When I was a boy, my father had a phase where he was intensely interested in importing and taking care of orchids. I’m not sure where this sudden interest sprung from, but I tend to fall in love hard with hobbies so I understand where I get it from.

The moment the orchids arrived at our house, he informed me that they were notoriously hard to take care of. I asked, “Dad, then why do it?”

He smiled his broad smile and spoke in Mandarin, “Son. Sometimes things are hard. You might fail over and over. You will think to yourself, is it worth it? But over a lifetime, you will learn it’s not you taking care of the plant. The plant is taking care of you.”