The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant




The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant


My Black Thumb Turns Green: A Houseplant Hope Story

Let’s be honest, my track record with plants was less than stellar. In fact, I’m pretty sure I single-handedly kept several nurseries in business with my constant need to replace the poor, unsuspecting flora I’d accidentally murdered. So, when my well-meaning friend gifted me a “super easy to care for” ZZ plant, I accepted with a mix of hope and trepidation. “This time will be different,” I declared to the plant (and myself), determined to break free from my reputation as a plant Grim Reaper.

plant, bless its resilient heart, quickly became the unfortunate victim of my overzealous affection. Yellowing leaves drooped like sad, soggy socks. A frantic Google search later, I realized the error of my ways. Turns out, these hardy plants thrive on neglect. Who knew?

And that’s when the first life lesson hit me. How often do we smother the things (or people) we care about with good intentions, forgetting that sometimes, the best way to nurture is to give space and let them breathe?

Lesson Two: Bouncing Back from Life‘s Little Storms

After the Great Drowning of 2023 (as I dramatically dubbed it), I resigned myself to the fact that my ZZ plant journey was over. But then, a miracle! New growth started to emerge. Slowly but surely, my once-drowning plant perked up, the new leaves a vibrant, defiant green.