Just Relaxed Blog

Tag: persistence

  • The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2023 (and Why I Still Answer to ‘Brenda’)

    The Great Phone Number Mix-Up of 2023 (and Why I Still Answer to ‘Brenda’)



    Brenda, is this a good time?” And you think, “Brenda? Who’s Brenda? Is this one of those AI scams?”

    The Wrong Number That Started It All

    Well, friends, that’s how my adventure into the wacky world of wrong numbers began. It was a Tuesday, or maybe a Wednesday (who can really keep track?), and the culprit was a particularly persistent telemarketer trying to sell me life insurance. Except, they weren’t trying to sell it to me. They were trying to sell it to Brenda.

    Now, I’m usually a pretty patient person, but after the fifth “No, I’m sorry, you’ve got the wrong number,” even I started to crack. I tried everything: explaining, politely declining, even resorting to a very convincing British accent (don’t ask). Nothing worked. They always came back, like telemarketing zombies, chanting “Brenda? Brenda?”

    The Case of the Misguided Pizza Delivery

    Things escalated quickly. Soon, it wasn’t just telemarketers. It was restaurant reservation confirmations, dentist appointment reminders, and even – I kid you not – a very confused pizza delivery guy holding a large pepperoni with extra anchovies (Brenda’s apparent order of choice).

  • The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant

    The Unexpected Life Lessons I Learned from a Houseplant



    My Brown Thumb Turns Green

    Let’s be honest, I’m not exactly known for my nurturing instincts. I once killed a cactus. A CACTUS. So when my well-meaning friend gifted me a leafy, vibrant peace lily for my birthday, I accepted it with a grimace disguised as a grateful smile. “Don’t worry,” I told her, “I have a black thumb. This poor thing won’t stand a chance.” Little did I know, this unassuming houseplant was about to teach me more about life than I ever expected.

    peace lily religiously, convinced that I’d wake up to a jungle in my living room overnight. But nothing happened. Days turned into weeks, and my plant remained stubbornly unchanged. Frustration mounted. Was I overwatering? Underwatering? Had I somehow managed to crush its spirit with my negative energy?

    Just when I was about to toss the whole pot (plant included) out the window, I noticed a tiny, green shoot unfurling from the soil. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there. That’s when it hit me: growth takes time. Real, lasting change doesn’t happen overnight. Just like my peace lily, we need patience and persistence to bloom.

    Lesson #2: Finding Your Sunshine, Literally and Figuratively

    As the weeks passed, my peace lily and I settled into a routine. I watered it, dusted its leaves (yes, apparently that’s a thing), and even started talking to it (don’t judge). But something still wasn’t quite right. Its leaves, once a vibrant green, had started to droop. It looked…sad.

    After some frantic Googling (thank you, plant forums!), I realized my error: I’d placed my poor peace lily in a dark corner. It was starved for sunlight! I quickly moved it to a sunnier spot, and within days, the transformation was remarkable. Its leaves perked up, regaining their vibrant hue. It was like watching a tiny, green miracle unfold.