From Brown Thumb to Budding Plant Parent
I’ll admit, I’m not exactly known for my green thumb. In fact, my history with plants is more accurately described as a graveyard of good intentions. But something shifted within me during the pandemic. Maybe it was the desire for some living, breathing decor that wasn’t my cat, or maybe I was just desperate for a hobby that didn’t involve a screen. Whatever the reason, I decided to adopt (yes, adopt) a little ZZ plant I affectionately named Zephyr.
Now, Zephyr is a pretty low-maintenance guy. He’s basically the succulent of the plant world, happy to be ignored for a week or two. But even the most independent souls need a little TLC sometimes. I, however, am a notorious over-waterer. I see a dry patch of soil and my instinct is to drown it in love (or, you know, water). This, as it turns out, is not the path to plant parenthood enlightenment.
Zephyr taught me that sometimes, the best thing you can do is…nothing. Just observe, wait, and trust the process. This surprisingly translated to other areas of my life too. Who knew that the key to a less stressful existence was a little less “doing” and a little more “being”?
Lesson #2: Embracing the Unexpected Pace of Growth
For months, Zephyr seemed content with his lot in life. He wasn’t exactly thriving, but he wasn’t wilting either. We were in a comfortable state of mutual co-existence. Then, one day, I woke up to find he’d sprouted a new shoot! It was like a tiny, green fist bump, celebrating our silent pact of plant-human companionship.