I still remember the excitement of planting something for the first time. I wish I could tell you it was a beautiful cinematic moment — me standing there confidently, knowing exactly what I was doing.
It wasn't.
I was completely guessing.
I read articles, watched videos, asked questions and probably overthought every little thing. Is there enough sun? Too much water? Not enough water? Why are the leaves yellow? Why does this one look happy while the other one looks like it has given up on life?
I quickly realised plants don't come with instruction manuals.
There is no email saying: "Hi Sherin, I'm struggling today, please reduce my water intake by 20%."
Instead, they quietly tell you through leaves, colour, growth and patience — and back then I didn't know how to listen yet.
I think that was the beginning of everything.
Not because I suddenly became a farmer overnight, but because for the first time in a long time, I became a student again.
I had spent years working in industries where I felt comfortable — where I knew what I was doing, where I understood the rhythm.
Then suddenly I was starting from zero.
And strangely, there was something exciting about that.
To be bad at something.
To learn something completely new.
To build something from the ground up — literally.
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