You thrive when you trim.

Unexpected Lessons from a Neglected Plant.

I went on vacation a few months ago but made the rookie mistake of forgetting to ask someone to water my precious plant.

Upon my return, I found it looking lifeless, with yellow leaves and a dry, wilted appearance.

Do you have someone in your life who’s got a green thumb? Lucky me, I have one. My dear friend came to the rescue. He examined the plant, laughed, and said:

“Seriously, Leo? It’s still alive. I’ll show you what to do.”

He began expertly trimming my plant’s branches and showed me the proper technique to help my plant bounce back.

Today, I’m happy to say that my plant is growing tall. And I’m enjoying the learning process.

Little did I know this seemingly mundane moment would spark a profound revelation about life and personal growth:

You thrive when you trim.

Have you ever felt lifeless and that your life’s posture is wilted? It’s as if no matter how much you add to your life, it’s either not enough or unbearable.

It struck me that to flourish truly, we must learn to:

• Trim the nonessentials in our lives.
• Trim what does not add value.
• Trim worries and the things we can’t control.
• Trim so-called friends who value gossip over ideas.
• Trim our dependency on others’ opinions.

What else can you think of?

This reflection helped me start by identifying a list of nonessentials to create more space for growth and values. I hope it helps you too.