Is hoping insane?

Self-tutoring about psychology: the tutor shares a story.

Earlier this summer, I transplanted a rose bush from a shady spot to one in full sun. In the shade it had done okay, but had gone overlooked for years. I decided to give it a place all its own. We’ve had that rose bush for ten years or more, but it’s been transplanted a couple of times for one reason or another.

I know transplanting can be hard on plants. The bush had a few blooms when it was moved, and promptly lost them. A couple weeks later it started losing leaves, eventually losing every single one.

That bush has endured tough times before. Each day I checked it, hoping for a good sign. For weeks, though, all I got was bad news. Finally I had to leave for a week on business.

When I got back Friday evening, I visited the rose bush again, fearing the worst. What I saw I hardly believed: it had grown a bunch of fresh leaves! I was so excited.

I’ve heard so many times that repeating the same action, hoping for a different result, is the definition of insanity. Was I insane to keep checking that rose bush day after day, hoping for improvement, when for weeks all I saw was decline?

I guess the rose bush – and God – might have a different definition for insanity:)

Jack of Oracle Tutoring by Jack and Diane, Campbell River, BC.