The Peace Lily

This is a story of a Peace Lily, and a girl named Daisy…

Daisy lives in a busy city. She loved the hustle and bustle; it was convenient for her work, low maintenance but expensive, nevertheless. Daisy lived in a farm with her mother when she was younger and still misses the scented mountain breeze sometimes. But city life works for her. Daisy’s mother loves plants. After moving to the city, her mother tried to recreate their rural living by incorporating lots of plants at home. Overtime, the little apartment they shared became an urban forest, a serene oasis for whoever visited.

On her mother’s 60th birthday, Daisy wanted to get a memorable gift for her. Daisy knew what she wanted to buy. A plant of cause! But there was a problem. She did not know what plant to buy. Because her mother had lots of plants at home; Snake plants, some Lavender in pots, String of Pearls, Golden Pathos, a Rubber plant you name it. Also, some Chili and Ginger in the balcony that did not cope well in Winter.

Daisy tried online order options to buy a plant. Failing which decided to go to nurseries and pick a plant she likes. She visited few local nurseries but couldn’t make up her mind until the day before her mother’s birthday! Almost panicking, Daisy got out of work early to go plant shopping. She went further away from the city to a nursery. After walking few rounds back and forth, she finally saw it! A Peace Lily, in full bloom. She was elated. This is the perfect gift for my mum she thought. But instead of buying the beautiful mother plant, which was in full bloom, she chose a young Peace Lily without flowers. She wanted to make the gift exciting for her mother. It would be wonderful once this Peace Lily grows and blooms, she thought. Hopefully soon.

Needless to say, Daisy’s mother was over the Moon. She loved the Peace Lily plant. She kept it in a special place, watered it every few days and as always, talked to the Peace Lily. (Daisy’s mum talks to her plants all the time). Time went by Daisy and her mother were hopeful that the Peace Lily would bloom. A month passed; few months passed no flowers. A year passed, no flowers. Yet, Daisy and her mother were hopeful. Daisy’s mother thought to help the Peace Lily grow. She talked to a gardener and got some advice; changed the position of the plant, kept it near a window, put some organic fertiliser, and as always talked to the Peace Lily. But still no flowers. It had been two years with no flowers! Unbelievable, and so disappointing!

Daisy’s mother was confused. Are you a Peace Lily? She asked. Maybe you are not. Maybe you are a different plant that doesn’t have flowers, why don’t you bloom? Daisy’s mother was bit heartbroken yet, she kept watering and talking to the Peace Lily, treated it with same love she had for her other plants.

On the other hand, Daisy was so upset, and angry. It was her gift, and she felt responsible. Daisy wanted to get rid of the plant.  “Mum let’s get another plant she said. Maybe the nursery made a mistake, maybe this is not a Peace Lily! Let me buy you a new plant mum. Shall we throw it out? It has been two years without flowers mum Let me throw it out!!! But always the answer was, let’s wait and see sweetheart. Give it a bit more time….

And one morning, the Peace Lily was awake! In the thickness of its dark green leaves, there was a beautiful white bud. Slowly waking to the morning Sun. Daisy screamed with happiness. Finally! she said. Her mother smiled knowingly, I knew she would bloom one day…

In life, sometimes we have to wait for things to happen, things to move in the direction we want; it may be your new venture that is not going anywhere or your dream side hustle that is sitting there not moving, or you may feel that you are working very hard but not getting anywhere financially! No matter what your story is, life is such, sometimes some of us have to wait a bit longer than the others, to go where we want to be. It feels daunting and disappointing I know, you work very hard, giving everything you’ve got but still no flowers in your life! It may feel like everyone out there is having it easy, and you are stuck in a rut, not moving.

But hear me out. Good things take time. Sometimes life takes us in a longer painful journey to get where we wish to be. At times, it tests our patience, demands us to adapt and be flexible, and other times no matter how hard we try, it gives us silent treatment. As frustrating as it is, the interesting question is, what can we do about that? We can be like Daisy, be impatient and angry with life (give all the reasons in the world) and throw away our good work we’ve done so far, or we can be like Daisy’s mum; be patient and give it one more chance…

 So, if you are exhausted and feeling frustrated of not going anywhere in your life, I suggest, give yourself one more chance. Push through when you feel the darkest and keep going; go perform that gig one more time, write a poem one more time, create that video one more time, open your shop one more time, go take that class one more time, be an inspiration to others one more time, call that person one more time... Do whatever you need to do one more time and do it again, and again, and again…

Until the day that you see your Peace Lily in bloom. Then you will know, it is always worth the wait. xoxo