Waking up feeling slightly philosophical today, I wanted to share some thoughts and inspiration on what I feel is the deeper meaning of “green.”

Yesterday was one of those “one thing right after another” kind of days where I had to keep pulling myself back to all of the things I had to be grateful for, what lesson I was supposed to be taking from each experience, and remembering that it was my choice as to whether I wanted to laugh or cry. What does this have to do with green you ask?

Well let me tell ya…

The word GREEN in mainstream context can and does have many connotations. Recycling, solar power, low energy use, composting, sustainability, healthy living, etc. Green can mean 10 different things to 10 different people, and none of those things -or people, would be wrong.

But what is the BIGGER picture – the bigger message and meaning in the word “green”?

I believe it starts with thinking BIG and remembering small. Let me explain. Last July I took a trip to Costa Rica. My travel companion ended up with a nasty case of food poisoning, so I was left to have solo adventures (of course after leaving him with Gatorade and activated charcoal tablets). We were in Tortuguero which is a wild and remote area of Costa Rica, only accessible by boat or airplane. We had made the trek originally to witness the nesting endangered sea turtles, but I quickly fell in love with many other things about the region.


Howler monkey in Tortuguero Natl. Park, Costa Rica


Tortuguero National Park receives 250 inches of rainfall a year and is home to many species of birds, critters, flora and fauna. I rented a pair of tall rubber boots in town (which is required by the park due to poisonous snakes and lots and lots of mud.) All alone, I took my time adjusting to being swallowed up by this rainforest, allowing my senses to become heightened – sight, hearing, smell… I was enveloped. As I sunk in mud, was startled by the loudness of the howler monkeys over my head, felt the occasional mosquito bite from a spot of skin not covered by insect repellant, and made sure to watch where I was stepping; I suddenly felt very very small. Small in a good way. Small in a humbled way. There were no other human beings in sight. In fact, I didn’t see one other person for nearly 3 hours, which at that point felt like an eternity! Just me, lil’ ol’ me, alone in what felt like a ginormous jungle. What a feeling!

I am a guilty American consumer. I will admit it. Being a single mom with my own business, I am as tempted by “convenience” as the next person, but – I also remember to TRY. I continually TRY to do the right things, TRY to teach my children positive behavior and habits, TRY to inspire those around me to begin their “green walk” by simply taking one small step at a time. We don’t need to run, as my rainforest experience taught me. We need to walk slowly, think about each step we take, heed the lessons that our fellow creatures have to teach us if we’re open to learning, and not only take each day as it comes; but every single moment…


So today, green to me, is simply an attitude. A way of life. A respect for this planet and all of it’s inhabitants – big or small.


This reminds me to “think big – and remember small.”


May you be moved today to feel inspired enough to inspire another.


Love and laughter.