Just Relaxed Blog

Tag: observation

  • The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant

    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant






    From Black Thumb to… Less Black Thumb?

    Let’s be honest, I’m not exactly known for my green thumb. In fact, I’m pretty sure my houseplants have a group chat where they place bets on who’ll kick the bucket first. But then, something miraculous happened. I managed to keep a houseplant alive for longer than a month. Not just alive, but thriving. And in the process, this leafy little guru taught me some unexpected life lessons.

    Alive)

    My previous plant-parenting style could be described as “enthusiastic but misguided.” I treated watering like a competitive sport (more is always better, right?) and panicked at the first sign of a drooping leaf. This time, I decided to channel my inner sloth. I learned to pay attention to the subtle cues my plant was giving me – the slight droop before a drought, the perky leaves after a good watering.

    Turns out, just like humans, plants have their own rhythm. By slowing down and observing, I was able to understand its needs and adjust my approach accordingly. Who knew that patience, a quality I struggle with in every other aspect of life, would be the key to keeping a plant alive?

    Lesson #2: Growth Isn’t Always Obvious (But It’s Always Happening)

    For weeks, I swore my plant wasn’t growing. I even considered buying a measuring tape to track its progress (or lack thereof). But then one day, I noticed something: the pot seemed smaller. And upon closer inspection, I realized my little buddy had sprouted new leaves, reaching towards the sunlight with quiet determination.

    It was a powerful reminder that growth isn’t always loud and obvious. Sometimes, it happens slowly, subtly, in the quiet moments when we’re not looking. Just like my plant, we, too, are constantly growing and evolving, even when we don’t realize it.

  • The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant

    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant






    My Thumb Was More of a Hammer

    Let’s be honest, my history with plants was less than stellar. I’m pretty sure I could kill a cactus in a desert during a rainstorm. So, when my well-meaning friend gifted me a perfectly charming little ZZ plant, my first thought wasn’t exactly “Oh, joy!” It was more like, “Challenge accepted, little plant. Challenge accepted.”

    I envisioned myself as a plant whisperer, nurturing this little green sprout into a verdant, Instagram-worthy masterpiece. The reality? Let’s just say my initial attempts at plant parenthood were…optimistic. Overwatering, underwatering, you name it, I did it. My poor ZZ plant looked more like it belonged in a sad, forgotten corner of a Tim Burton film than on my windowsill.

    plant itself, but to the subtle cues it was giving me. The way its leaves would droop ever so slightly when it was thirsty, or how it seemed to perk up a bit after a good dose of indirect sunlight. Turns out, plants, like people, have their own language. Who knew?

    And that’s when I learned my first lesson: patience. This wasn’t a race to see how fast I could turn my brown thumb green. It was about slowing down, observing, and responding to the needs of this little living thing in my care.

    Resilience is a Leaf’s Best Friend: Bouncing Back from the Brink

    The second lesson came in the form of a near-death experience (for the plant, not me, thankfully). I’d managed to overwater my poor ZZ plant to the point where its roots were practically swimming. I was convinced it was a goner. But then, after some frantic Googling and a desperate repotting session, something amazing happened.

    The little plant rallied. It bounced back from the brink, stronger and more vibrant than ever. And that’s when it hit me: resilience. This little plant had weathered my horticultural blunders and emerged even more beautiful. It was a powerful reminder that even when things seem their bleakest, there’s always hope for renewal and growth.

  • The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant

    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant




    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant

    My Journey From Plant Killer to (Slightly) Less Brown Thumb

    Let’s be honest, my history with plants was less than stellar. I’m pretty sure I could kill a cactus in a desert. So, when my well-meaning friend gifted me a perfectly healthy peace lily, I accepted with a grimace disguised as gratitude. “Don’t worry,” I told her, “I’ve totally turned over a new leaf!” (Pun intended, of course). Little did I know, this leafy green roommate would teach me more than just how to keep something alive.

    Peace Lily

    The first few weeks were a crash course in Plant Parenthood 101. I overwatered, underwatered, and nearly repotted the poor thing in a fit of misguided enthusiasm. Just when I thought all hope was lost, my droopy, yellowing peace lily taught me a valuable lesson: sometimes, you just need to breathe.

    Turns out, plants are pretty good at signaling their needs. Wilting leaves? Needs water. Brown spots? Too much sun. By paying attention to these subtle cues, I learned to slow down, observe, and respond thoughtfully, not just to my plant‘s needs but to my own as well. Who knew a little mindful observation could be so grounding?

    Lesson #2: Cultivating Patience – The Slow, Sweet Reward of New Growth

    Now, I’m a pretty impatient person. I like instant gratification, quick results, and the ability to fast-forward through the boring parts of life (and movies, let’s be real). But my peace lily, bless its heart, operates on its own sweet time.

    Waiting for new growth became a lesson in delayed gratification. It taught me to appreciate the small victories – a new leaf unfurling, a subtle shift towards the sunlight. This newfound patience even spilled over into other areas of my life. Suddenly, I wasn’t as fazed by long lines at the grocery store or traffic jams on the freeway.

  • The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant

    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant




    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant


    Let’s be honest, I’m not exactly known for my green thumb. In fact, my plant-parenting skills are more comparable to a desert sandstorm than a nurturing rainforest. So, when my well-intentioned friend gifted me a leafy Calathea Orbifolia (a notoriously dramatic diva of the plant world), I knew I was in for a wild ride.

    From Black Thumb to…Slightly Less Black Thumb

    My journey with Orbie (yes, I named her) started out predictably rocky. I managed to overwater her within the first week, resulting in droopy leaves that seemed to judge my every move.

    life, I suppose): even when we mess up royally, there’s always a chance for redemption. I finally learned to pay attention to Orbie’s subtle cues. Her drooping leaves taught me the importance of listening, of observing the needs of those around me (and not just assuming I know what’s best). Who knew a plant could be such a demanding yet insightful teacher?

    Learning Patience From a Calathea

    We live in a world obsessed with instant gratification. Want to watch a movie? Stream it now. Need groceries? Order online. But Orbie, with her slow and steady growth, taught me the beauty of patience. I learned to appreciate the small victories: a new leaf unfurling, a subtle shift towards the sunlight.