green flag of victory.