The last Saturday in April of each year, has been set aside as Save The Frogs Day. Tomorrow is the 8th annual international event that was designed to educate humans on the dire circumstances facing many of the world's frog species. In a call to action, Save the Frogs, Frogs are Green, and many other wonderful groups, use this day to educate people around the globe about the wonders of us frogs and why it is so important to see that we survive.
There are 4,740 known species of frogs around the world. Since the 1980's, 200 species of amphibians (frogs, toads, salamanders) have become extinct. Historically, only one species of amphibian will disapear every 250+ years! This greatly-accelerated rate is causing some of us frogs to disappear forever, faster than research can find a way to save us. There are diseases that kill off frogs, as well as air and water pollution that poison us. Climate change is a problem, too. But one of the biggest reasons for amphibian decline, is loss of habitat. Deforestation is destroying many of the places where my relatives live and breed.
So why is it important to save frogs? Frogs are considered ecological, or biological, indicators. This means that the health of frogs, or lack of, can indicate problems with the environment that will also affect humans, as well as other wildlife.
These wonderful frog groups, from all around the world, offer fun and educational activities for the whole family on Save the Frog Day each year. Land of Lily Pad, being home to thousands of frogs, is planning a day-long celebration. I know that the family and I will be attending many events, including a lecture on all the progress being made to help those frogs who are close becoming extinct.
Check out Frogs are Green and Save the Frogs online and see if they have an event happening near you. If not, don't worry. You can still have fun and support us frogs. See who can come up with the longest list of weird frog facts, host a Come as a Frog costume party, or spend some time building a frog habitat in your back yard. And, of course, don't forget to donate to one of the many groups who help us out. They can't continue to find solutions to our many problems without your financial donations.
Herpy Save the Frogs Day, everyone.

 Yesterday, my dear friend the Dharma Frog stopped by and we had a very enlightening chat. He told me that "the frog who realizes that he has enough, will be truly rich." Now, I've been known to be a bit 'thick" when it comes to understanding his wisom, so I asked him to further explain his meaning. He then said, "Irwin, learn to invest in your personal bank and watch your interest compound daily."
OK, so was I suppose to put MORE money in the bank? I don't have a lot to save, but I do the best I can to save for the proverbial "rainy day." The wise Dharma Frog laughed and continued to explain that my personal, or inner, bank was me and not the institution where I desposit my money. I found this metaphor intriguing. I had never thought about myself as a bank before. It seems, according to him, that each of us is born rich but, as we live our live, we are often forced to pay out large sums from our self-worth account and if we don't learn to put some back in, at least once a day, then eventually our well-being becomes depleted and we feel emotionally poor. The more we put in, the healthier our account becomes. Just as with any bank, the interest on our deposits compounds daily, making us feel even better and even richer. This was finally beginning to make sense to me!
My dear friend teaches, as do many other wise spititual leaders, that we are always enough, just the way we are, and that when we go looking for "stuff" outside ourselves to make us feel better, we lose our sense of self-worth and that old "there's never enough" feeling begins to creep in; the more "stuff" we have, the more we want. The cycle never ends. Externally we may appear very rich with lots of toys but, in reality, we are getting emotionally and spiritually poorer and poorer with every new aquisition. We don't need more stuff to feel better; what we do need, though, is more self-love and gratitude for what we already have. Knowing that we are enough, that we were born with everything we need to be happy and fulfilled, and to learn to be grateful for whatever we have, that is what truly makes a frog (and human) rich beyond measure.
​It's important, then, to make daily deposits into our bank of self-love and gratitude. Because, as we all know, there will come a day when we're feeling "cash poor" and we will need to go to our inner bank and withdraw some of that self-love and gratitude that we put away for safe keeping. By depositing just a little bit of love every day to our personal bank account, we ensure that we will always have enough to carry us through, no matter how trying the circumstances might be. That compounding interest, and the dividends we receive, will repay us many times over. If you haven't already started an inner bank account, why not open yours today? There's never been a better time to start saving for your future emotional well-being.

We hear a great deal these days about how movies and other media are negatively impacting society. They need to be reined in, we're told. And this is true for much of what is currently available, but new research is showing that that this same media has the potential to actually do widespread good.
Many of the highest-grossing films of recent years have been overly violent and filled with gore. Humans, it seems, have a large appetitie for this stuff. So far this year, however, the highest-grossing film to date is the animated, family-friendly film Zootopia. Parents and critics alike have praised this movie for its positive messages about the harm of stereo-typing and prejudice. I am anxious to take my little brother to see it as soon as it hits theatres in Lily Pad (we're a tad slow in getting human films...)
So how does consuming these different types of films have an impact on humans...as individuals and as a society? As I already mentioned, for a long time now, media researchers have focused primarily on the negative effects of these films, especially how violence impacts agressive behavior as well as how the male/female sterotypes, often portrayed on film,  are shaping people's perceptions. 
Since the early 1930's and the avent of "talkies"  debates, both for and against, have raged about the potential anti-social effects of media. Fortunately, there is current research zeroing in on the positive effects that media plays in shaping our world. I, for one, think this is very exciting!
One researcher from Penn State University. in 2012,  identified the power of films to make humans feel uplifted; even filled with gratitude. We've all heard or read the term "uplifting and positive" from film critics. All too often, though, those words are used to describe "chick flicks," while more "manly" films are descibed as "action-packed, a thrill-a-minute." There's a negative connotation to the words "feel good" and "uplifting." Men are taught that those emotions are only for women; that to be a real man, one must like action and violence. Isn't that a sad statement about society?
In that same study, the researcher Mary Beth Oliver, said that the students she studied told her that these uplifting films made them feel "happy and sad at the same time, gave them a lump in their throat, and were teary-eyed; they experienced a rising or opening of the chest and, yes, chills."
Films have a profound way of affecting us, positively and negatively. They can awaken our consciousness. One of my favorite films, of all times, is "Eat, Pray, Love." I've seen it many times and each time I do, I get an even deeper sense of peace and calm, that feeling of being uplifted. "An Inconvenient Truth" a documentary by Al Gore while it may not give you the warm fuzzies, it does serve a greater purpose; it enlights with facts about the consequences of climate change. It's stimulating and though-provoking.
Movies not only make us feel good, they also have the power to make us feel better about the world, as a whole. Research shows that "inspiring media" actually has the the potential to shift our world  towards a "kind-world" syndrome." And isn't THAT the direction we should all try to move in?
Hollywood will probably always make movies that are filled with "blood, guts, and gore." But that doesn't mean we have to support them. By not going to see these movies in the theatre, renting them on DVD, or watching them on pay-per-view, we can send a clear message to the movie directors, writers, and producers that the public wants to see more films with actual content; films that give us a reason to feel good, something that will  make us think, and something that promotes positivity instead of negativity. Movies are meant to enrich our lives; for the most part, I think they do pretty well. But there's always room for improvement. I don't get out to see many films, but when I do, I certainly won't spend my money on something that doesn't, in one way or another, improve me; either by making me feel great or by educating me. Films like "The Monuments Men" can be both uplifting, as well as eduational. And that's something worth seeing. Now that's entertainment!

 Books and essays have been written about underdogs for centuries; David and Goliath, The Tortoise and the Hare, Life of Pi, Of Mice and Men, and Lord of the Rings...to name but a few. But why is it that we are so drawn to them?
An associate professor of psychology at the Universoty of Florida found that, in several studies, participants were drawn to the underdog because they believed he worked harder and was, therefore, deserving of  his success.  This is true not only in the business world but in sports, as well. In the context of Olympic games, the people who participated in the survey said they were more apt to root for the athlete who was least likely to win, but who was also trying harder and getting very little in return for all of his efforts. People, it seems, don't just randomly love ALL underdogs, especially the ones that are seen as lazy and apathetic. What do love are the underdogs who try really hard, even without much chance of success. As it turns out, we love a fighter; someone who doesn't give up.
In a follow-up study, participants were asked to read about a team that was predicted to lose in an upcoming sporting event. They were described as being an underdog because they had less financial resources than their opponent. Having just this one fact to go, the study participants didn't necessarily favor them. This suggested, researchers said just lacking money wasn't enough to "rally the troops."
It would make sense that if you want to feel good about yourself, you'd always want to go with the odds-on favorite. Right? Curiously enough, this isn't the case. More often than not, we will choose the underdog. Why is that? Research has shown that we like to back the person, or team who, we see as having their back against the wall. It's not that we like to intentionally back losers, but we like to see someone "beat the odds." This stems from the basic morality of fairness; a deep sense inside all humans that dicates hard work should be compensated. In work, that translates into salary and position. The harder we work the more money we should make, or so it's thought. This belief is emotional for us and, most probably, has evolutionary roots. We can observe this same belief in primates.
We love underdogs for a variety of reasons but the most important of them is the common belief that hard work and dedication deserves to be rewarded, which the underdog rarely sees. From time-to-time, we've all felt like the underdog or, at the very least, we've supported one.
​Hard work, dedication, and success should go-hand-in-hand but, as we know all to often, doesn't always happen. That's why it's wonderful to support our friends and family in whatever they do, even if the rest of world does give 'em much of a chance. There's no better feeling than coming from behind and winning...just ask any turtle!

April is the month that we celebrate many of nature's wonderful creatures; everything from bats, to horses, to farm animals, to frogs and, yes, even to to the amazing penguin! Everybody loves these amusing critters...and what's not to love? I'm so happy that we now have a day set aside each year to honor, and bring awareness to, our friend the penguin. Yippee for April 25th!
World Penquin Day coincides with the annual northward migration of these birds. Penquins are one of the few natives of Antartica and, interestly enough, that is the one place where frogs aren't found. Penguins are considered flightless birds which means that they walk...or waddle... from one place to another. That must be exhausting!
These cuties live primarily in the southern hemisphere. In addtition to Antartica, these birds can be found in New Zealand, Australia, Chile, Argentina, and the Galapogos Islands. Those penguins are the only species that ventures north of the equator. And there are no penguins living at the North Pole. The Antartica penguin has no land predators.
Penguins eat all kinds of fish and whatever other sealife they can catch under water. Penguins can drink sea water (I did not know that!) and they divide their time equally between living on land and swimming in the ocean. The Emperor Penguin is the tallest and reaches an adult height of 47 inches (120 cm). They're pretty hefty, too, weighing in at an impressive 51pounds! This jolly giant of the Penguin species has an average life span of 20 years. 
Why not honor the penguin today by learning more about these fasciniting creatures? There are loads of websites and, of course, books on the subject; something for every age and reading ability. And while you're at it, you can dress up in your best black and white outfit. 
I think it's awesome that special days have been set aside during the year to bring attention to, and to honnor, various animals. Nature has given us so many unique and interesting citters to share our planet with. It's fun to study them, especially the ones who aren't readily accessible to most of us, like the always well-dressed prenguin.

For the past two days, I've been writing about the effects of climate change. Today, as most of you know, is Earth Day. A day that we set aside each year to bring awareness to the ever-growing problem of global warming. It affects everything. Although this special day has been around since 1970, we still struggle to make major improvements in the health and well-being of our planet.
One of my favorite quotes on this subject comes from a woman by the name of Betty Robinson. She was the first woman to win the 100m dash in 1928, at the age of only 16. Ms. Robinson said, "I don't want to protect the environment. I want to create a world where the environment doesn't need protecting." This is a wonderful, and even a unique, setiment. How much better it would have been to realize this years ago, before the real damage had ever begun. But, as they say, better late than never!
Teaching our children to love and respect their home shouldn't be an extra-curricular subject but one that's as mainstram as the three R's'; reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic and, now, respect. Planet Earth isn't going to get better on her own. She can't take a pill, or do a few push-ups, and make her problems go away. She needs every single one of us...current population and all future populations...to make a commitment to love and respect her. We grow up being taught not to disrespect our mom's. So why should Mother Earth be any different? She may not have a voice with which to scold us,But she shows us, every single day, that she isn't a "happy camper." 
Eventually, we all grow up and move away from our childhood home and leave behind the nurturing and support of our mother, but we never leave Mother Earth...until we die. Why, then, would we want to abuse her, to disrespect her, and to cover her with pollutants? We NEED her to care and support us forever! And she can't do that if we don't behave.
Today is about bringing awareness to environmental issues. These issues should be, in my book, at the forefront of every day, not just once a year.

Happy Day Mother Earth!
I hope you get a bit of a break today, and enjoy all the attetion. May you find the coming year(s) to be healthier and less stressful for you.
Love,
Irwin (and all your other billions and billions of children, human and not) 

 A wise wise old Indian chief once said, "All things share the same breath - the beast, the tree, the man...air shares its spirit with all the life it supports." Chief Seattle purportedly made these remakes in 1854. Whether or not he actually said it, is irrelevant; what is important, is the fact these lines came from one of the greatest environmental speeches ever made.

Every living organism needs oxygen to survive. Oxygen makes up 20% of the earth's atmosphere and is the most abundant element found in the earth' crust. Air, ie oxygen, is vital for the survival of us all. Even though the evidence is pretty overwhelming, many humans still refuse to believe that our air supply is a risk from pollution. Science tells us that air pollution and climate change are closely linked; air pollution is caused from high (polluting) emmissions and unfavorable weather when, combined, makes it difficult for everything, including us frogs, to breath. Why do we, then, keep polluting our air?

That's a good question and there isn't one, really good answer. I read a quote this moring that, at first, caused me to laugh, but then made me stop and ponder the depth of it. Terri Swearingen, a nurse from Ohio and an environmentalist said, "We are living on this planet as if we had another one to go to." And of course, we don't. We have a finite amount of natural resources, one of which is air. Yet humans continue to burn through these precious recources as if they're never ending. Anyone for  life on Mars?

We can't undo much of the damage that's already been done but we can stop, right now, adding fuel to the the proverbial fire. Cutting back on all forms of pollution is necessary for a livable future for all of us. Leaving the planet a little better off when we depart it, it a worthy goal. Each of us, even unknowingly, has helped to make it worse. Isn't it time that we pay closer attention to Mother Earth and help her feel better now, ensuring a bright and healthy future for many generations yet to come? Earth Day is tomorrow and I encourse each of you to find a way to honor here. For me, the best gift I can give her on her special day, is respect. And that costs nothing.

Earth Day is this Friday and in honor of this wonderful day, I thought I'd use this blog to talk about a few things, over the next couple of days, that global warming is affecting; things that will have a directl impact on you and your children. One of the most important, I think, is the world's food supply.
It has been suggested that by 2050, more than 500,00 deaths, world-wide, could occur as people lose access to good nutrition, as a direct result of global warming. The UK medical journal, The Lancet, published a study that shows how "drought, floods, and other weather events linked to climate change will hurt global crop yield." Additionally, climate change will lead to a less healthy  diet make up in addition to making food less available overall. One study event to so far as to claim that humans will be twice as likely to die from health issues related to climate-related poor diets, than from undernutrition. Malnitrition is becoming a global threat.
Richard Choularton of the United Nations World Food Program says, "It's not just about getting enough calories; calories aren't good enough without micronutrients. Cognitive and physical development depends on eating the right things." Research is finding that the consumption of healthy fruits and veggies will decline 4% by 2050, due to climate change. What I found most interesting is that this projected decline will hit hardest in the low and medium-income countries in the Western pacific region, as well as in high-income countries across the globe. That's you and me! Southeast Asia nd Africa will suffer the hardest from malnutrition. As world news has recently shown us, the effects of climate change and malnutrition is already visible in Eastern and Southern Africa, where a food shortage has been a big problem for years already. This epidemic has left over 1,000,000 children undernourished. Food prices have skyrocketed beyond the reach of average and low-income citizens in these areas, while farmers struggle to produce enough food. This combination has proved deadly.
The authors of this study have called upon policymakers to "take steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions along the lines of the Paris Agreement which commits countries to working to keep global temperatures from rising more than 2 degrees C (3.6 degrees F) by 2100." By meeting this goal, we can prevent some of the worst effects of climate change on our global food production. This won't be an easy task, and many governments have, unfortunately, already begun to adjust their public health programs to meet the impending decline in nutrition.
So what are some realistic ways we can all help to address this serious problem? One is by  cutting back on wasted food. Did you know that the US, and other developed countries, tend to throw away HALF of their usable food? I don't know about you, but I find that fact the scariest of all. Cutting back on food waste and actively lowering your personal carbon footprint are the chief ways each of us can help our future generations stay healthy and well-fed. As for me, I will personally be far more grateful for each bug and worm I have to eat and won't catch "extras" for snacks. And any insects that I have left over, I plan on sharing with less fortunate frogs. Each of us, in our own small way, can make a difference. With Earth Day just around the corner, I urge each of you to do what you can to keep Mother Earth beautiful, bountiful, and strong.

Nobody likes to fail. No one starts off with the desire to fail. But, unfortunately, failure is, indeed, an option and one that happens more often than we'd like. Failure affects kids, as well as adults. So how do we bounce bance from these inevitable setbacks, and to teach kids that it's okay to fail?
For many, there seems to be no way to recover. We let our failures determine our future. Yet, for many others, failure is seen as part of the learning process. We learn from our mistakes and move foreward, confident in our new direction. A new study has shown that young people will be better equipped to bounce back from their academic challenges, if they learn the skill of mindfulness and practice it in their daily lives. So what do I mean by mindful? "Mindfulness means being non-judgemental, with moment-to-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, and sensations." so say the the experts the University of California at Berkeley. When students practice mindfulness, they learn to shrug of these negative events, instead of allowing the failure to define them.
Humans and, unfortunately, frog, too, these days are confronted with all kinds of adversities. Finding a way to overcome them and to learn from them, rather than let them consume us, is a skill that benefits everyone. Not just students. So how does mindfulness allow us to see stressful events as harmless and, maybe, even as being even positive or beneficial? People who practice mindfulness on a daily basis, are far greater to stop and evaluate these events,seeing them for what they are, rather than immediately jumping to the conclusion that they, not the event alone, is the failure. Mindful students, as well as adults, are far more likely to find benefit from these adverse events than non-mindful students. Mindlessness allows students to see these failures as an opportunity to learn from their mistakes. They see a positive take-away from failure.
Teaching kids about failure, and the best way to adress their fears of failing, is by being mindful as teachers and as parents. Kids, and frogs, learn from experience and by observing the adults in their world. Those kids who grow up with mindul caregivers will learn that it is truly okay to fail; that a failure doesn't define them. It merely defines that one activity, situation, or test.
Personally, I think mindfulness should be taught in school. It's never too early, or too late, to learn that failure happens to everyone; that failure won't hurt you, unless you let it. I am lucky that I grew up in a home where my parents talked to me about the true meaning of success, and the true meaning of failure. Neither one define us. Failure is often the ONLY option we have. It's how we see it. and deal with it, that's important. Let's show kids that not everyone wins all the time, despite what they see on TV and in social media. That's not real life. Competitiveness is a great thing; it drives us to excel. But we can't let the fear of losing hinder our desire to try something new. So, on that note, I think iI will try writing something new today. I'll give it my "best shot" but if it turns out badly, I know I'll be fine.  And that gives me the courage to try.

All frogs are unique. Each in our way. The same is true for humans. No two humans will look, or act, exactly the same way. Even twins. Everybody has those special, endearing and, sometimes quirky, aspects of themselves, that set them apart from the next person. But we don't always love these parts of us as much as others do.
Perhaps it's your crooked smile, or that your teeth aren't movie-star straight. maybe you dislike your dimples, red hair, or you think your mouth is too big. Physical attritubes, such as these, can be changed. But at what cost? Cosmetic proceedures are on the rise...and so are the prices. People are getting nipped here, tucked there, and generally made to look like someone other than themselves. They seem to find this desirable. Nobody wants to look like themselves anymore. But there's even more to it than that. It goes WAY deeper than the physical image. Humans often don't like what's on the inside, either. And no amount of cosmetic surgery can change that!
​Before you can learn to love what's on the "outside", humans must first learn to love what's on the inside. Bullies are people who don't really love who they are. They need to make others feel terrible in order to make themselves feel good. But it isn't a one-time fix. They will need to constantly bully someone in order to keep reassuring themselves that they're better than everyone else. The sad fact is that, deep down, they know they're not. No matter what they say or do. Bullys lack self-love.
But I have found a few ways that can help, frogs and humans alike, to learn to be more accepting of themselves.
1.  What is your personality type? Are you a helper/caregiver type or are you a career/success-driven type? Learning to embrace our personality-type is the first step in self love. We are what we are. The sooner we learn to accept this, the better we'll feel.
2. What's your signature style? Outgoing and bold? Intense? Ditzy? They're all wonderful and every type is needed to make our world more interesting.
3. What are your beliefs? What do you believe about the universe, about nature, about life?
4. Spirituality. Do you attend church regularly or are more of a quiet reflection type, preferring to meditate or take a solitary walk to feel spiritually awakened?
5. What are your aspirations? Do you strive for a cause that is greater than yourself?
6. What is your dominant sense? Sight, sound, touch? How do you best experience your world?
7. Are you a happy person?
8. Are you creative?
9. Genes. what traits have you inherited from your parents and grandparents>
10. How do you feel about your body? The size and build of your body is genetically encoded but how you care for it will determine what it looks like.
11. Your face. it's the mirror of the soul. If we are happy and upbeat, it shows on our face. If we're negative and tense that, too, will show clearly.
12. What is your ethnicity? You can't change it so why not learn to embrace it. Celebrate your culture and learn as much about it as you can. Being proud of who you are will increase your self-confidence as well as your self-love!
There are other things, as well, that we should consider when thinking about, and embracing, our uniqueness. Things like, your voice, diction, gender, health, and even your hormones. There are so many factors and variables that go into the equation of making each human unique. Sure, some of these things can be changed, but most of them, the important parts of us (frogs and humans), are pretty much set-in-stone. We can either learn to love them, or we can spend our entire life being unhappy and wishing that we were different.
There have been times when I wanted to be a red-eyed tree frog, or a beautiful blue dart frog, but I know I can never be either of them. I am a small, common green frog and I've learned to be OK with that. I have the unique gift of being able to write. And I embrace that whole-heartedly. I'll never be exactly like the frog on the lily pad next door, even though we live in ehe same swamp. I like that! The parts of myself that used to bother me, when I was a froglet, are now the very things I love most about myself. It comes down to changing our beliefs about what's beautiful, what special, what's important, and we see as "worthy." 
Self-love is something we're born with. Unfortunately, society can sometimes alter our beliefs about ourselves...but only if we let it. Remembering that we each have a purpose and a unique destiny can go along way to helping us reclaim, and relove, those individual and quirky qualities and traits we are born with. Celebrate you!