“Piglet noticed that even though he had a very small heart, it could hold a rather large amount of gratitude.” — A.A. Milne
Sharing the large amount of gratitude we have in our hearts in celebration of this season of thanks…
Gina Murphy-Darling, AKA Mrs. Green, Founder and CEO
I think about gratitude and what that really means quite often. There are the obvious things that are my very foundation – like my amazing family, my unbelievably great friends and being surrounded every day by some of the most dedicated people on the planet – the members of the Mrs. Green’s World team. And very often I find myself making a much longer list that includes things like the privilege of drinking clean cold water anytime I want, adjusting the temperature in my home based on the weather outside, having all the food and clothing I need and then some. I am also filled with gratitude that I found my purpose in life, that I know each and every day that I am a champion for Mother Earth, that I have been called to use my voice to help us prepare for the reality of climate change. And the list goes on. But I would be a hypocrite if I did not come clean about the joy that my grandchildren bring to my life and the life of many others every single day. These have been challenging times for people fighting for preservation of the planet and trying to figure out how to unite and heal our country. I believe children and grandchildren are born to put joy into our lives and that, at some level, they know it.
Kelly King, Executive Producer
Out of all the things on my gratitude list, I am thankful for today. Today offers new opportunities to do better, to love bigger, to reach further…to dance in the space of joy. Today is a moment and this moment is all that we truly have. May I never take it for granted – wasting it by choosing emotions and thoughts rooted in fear. Yes, gratitude for today and may there be a plethora of todays filled with light for all of us in the time to come.
Bonnie Gonzales, Graphic Designer
First and foremost, I am extremely grateful that my family and friends have remained healthy throughout this very trying year. Secondly, I feel overwhelmingly grateful to live in a place surrounded by blue waters and tall pines. I never take it for granted. Thirdly, I will always be grateful that my dear friend Gina Murphy-Darling chose to take on environmental issues 12 years ago and invited me to join her on her journey into the vast and constantly changing world of climate reality.
Lynn Robbins, Accounting Manager
I’m grateful for the good health of my family; grateful for the friends I have that enrich my life on a daily basis; grateful to be a part of a team of people that I call friends and finally grateful for the opportunity of continuing education and action on the climate challenges our planet faces.
Dave Labrecque, Chief Engineer
Special holiday thanks to all who keep me afloat in so many ways:
To my cats, who stop me from being sad
To my wife, who thinks I’m not too bad
To the Team that helps me maintain self-worth
To streaming comedies that sustain me with mirth
To the Universe—still helping me make ends meet
(And which gave me a family and a house on a street)
Finally I thank you, the Greenies out there
For following Gina and showing us you care
To paraphrase Dickens’ Tiny Tim: May every one of us be so blessed.
Emily Murphy-Darling, Social Media Manager
This morning as I sit to contemplate all that I am grateful for, many things come to mind. My loving and supportive family, strong inspiring friends, a roof over my head, food in my belly and fresh water to drink. These may seem basic but so many people in the world aren’t able to enjoy those things. But I keep coming back to one more thing…I am so grateful that the people of my country came out in large numbers to elect a president who will work towards equality, peace and justice. A president who believes in climate change and will work to preserve our beautiful planet. I am grateful that we have hope after 4 years of fear and division. We have a lot of work to do and a very long way to go, but today I am grateful that we’ve taken a step in the right direction. Here’s to healing and to LOVE.
Amy Euler, Administrator
There are a lot of people in the world who don’t like their job, their co-workers or boss. I cannot relate, I work at Mrs. Green’s World! For the past four years I have had a second home with Mrs. Green’s World and I have learned so much in the process. As I grow as a young adult, I have realized my path isn’t always clear or what I expected. I went from going to the University of Arizona, studying in the Race Track Industry Program (Equine Path); to graduating and not having a full time job out of college. I will be the first to admit I’ve been in somewhat of an identity crisis. I’m grateful for having gone through the struggles I have gone through, I was meant to be where I am and everything happens for a reason.
However, having such a strong, marvelous team behind me always manages to lift my spirits! Thank you Mrs. Green’s World for accepting me in my long transition period, and for being so much more than just a place to work.
Katie Murphy-Darling, The Unicorn
2020. Wow. Gratitude. Where to even begin? I am truly grateful I have everything I need. Food. Water. Shelter. Love. Laughter. Life. Family. Friends. I am also very grateful to work with people I love, all dedicated to the same positive impact driven mission. And this year, I am especially grateful for my #2020QuaranTeam – all the time we got to spend together, the happy memories we made, the love we shared and the evolution and growth we pushed through together.
On the flip side, 2020 has also been a year filled with some of my darkest, roughest days of my life and heartbreaking loss and grief, which taught me some new and different ways of thinking about gratitude. Out of this pain and darkness, here’s some wisdom, that I am grateful to have received and felt called to share with anyone called to read this:
It’s okay not to be okay.
Sometimes you climb out of bed in the morning and you think, I’m not going to make it, but you laugh inside – remembering all the times you’ve felt that way.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal. Love leaves a memory no one can steal.
We fall. We fail. We break. But then… We rise. We heal. We overcome.
Challenges never cease to be, that I know for sure. It is how I show up and embrace those challenges that matter most.
Lastly, I close with gratitude for two quotes that really helped me make it through this year:
“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose; all that we love deeply becomes part of us.” ~ Helen Keller
“If you have been brutally broken but still have the courage to be gentle to other living beings, then you’re a bada$s with a heart of an angel.” ~ Keanu Reeves
In 2020, I definitely think I earned the badge of honor of being a bada$s with a heart of an angel AND yet, as an empath, I must admit – it is still really tough to navigate these times, the pandemic, divisiveness and living in a country filled with so much hate, anger, grief and pain. The future calls to us. We must keep going and try to spread all the Light and Love that we possibly can. Hold on, be gentle with yourself, reach out for help and support if you need it.
With my hands on my heart, I bow my head in humble gratitude that I am abundantly blessed. And so it is. Blessed be.