From Failure to Fresh Salad: A Surprising Lesson in Resilience
A few weeks ago, I shared a photo of my backyard lettuce. It wasn’t a pretty picture – droopy leaves, sad little stems, and a serious case of what looked like gardening failure.
After planting with high hopes, I watched the seedlings wilt in the summer heat, and I started to mentally write them off.
- Maybe I’d waited too long to plant.
- Maybe the soil wasn’t right.
- Maybe I’m just not cut out to grow lettuce (or anything at all, for that matter).
But something told me to wait. We moved the planter to the backyard where the sun is less intense. I kept watering. I didn’t rip them out. I gave the plants a little space, a little time, and a little care.
And now?
This week, I picked my first bowl full of fresh, crisp lettuce and ate a salad grown just a few steps from my kitchen door.
What looked like failure was just a pause. A moment of dormancy. A natural part of a process I couldn’t fully see from the surface.
And that, of course, got me thinking about resilience.
What Resilience Really Looks Like
Resilience isn’t about snapping back to where you were before. It’s about:
- Adapting to changing conditions
- Engaging even when the outcome is uncertain
- Continuing even when it’s tempting to give up
Psychologist Ann Masten describes resilience as “ordinary magic.” It’s not about superhuman strength. It’s built through everyday choices, relationships, and small acts of perseverance.
And it’s something we all can cultivate!
When It Looks Like Failure
Let’s normalize this: effort doesn’t always produce immediate results (and I love instant gratification as much as the next person).
Sometimes, things look like failure when they’re actually:
- The early stage of a learning curve
- A mismatch in timing or conditions
- A signal to adjust, not abandon
Angela Duckworth’s research on grit shows that long-term perseverance, not early perfection, is what leads to long-term success. The most resilient people aren’t always the most talented; they’re the ones who keep showing up.
Try This: Questions to Build Resilience
Next time something feels like a flop, pause and ask:
- Is this truly the end or just a hard middle?
- What would happen if I gave it a little more time, care, or creativity?
- Have I seen progress that just doesn’t look like success yet?
- What can I learn from this moment, even if it doesn’t feel good right now?
Lettuce Lessons: Practical Takeaways
Here’s what my garden reminded me (and maybe you need to hear it, too):
- Resilience is built, not born. Small acts of persistence compound over time.
- Failure isn’t final. It’s often just a turning point. (Remember the idea of “tiny experiments” from Anne-Laure Le Cunff?)
- Don’t dig up what you’ve planted too soon. Something might be growing under the surface.
- Care matters. When we show up with consistency, even discouraged efforts can start to thrive.
So wherever you’re tending something that feels uncertain – a project, a relationship, your own well-being – remember:
What looks wilted today may be the foundation of something nourishing tomorrow.
And if all else feels uncertain, start small: offer care, stay curious, and keep showing up – because growth often begins right where things once looked impossible!
Recommended Resources
[VIDEO] Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance | Angela Lee Duckworth | TED
[VIDEO] Lucy Hone: The three secrets of resilient people | TED Talk
[TOOL] Angela Duckworth’s “Grit Scale” Self-Assesment
[ARTICLE] The Secret to Building Resilience | Rob Cross, Karen Dillon and Danna Greenberg | Harvard Business Review (If this link it pay-walled for you, hit “reply” and I’ll send you the PDF.)
[ARTICLE] Grit Needs Passion, Not Fear | Greater Good
Feel free to download, share, and use these quotes to inspire yourself and others!
