Just Relaxed Blog

Tag: patience

  • The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant

    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant



    My Brown Thumb Gets a Little Greener

    Let’s be honest, my thumbs have never been mistaken for those of a seasoned gardener. In fact, my plant-parenting track record was more of a graveyard of good intentions and crunchy brown leaves. So, when my friend gifted me a fern – a FERN – I accepted with a mix of hope and trepidation. This, my friends, was a test. Could I keep this delicate creature alive? Spoiler alert: I did, and in the process, I learned a thing or two about more than just watering schedules.

    fern, convinced it was thirsty, only to realize later that overwatering is a thing. (Who knew?) It was a classic case of “doing too much” – a pattern I’m unfortunately prone to in other aspects of life. The fern, in its quiet wisdom, taught me the art of observation and patience. Instead of rushing in with solutions, I learned to take a breath, assess the situation, and respond with a gentler touch. Turns out, sometimes the best thing you can do is just let things be.

    Lesson 2: Celebrate Small Wins (Like New Fern Fronds)

    Remember how I mentioned my history of plant-related casualties? Yeah, that made every new fern frond feel like a monumental victory. Seriously, I’m talking full-on happy dance, maybe even a little victory song. The fern, in its own subtle way, reminded me to celebrate the small wins – those tiny triumphs that often go unnoticed in the hustle of everyday life. A completed to-do list, a heartfelt conversation, a perfectly brewed cup of coffee – these are all moments worthy of a little internal high-five.

  • 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

    We’ve all been there. Staring at a wall, idly scrolling, when suddenly… BAM! An ad pops up featuring a lush, vibrant houseplant practically begging, “Take me home! I’ll make you a better person!” Okay, maybe not in those exact words, but the subliminal message was clear: this plant held the key to unlocking a world of tranquility, productivity, and maybe even enlightenment.

    My Journey to Plant Parenthood: From Brown Thumb to Budding Botanist

    Now, I’m not known for my gardening prowess. In fact, my previous attempts at plant parenthood could best be described as “rapidly evolving compost experiments.” But something about this particular plant, a sprightly little ZZ plant named Zephyr, spoke to me. Perhaps it was the promise of low-maintenance companionship, or maybe it was the sheer audacity of believing I wouldn’t accidentally kill it. Whatever the reason, Zephyr came home with me, and so began my unexpected journey into the world of plant-based wisdom.

    Plant Care)

    My first lesson came in the form of, well, nothing much at all. You see, ZZ plants are notorious for their slow growth. I’m talking glacial pace here. For weeks, I hovered over Zephyr, scrutinizing every leaf for signs of progress. Was it taller? Fuller? Had it achieved sentience and was simply choosing not to reveal its profound thoughts to me? Spoiler alert: it hadn’t.

    But slowly, almost imperceptibly, Zephyr did grow. New shoots emerged, unfurling with a quiet grace that spoke volumes about the power of patience. I learned that sometimes, the most rewarding things in life take time to blossom. And that constantly poking and prodding a plant won’t make it grow any faster (who knew?).

    Lesson #2: Cultivating Resilience: How My ZZ Plant Taught Me to Bounce Back

    Of course, no plant-based life lesson would be complete without a near-death experience. In a moment of forgetfulness (read: sheer negligence), I managed to neglect Zephyr’s watering needs for… a while. Let’s just say things were looking a little droopy in Zephyr’s corner.

  • 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 Thumb is Apparently Not So Green

    Let’s be honest, I’m not exactly known for my nurturing nature. I’m more of a “forget to water myself” kind of guy. So, when my well-meaning friend gifted me a houseplant—a supposedly “easy to care for” ZZ plant, no less—I accepted it with a healthy dose of skepticism.

    “Don’t worry,” my friend chirped, “Even you can’t kill this one!”

    Challenge accepted, plant friend. Challenge accepted.

    Plant Parents)

    My first mistake? Expecting instant gratification. I’m used to the instant results of the digital world—send a text, get a response; order takeout, food arrives in 30 minutes; post a selfie, receive immediate validation (or at least, likes). Plants, I quickly learned, don’t operate on my schedule.

    I’d stare at my ZZ plant, willing it to sprout new growth, convinced I was doing something wrong. Where were the lush, vibrant leaves? The Instagram-worthy foliage? I even downloaded a plant-identifying app, convinced they’d given me the wrong species at the store (“Sir, this is clearly a plastic fern.”).

    But then, something magical happened. After weeks of what felt like zero progress, a single, tiny, green shoot emerged. It was a slow, almost imperceptible change, but it was there—a testament to patience and consistency (and maybe a little bit of luck).

    Lesson #2: Sometimes Less is More (Especially When Watering Your ZZ Plant)

    Confession: I am a chronic over-waterer. I see a dry patch of soil and my instinct is to drown it in a deluge of H2O. This, I discovered (the hard way), is not what plants want.

    My poor ZZ plant endured weeks of my well-intentioned but misguided watering habits. Its leaves started to yellow, then brown, and I’m pretty sure it let out an audible sigh of despair. Just when I was about to add it to the plant graveyard in the sky (aka, my compost bin), I stumbled upon a life-saving article about overwatering.

    Turns out, my plant wasn’t thirsty, it was drowning! I learned to check the soil moisture before reaching for the watering can, and to my surprise, my ZZ plant perked right up. Who knew that sometimes, the best thing you can do is just back off and let things be?

  • 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


    We’ve all been there. Scrolling through Instagram, you’re suddenly bombarded with images of impossibly perfect homes, each one featuring an array of thriving houseplants. Lush, green, and radiating life, they seem to whisper, “Look how put-together our owner is! They haven’t even killed us!”

    Fueled by a potent mixture of envy and optimism, I, too, have fallen prey to the siren song of the houseplant.

    Operation: Don’t Kill the Fern

    My journey began, innocently enough, with a fern. Now, I know what you’re thinking: ferns are notoriously finicky. And to that, I say, you’re absolutely right. But this fern, with its delicate fronds and air of quiet dignity, spoke to me.

    I named him Ferdinand. (Don’t judge, we all name our plants, right?)

    Ferdinand from window to window like he was auditioning for a plant reality show. Through it all, Ferdinand persevered. He taught me the importance of patience, observation, and most importantly, not taking myself too seriously.

    From Brown Thumb to Budding Gardener

    As Ferdinand and I found our groove, something unexpected happened: I started to understand him. I learned to read the subtle cues in his posture, the droop of a frond, the slight browning at the tips. I discovered the delicate dance between water, sunlight, and good old-fashioned plant food.

    My confidence grew. I adopted a peace lily (Petunia), a snake plant (Sir Hiss), and even, dare I say it, a fiddle leaf fig (Fiona, naturally). My apartment, once a haven for struggling succulents, transformed into a veritable jungle.

  • The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant

    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned From a Houseplant

    My Descent into Plant Parenthood

    I’ve never been particularly gifted in the art of keeping things alive. Sure, I’ve managed to keep myself relatively fed and watered (most days), but anything beyond that was always a gamble. So naturally, when my well-intentioned friend gifted me a houseplant for my birthday, I accepted it with the same trepidation one might feel holding a ticking time bomb.

    “It’s a ZZ plant,” she’d chirped. “Practically indestructible!”

    Oswald, mostly because it seemed like a name that commanded respect, and promptly set about researching how not to kill him. Turns out, even “indestructible” plants have their limits. Who knew?

    Lesson #1: Patience Is a Virtue (and Essential for Plant Care)

    My first blunder as a plant parent? Overwatering. In my defense, all the plant care blogs made it sound like a life-or-death scenario. “Don’t let the soil dry out!” they screamed. So, I watered Oswald. And then I watered him some more. Just to be safe, you know?

    Spoiler alert: it wasn’t safe. Oswald started to droop, his once-perky leaves turning an alarming shade of yellow. Cue the frantic Googling and the realization that, much like humans, plants need space to breathe (or, in their case, photosynthesize). I learned that sometimes, the best thing you can do is…nothing. Just observe, wait, and let nature do its thing.

    Lesson #2: Embracing the Unexpected Nature of Growth

    After the Great Overwatering Incident of 2023, I decided to adopt a more hands-off approach with Oswald. I watered him sparingly, only when the soil was bone dry, and mostly just tried to stay out of his way. Imagine my surprise when, a few weeks later, I noticed a new shoot unfurling from the soil.

  • The Unspoken Rules of Being a Line-Stander (And Why I’m Now a Professional)

    The Unspoken Rules of Being a Line-Stander (And Why I’m Now a Professional)



    From Regular Dude to Line-Standing Legend

    Let’s be honest, nobody enjoys standing in line. It’s the societal equivalent of being stuck in traffic: a necessary evil we all endure for the promise of something great at the end (a concert ticket, the latest iPhone, a cronut…). But my friends, I’m here to tell you, there’s an art to it. After years of experience, I’ve gone from Average Joe to Line-Standing Legend. I’ve seen it all, from the good (making friends with fellow line-standers) to the bad (epic meltdowns over bathroom breaks) and the downright ugly (rogue line-cutters, may they forever be haunted by the ghosts of lines past).

    So, without further ado, I present to you the unwritten, unspoken, yet universally understood rules of being a line-stander. Heed them well, my friends.

    Rule #1: The Invisible Force Field (And Why You Should Never Cross It)

    You know that invisible bubble surrounding each person in line? That’s their personal space, their sanctuary in the chaos. Maintain a respectful distance. This isn’t a mosh pit (unless, of course, it’s a line for a mosh pit, in which case, disregard). Now, this space fluctuates. A packed, bustling line? You might be elbow-to-elbow with your neighbor. A leisurely queue for a Sunday matinee? Give ’em breathing room. How much? Think “could I comfortably reach into their bag of chips?” If the answer is yes, you’re too close.

  • The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant

    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant





    Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from My Houseplant



    From Plant Killer to Plant Parent: My Journey to (Slightly) Greener Thumbs

    I’ve never been what you’d call “good” with plants. In fact, I’m infamous among friends for my ability to kill even the most resilient succulents. So, imagine their surprise (and my sheer terror) when I decided to adopt a houseplant. I know, I know, it sounded like a recipe for disaster, kind of like taking a goldfish for a walk in the park. But something about the little green fella at the farmers’ market called to me. Maybe it was the way its leaves drooped slightly, mirroring the perpetual exhaustion of a sleep-deprived millennial like myself. We were kindred spirits, united by our shared struggle to thrive.

    Plants Teach Us to Slow Down

    The first thing I learned was patience. My plant, which I affectionately named Gerald (all living things deserve a name, even the ones I’m likely to accidentally suffocate with over-watering), didn’t sprout new leaves overnight. It didn’t transform into a lush, verdant paradise after a single watering. In fact, for the first few weeks, I swear it did nothing but judge me silently from the corner of my living room. But then, one day, I noticed something. A tiny, green nubbin pushing its way out from the soil. It was a new leaf! I’d successfully kept something alive for longer than it takes to order takeout! This was a major victory, people. And it taught me that good things take time. Just like Gerald couldn’t be rushed into blooming, neither could my dreams, goals, or, you know, my ability to make a decent sourdough loaf.

    Lesson 2: Finding Routine and Calm in Caring for My Green Roommate

    Plants, like people, need sunshine and water to thrive. Seems obvious, right? Well, tell that to my past self who treated watering schedules like vague suggestions and considered any ray of sunlight hitting my apartment a bonus feature. Gerald, however, thrived in a routine. He needed a specific amount of sunlight each day and a consistent watering schedule. Who knew plants were such divas? Turns out, establishing a routine for Gerald wasn’t just good for him, it was good for me too. My once chaotic mornings became a little more structured, a little more mindful. Who knew that tending to a tiny green roommate could bring a sense of calm to my otherwise hectic life?

  • 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 Thumb, Once Brown, Now Slightly Green

    I’ll admit, I wasn’t always a plant person. In fact, I was the human equivalent of a drought. My track record with anything leafy was less than stellar, marked by a trail of crispy leaves and silent accusations. So, when my well-meaning friend gifted me a houseplant – a cheerful little peace lily, she claimed – I accepted with feigned enthusiasm and a mental countdown to its inevitable demise.

    But something strange happened. Maybe it was the pity I felt for the poor thing, or maybe it was the sheer determination to prove my friend wrong, but I found myself actually trying. And you know what? My plant thrived! It sprouted new leaves, bloomed with unexpected flowers, and even seemed to perk up when I walked into the room (or maybe I was just projecting). The point is, this little plant, this green symbol of my past failures, became my unlikely teacher, imparting valuable life lessons I never expected.

    Lesson 1: Cultivating Patience Through Plant Parenthood

    One of the first things I learned from my plant is that patience isn’t just a virtue; it’s a necessity. You can’t rush growth, no matter how much you might want to. Just like you can’t force a bud to bloom, you can’t force progress in life. Sometimes, you just have to wait, water consistently, and trust the process.

    There were times when I’d stare at my plant, willing it to grow faster, willing it to sprout new leaves overnight. But nature, as they say, takes its time. And in that time, I learned to appreciate the subtle changes, the slow but steady progress. I learned that the most rewarding things in life, like lush foliage and personal growth, take time and consistent effort.

    [IMAGE_DESCRIPTION: Humorous image of the author
  • 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.

  • The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant

    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant

    My Thumb Went From Brown to Slightly Green

    Let’s be honest, my history with plants was less than stellar. My track record involved more crispy leaves and wilted stems than I care to admit. I was basically the plant grim reaper, single-handedly decimating any leafy friend that dared to grace my windowsill. So, imagine my surprise when I managed to not only keep a houseplant alive but also learn some valuable life lessons along the way.

    Growth

    My first lesson came in the form of a frustratingly slow-growing ZZ plant. I’m talking glacial pace, people. I practically camped out next to the pot, willing it to sprout a new leaf. Where was the instant gratification? The overnight success story?

    Turns out, real growth takes time. Just like that stubborn ZZ plant, personal growth doesn’t happen overnight. It requires patience, consistency, and a whole lot of trust in the process. It’s about celebrating the small victories, those tiny new leaves that signal progress, even if it feels like an eternity.

    Lesson #2: Embrace Challenges for Growth

    Here’s the thing about plants (and maybe people too): Sometimes they need a little tough love. I’m talking about saying no to the urge to overwater, to fuss, to constantly repot in a larger space. Sometimes, a little bit of struggle is what helps them grow stronger roots.

    This resonated with me on a personal level. We all have comfort zones we cling to, but stepping outside of them, embracing challenges, can lead to incredible growth. It’s about learning to thrive, not just survive, and realizing that sometimes a little discomfort is the catalyst for something extraordinary.