We’ve all heard the saying, “stop and smell the roses.” But have you ever been schooled on the meaning of life by a fern? No? Just me? Well, buckle up, friends, because this is the story of how a humble houseplant became my unlikely life coach.
How a Brown Thumb Found Green Wisdom
Let’s be clear: I am not what you’d call a “plant person.” I’m more of a “forget-to-water-it-for-three-weeks-and-then-panic” kind of person. So, when my well-intentioned friend gifted me a peace lily for my birthday, I accepted it with the same enthusiasm I reserve for trips to the dentist.
I named him Herbert (because, why not?) and stuck him on a windowsill. I figured we could coexist peacefully as long as I remembered to throw some water his way every once in a while. Little did I know, Herbert was about to teach me a thing or two about more than just keeping a plant alive.
Lesson #1: Resilience: Bouncing Back from Setbacks
Remember that whole “forgetting to water for three weeks” thing? Yeah, well, Herbert did not appreciate that. In fact, he decided to stage a dramatic protest by wilting so dramatically, I was sure he was a goner.
