Those are the words of Kermit The Frog. Despite Kermit’s opinion, it’s gotten much easier to be green since PANTONE, the global authority on color, has picked green as it’s color of the year. That makes twice in four years, and I am excited!

Green is the color of the fourth chakra, our heart chakra, the one that deals with social identity, trust, forgiveness, unconditional love, and compassion. Leatrice Eisman, Executive Director of Pantone Color Institute said, “Greenery, the 2017 color, symbolizes the reconnection we seek with nature, one another, and a larger purpose.” Exactly what is needed in our world right now.

Our heart chakra is the meeting place for our instinct to survive and our desire for enlightenment. Unchecked, our instinct to survive manifests itself as greed, corruption, selfishness, and violence. A hearty dose of enlightenment would be a much welcomed change! Envision generousity, compassion, service, inclusivity, spirituality, and creativity. All heart chakra… all green.

There are many ways to “green up” our lives: We can use paint and be immersed in our favorite shade–as Elaine Parisi so beautifully showed us in her January 11th post. Don’t want the kind of commitment involved with painting your house? Add some green linens and throw pillows. Buy new bath towels as an accent. Add more plants to your home. They’re good for our health, filtering the carbon dioxide we exhale and giving us oxygen in exchange. Low-maintenance Ivy and Snake Plant are even good for helping us sleep at night.

Add blouses or tees in flattering shades and patterns to your wardrobe this year. Seek out green jewelry. Drink more green tea. Have a pedicure with a green polish. Although they aren’t green, both lavender and jasmine stimulate our heart chakra. Buy yourself some luscious French bath soaps. And last, but certainly not least, attend a yoga class or a group meditation… both open our heart center. I often feel a glass of good wine would do the trick faster, but I will appreciate it even more with an open heart. My goal is to ignore Kermit’s lament, and “Be the change I wish to see in the World.”