For the first few weeks, I showered my new plant with attention. I watered it religiously, gave it a prime spot on the windowsill, and even serenaded it with my questionable rendition of “You Are My Sunshine.” Imagine my horror when, instead of thriving, the poor thing started to droop. Its leaves turned yellow, and I swear I heard it sigh dramatically.

Panicked, I did what any rational person on the verge of plant homicide would do: I Googled it. Turns out, I was loving my ZZ plant to death. These guys are practically succulents, thriving on neglect and the occasional side-eye. Who knew? I promptly cut back on the waterworks and moved it to a shadier corner. To my surprise, it perked right up. Apparently, sometimes a little tough love is all you need to thrive – a lesson I could probably stand to apply to other areas of my life, too.

Lesson #2: Embracing the Nonlinear Growth of Plants (and Life)

Once I figured out the whole “less is more” approach, my ZZ plant and I settled into a comfortable routine. I’d remember to water it every few weeks (or, let’s be honest, whenever its leaves started to look a little too judgmental), and it would reward me with the occasional new shoot.

But here’s the thing about ZZ plants: they grow at their own pace. Sometimes, it felt like months would go by with no visible change. Then, out of nowhere, a new stalk would shoot up practically overnight, reaching for the sky with the grace of a drunken flamingo. It was a constant reminder that growth isn’t always linear, whether we’re talking about plants or our own personal journeys. There are seasons of slow, almost imperceptible progress, followed by bursts of sudden and sometimes awkward growth. And you know what? That’s perfectly okay.