My Houseplant Taught Me This

Meet Harriet.

Harriet the ZZ plant has been with me for about 3 years now (my mind is absolutely blown that she is not only still living but actually THRIVING…) She started as a relatively small plant and has since grown into this big, beautiful, wild, and wonderful spectacle. As I look at her, in awe of how she’s transformed over the years, I’m reminded of three things:

1. It’s okay to outgrow things. This is the pot she came in, and as you can see, it’s time for a new one. Though this one is decorated with stickers (and paint splatters) and carries many memories, she’s outgrown it. Her roots are simply too large and her shoots too plentiful for this pot. And that’s okay. It’s okay to outgrow things sometimes. It’s okay to outgrow hobbies you no longer enjoy. Music that no longer makes you dance. Books that don’t resonate with where you are in life anymore. It’s okay to change your environment if the one you’re in no longer fits.

2. It’s okay to discover new shoots. When I first adopted Harriet, I assumed what I saw was how she would stay. That the shoots that were there were the only shoots that would ever be there. And lemme tell ya’ I was dead wrong. She’s since acquired many, MANY more shoots. Some taller, some shorter. Some thin, some stocky. Some that withered and others that are still growing even larger. And that’s okay. It’s okay to discover new shoots of your own, new hobbies to enjoy, new foods to eat, new places you want to visit. This big, beautiful world is full of things to discover. YOU are full of things to discover. Don’t make the mistake of believing that who you are is all you will ever be.

3. It’s okay to take your time. All this growth, all these new shoots, they didn’t happen overnight. In fact most of them take at least a month or two to reach maturity. And amazed I watch as one little tip pops out of the soil, inching its way upward. It begins as a raw, lemon green stock with leaves curled tightly around the stem. And over time it transforms into a rich, strong, emerald green shoot with leaves unfurled to taste the sun. It all takes time, and that’s okay. It’s okay to take your time to become YOU. It’s okay to be a beginner, tentative and timid. It’s okay to go at your own pace and savor the sweetness of the journey.

I hope Harriet gives you a bit of hope today and reminds you of these same things too. 😊