My mind sometimes works in mysterious ways. Often when I see a bright green female Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly (Erythemis simplicicollis), like the one in this image that I captured during a visit to Occoquan Bay National Wildlife Refuge, I can’t help but think of Kermit the Frog. Why?
Kermit the Frog has always been my favorite Muppets character. I have distinct memories of Kermit singing one of his signature songs, “It’s not easy being green” in which he laments his green coloration, expressing his concern that green “blends in with so many ordinary things” and wishing to be some other color.
“It’s not that easy being green;
Having to spend each day the color of the leaves.
When I think it could be nicer being red, or yellow or gold-
or something much more colorful like that.
It’s not easy being green.
It seems you blend in with so many other ordinary things.
And people tend to pass you over ’cause you’re not standing out like flashy sparkles in the water-
or stars in the sky.”
Have you ever felt that way, wishing you could stand out more from the crowd, uncomfortable in your own skin? I know that I have sometimes felt that way.
In the end, though, Kermit recalls positive associations with the color green, and concludes by accepting and embracing his color.
“But green’s the color of Spring.
And green can be cool and friendly-like.
And green can be big like an ocean, or important like a mountain, or tall like a tree.
When green is all there is to be
It could make you wonder why
But, why wonder? Why wonder?
I’m green and it’ll do fine
It’s beautiful, and I think it’s what I want to be.”
Life’s too short to worry and complain about all the things that we are not, to constantly compare ourselves with others, to become green with envy. It is so much more rewarding when you can boldly embrace who you are and ignore the views of the naysayers on the sidelines.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
Wonderful post 🎸thanks for sharing🎸
Thanks.
Welcome Mike🎸
Great wisdom, Mike. Thank you.
I do not know how you spotted this green beauty among leaves, no less. Wow!
Thanks, Suzette. The “secret” to spotting these dragonflies is to detect them while they are flying and them track them to see where they land. Otherwise, as you suggested, they will be almost invisible as they blend into the surroundings.
Great work, Mike. Thanks again.
You’ve captured a wonderful range of green hues in this image, Mike. Kermit would be proud of you. I also adore Kermit but Miss Piggy was my absolute favourite Muppet. She was a role model to little me. I have her attitude but not her glamour. Ha ha!
Thanks, Laura. I’ve always liked the Muppets, even as an adult. There was something cool, quirky, and creative about the characters and the situations they found themselves in. I’ve even watched The Muppet Movie multiple times. 🙂
Allow me to begin by noting that this photo of an Eastern Pondhawk dragonfly is exquisite, especially when viewed enlarged. I am especially impressed by this colorful specimen because “It’s A Girl”! That said, your entertaining commentary begins with Kermit’s wise words and ends with your own wisdom. I, too, love that song and also “Rainbow Connection”. Jim Henson’s Muppets were a part of my children’s growing up years since the very beginning and much later became that of Benjamin. Kermit the Frog always a favorite of my son. You must know that Kermit wrote his own book : “Before You Leap, A Frog’s-Eye View of Life’s Greatest Lessons”. As Kermit said in “The Muppet Movie” : “Life’s like a movie. Write your own ending.” Thank-you, Mr. Mike!!
I’m happy, Ellen, to learn that you too love the Muppets–they seem to have an almost universal appeal. I kind of went off on a tangent with the Muppets and you probably noticed that very little of the text of that posting had anything to do with the dragonfly that was featured (other than the fact that the dragonfly was green), a testament to the way that I write a posting. I will sit down at my compute with a photo or photos that I have chosen and will start writing in a stream-of-consciousness way that is a reflection of what I am thinking of or feeling at that very moment, generally with only a minor amount of pre-planning and very little post-facto editing. Sometimes the ending surprises me, because I end up in an unexpected place.