It is not easy being green.  At least, that is what Kermit the Frog said.  In fact, he sang about it.  When you think about it, though… some days it isn’t easy to be you.  Some days it isn’t easy to be me either.

But here we are… and here it is Spring.  Things all around us are turning green.  I wonder if it easy or hard for them?  Everywhere I looked today … I could see green.  The grass is growing, some fields are sprouting, leaves are coming on trees, algae is beginning to grow in the pond.  Green.

However, I must tell you, there is a lot to this color… green.

The color green signifies nature, life, youth, safety and hope… in the psychology of colors. Or so the lab coats say.

But it is not our favorite color here in the U.S.  That goes to Blue.  Green comes in a close second.  I like them both.  But I like orange, and purple, and red.  Yellow’s not so bad either.

We all know that green represents ‘go’ in traffic signals, railway signals and ship signals. Well… MOST people know about this.  There are a bunch of dudes in hats…. driving cars…..  that sit for a long time at green lights… until prompted by a horn.

Green is the color used for night vision goggles.  That is  because the human eye is most sensitive to the color green and we are able to distinguish a bunch of shade variations in green.  Think about THAT tonight while you are out slinking around with your goggles on.

The color green is often used as a symbol of sickness.  Mostly in cartoons, and such.  Characters often have a green face when being sick.  And puffed out cheeks.

Speaking of sickness… how about the “morning” variety of sickness?   Green has long been a symbol of fertility, and was once the preferred color choice for wedding gowns during the 1400’s.

And more Historical Green.  I’ve seen the pictures, but I don’t remember this.  Before the 1950’s Santa’s suit was originally green.  That is…. until Coca-Cola bought him out…. and changed his suit to red.  That’s because it is not easy being green… and Santa needs a Coke, and a smile.

And don’t forget the other sorts of green things… like peas, money, hoses, jade, ferns, envy,  broccoli, geckos, moss, tennis balls, shamrocks, emeralds, seaweed, cucumbers,….. oh…. and…. frogs.

Which brings me back to Kermit.  Smart frog.  You know, he starts out all downtrodden about being green, but three verses later… he is singing a different tune.  In fact… “Why Wonder, I am green and it’ll do fine, it’s beautiful!  And I think it’s what I want to be.”

So on those days… when it doesn’t feel so “easy” to be us…. perhaps all we need to do, is take the time to sing a little song… and three verses later… we may be thinking that WE “are beautiful”….

…. which … in fact….  we ARE.  And we’ll do just fine.  We are exactly who we weren’t meant to be.  Like the smart green frog.

It is not easy to find happiness in ourselves, and it is not possible to find it elsewhere.  —  Agnes Repplier

Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.  —  Saadi