The Gardener
Ah, the workplace romance. There's something about the thrill of sharing stolen glances and trying to sneak a one-on-one lift ride, that would brighten any single girl’s dreary workday. So, naturally, when I met the new, cute, tanned gardener at work, the opportunity to live out my very own Desperate Housewives fantasy was right in front of me.
It started out innocent enough, just a bit of light flirting, and a couple of smirks over the office plants, but before long, I was sneaking off during lunch breaks to have a little rendezvous with the guy in the bushes. I’d come back to the office with leaves in my hair and a grin on my face, feeling like the star of some sultry daytime soap opera.
But of course, like with most office romances, it wasn’t going to stay quiet forever.
Things began to take a strange turn when I started noticing that he was giving the same look to another woman in the office… yep, that same mischievous smile that I had become accustomed to on the daily.
With my suspicions in full bloom, I decided to evoke the girl code clause, and pulled aside the other woman. Turns out, I wasn’t the only one getting leaves in my hair.
But wait - this garden of deceit was only getting bigger (yes, I’m a sucker for a pun!).
She then dropped the bombshell, that she had her suspicions about yet another coworker. So, playing out what I’m sure would be every cheating man’s worse nightmare, we decided to get to the bottom of it, and approached the third woman. Low and behold… a love square.
Then came the moment of truth.
There we were, the three of us standing in the empty office kitchen, figuring out the best way to approach this rather awkward situation… and he walked into the room – YES! It was so serendipitous, clearly the universe decided his karma was up.
It went dead silent. We froze. The blood drained from his face. He knew. He was busted.
And just like that, the three of us walked away victorious (albeit a little emotionally bruised), leaving him with nothing but his ruined reputation, and only the plants to hose from them on.
None of us ever had leaves in our hair again.
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It’s so easy to fall into the trap of feeling threatened or intimidated by others, especially in matters of love. We often find ourselves in competition, comparing ourselves, and wondering if we’re “enough.” The pressure to measure up can feel overwhelming, leaving us questioning our worth. But, the truth is, there’s so much more power and comfort in women (or men!) supporting each other, rather than seeing each other as rivals. When we compliment each other, celebrate each other’s successes, and truly want the best for each other, it fosters an energy that lifts us all up.
If you ever find yourself in a love triangle, square (or any shape!) or feeling like you’re competing for someone’s attention, remember it’s not about you - it’s about the insecurity of the person you're competing for, who seeks validation from multiple sources to quantify their worth.
Instead, focus on building your own tribe of supportive and empowering people, respect your fellow single peeps who are also just searching for love, and remember that if someone isn’t able to commit to you fully, it’s not a reflection of your value.
What is meant for you will not pass you by—it simply wasn’t meant to be.
Keep your heart open, trust the process, and know that the right kind of love will find you, without the need for competition or comparison.