Week 14: Looking for a new habitat in this great, big, ecosystem

Plant, revived.

This week I witnessed for myself the saying —

“When a flower doesn’t bloom, you fix the environment in which it grows, not the flower.”― Alexander Den Heijer

We had a pot of Monstera at home that was developing black spots on several leaves due to (speculatively) overwatering.

I initially thought — this is it, this is the point where the plant dies (I’ve never really had green fingers). But after switching up the amount of water and sunlight the plant received, moving it from one room to another and changing up its watering schedule, a new leaf sprouted a few days back.

And I was reminded of that quote above.

Photo by Andriyko Podilnyk on Unsplash

And I believe it applies to us as human beings too.

Starting out at work, I took a while to find the “right” environment to be in. But after some time, I felt a lot more comfortable and confident, invincible, even; and I associate that with finding my little habitat in the larger ecosystem.

For me, the “right” environment was a combination of being with people who saw my strengths and helped me see the impact of my work, and also getting the chance to dabble in industries that aligned with my values. The times in which these factors aligned were the best times of my career.

Of course, unlike house plants, the “right” environment for a human being may change over time due on changes in life goals, priorities, or unforeseen circumstances.

And then you find yourself on a little adventure again, looking for your place in the world (as I type, I’m imagining hermit crabs, outgrowing their shells and finding a new one to call home, again and again).

Photo by Javardh on Unsplash

But with the experience you have gathered from before, you go on this adventure with faith that you will find your “right” environment once again; and that, despite the discomfort you may be experiencing at the moment, you have the skills and self-awareness to make it all fall into place for yourself again.

And even if you have to get up and get going, yet again, you know there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Week 13: In this life, what are we but passing through?