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  • 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 all know the stereotype: plant parent, crazy cat lady, insert your preferred harmless eccentricity here. Well, I never thought I’d be the plant person. Give me a bouquet of flowers any day, but a living, breathing thing that relied on me for survival? No thanks, I kill succulents just by looking at them.

    How One Little Plant Changed Everything

    Then came Herbert. Yes, I named my plant. Don’t judge. He was a birthday gift from my best friend, a sprightly little peace lily in a charmingly chipped pot. My friend, an actual plant whisperer, swore Herbert was low-maintenance. “Just water him when the soil is dry,” she said. “He practically thrives on neglect!” Famous last words.

    Herbert seemed content, even perky. Then came the drooping. The yellowing leaves. The distinct feeling that I, a fully grown adult, was failing to keep a houseplant alive. Turns out, “neglect” is a relative term. Who knew plants needed sunlight, too? (Don’t judge me, I’m a work in progress.)

    Lesson #1: Faking It ‘Til You Make It With Plant Care

    Desperate to save Herbert (and my pride), I turned to the internet, that vast repository of both wisdom and questionable advice. I learned about drainage, fertilizer, and the importance of talking to your plants (don’t worry, I kept it brief). I even downloaded a plant care app, because apparently that’s a thing now.

    Slowly but surely, Herbert started to rally. His leaves perked up, regained their vibrant green, and even sprouted a new growth. Was I a natural? Absolutely not. Did I spend an embarrassing amount of time Googling things like “how to tell if my plant needs water” and “can plants get sunburned?” You bet. But I was learning, adapting, and most importantly, keeping Herbert alive.

  • 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 Was More Charcoal Than Green

    Let’s be honest, I’m not exactly known for my nurturing skills. My plant-parenting journey started (and almost ended) with a cactus named Spike. Let’s just say Spike wasn’t the most resilient of desert dwellers, and my attempts at “watering sparingly” were met with a slow, prickly demise. I swore off plants faster than you could say “overwatering.” That is, until a friend gifted me a resilient little ZZ plant named Zephyr.

    plant could survive a nuclear apocalypse, I swear. But it wasn’t just his ability to endure that struck me; it was his ability to thrive despite the odds. He taught me that resilience isn’t just about getting through tough times, it’s about finding ways to flourish even when things aren’t ideal.

    Lesson #2: Patience is a Virtue, Especially When Repotting

    Now, anyone who’s ever repotted a plant knows it can be a messy affair. Picture this: me, covered in dirt, wrestling Zephyr’s root ball into a pot that’s clearly two sizes too small. Let’s just say it involved some grunting, a few choice words, and a healthy dose of regret. It was in those moments of repotting chaos that Zephyr taught me the importance of patience. Just like you can’t rush a plant’s growth, you can’t force progress in other areas of life. Sometimes, you just have to trust the process, even when it’s messy and uncomfortable.

    plant progress” was pretty low-bar. Like, “it’s still alive” was a cause for celebration. But Zephyr, in all his leafy wisdom, showed me the joy of appreciating the little things. A new sprout unfurling? Cause for a happy dance. A slightly taller stem? I’m grabbing my measuring tape. He reminded me that life’s not all about the grand achievements; it’s about finding joy in the everyday wins, no matter how small they may seem.

    What Will Your Houseplant Teach You?

    Now, I’m not saying you should abandon all self-help books and start seeking life advice from your succulents (although, that’s not a bad idea). But, I challenge you to look at your houseplants with a fresh perspective. You might be surprised by the unexpected wisdom they have to offer.