A gardener's insight on growth
Nursery - be it of kids or plants needs nurturing not pampering
Maya was on a stroll across the resort enjoying the morning chill and tender sun rays.
She and her husband Vince were on a weekend getaway to the resort.
Maya ran a nursery school for toddlers that doubled up as a creche. As she walked, her mind wandered back to the challenges she faced running her nursery.
There were troubles her staff faced in handling the kids and administration of the nursery. She worked side by side with her staff, getting involved into addressing every issue but often felt overwhelmed. On some days she felt as if the staff did not seem to function without her.
Lately, she tried getting some outside-in consulting and invited a few senior school coaches for training.
As she battled her own thoughts, her eyes fell on a beautiful nursery of plants tucked away behind the food court. Gingerly, she entered it and noticed an elderly gardener tending the plants.
Maya walked up to him - “Such a wonderful nursery you have here. So many varieties and yet, they all blend in well!”
The gardener: “It’s simple really, I just watch and talk to them every day.”
Taken aback, Maya nodded and paused to think on that answer.
Meanwhile, the gardener continued gently checking the creepers.
Mustering a little courage, Maya followed up - “I was trying to find if there is a special technique or some feed you use differently…”
She trailed off as the gardener looked at her with a puzzled expression.
He answered - “All these feeds and methods that you see on media are harming more than helping …”
“You see - one cannot force them to grow. I just remove what stops them from growing.”
Maya pondered over that line and seeing her lost in thoughts, the gardener continued -
“Every few days, I just talk to them as if they are my babies and observe what happened to them. I notice some are struggling, some are wilting, while few are withering.
It is the withering lot that needs the most attention, then the wilting.
A plant’s growth is in the struggle.
It needs help when it cannot keep up with the struggle - that is wilting and most importantly when it is about to give up the struggle - which is withering.
Gardener beamed as he felt a wave of pride filling his heart.
Maya nodded gently as she tried to absorb those words. It took a couple of moments for her to realize how relevant they were to her situation.
They quietly continued the stroll across the nursery. No words just the gentle sound of the rustling leaves and twigs.
As they reached the gate, Maya glanced across the colorful flower patch.
The gardener quipped - “The mistake, we most often do, is that we pamper them with too much help. They need to struggle to build their own strength. Nurturing them is what they need, pampering kills them eventually!”
As Maya walked back to her cottage, she wondered if her nursery could use these lessons from this nursery.