Like other “origin stories,” this one began years ago, in a beautiful Mexico City garden where I spent many hours exploring and having childhood adventures. I let my imagination run wild as I chased lizards, followed the silvery trails the snails left, inspected slugs, and dissected worms. I stopped to admire the beauty of hydrangeas, bougainvilleas, and chayote plants, marking their growth week after week.
I collected countless samples to inspect under the microscope, wanting to understand and admire the seen and unseen beauty of my little backyard universe. I also developed my general disdain and fear of spiders, thanks to the ever-present “daddy-long-legs” that took up residency in the ceiling of the drive-thru garage.
My childhood wonder piqued whenever there was a change in weather that transformed the little garden “universe.” The rains invited shy creatures to come out of hiding or highlight previously overlooked details of the garden. I would eagerly wait for the storm to subside to see what new wonders might be unveiled.
I was about seven years old when it began. After one of those rainy afternoons, I skipped outside into the drizzling remnants of the storm to start my exploration. Pushing into the bushies, I began to inspect the leaves and branches, unsure exactly what I was looking for, but sure a prize awaited me somewhere.
Just a few minutes into the adrenaline-fueled search, I saw it–its shiny green skin glistened with raindrops and slime. I can still see those big, dark eyes looking like beautiful marbles staring back at me when I close my eyes. A tiny, green frog sat on a branch in the warm, humid air as if waiting for me to discover it.
Excitement, fear, and amazement washed over me as the frog, and I stared at each other. The prize I was looking for–an extraordinary new discovery!
Without hesitation, I gently plucked the little frog off its leafy perch and, with just a little trepidation, cradled it in my cupped hands to prevent it from escaping. I had no idea what to do next, only that the little frog demanded a thorough examination.
I ran to my bedroom and scanned quickly for a safe container to keep my treasure. As I coaxed it into its new home, I peered through the clear sides, sensing the frog was as terrified as me at the moment. I reassured the frog that I wouldn’t hurt it and take good care of all its needs.
Confident that my frog treasure was secure, I headed back to the garden to gather leaves, sticks, dirt, grass, and other things to make a suitable home for my new pet.
As I left my frog-friend in its new home and headed downstairs for dinner, any fear I felt toward the frog earlier was replaced with wonder, excitement, and curiosity.
I ate quickly and rushed back upstairs, afraid there might be a successful escape attempt. I still didn’t have a plan, but I was giddy at the prospect of spending hours observing, admiring, and inspecting the beautiful little amphibian. I wished it goodnight and headed to bed.
The next morning I darted awake and lept out of bed, my heartbeat fast with anticipation. Peering into the sealed container, the frog was nowhere to be seen. Tears stung my eyes as I searched everywhere. How could my little discovery have escaped? Was it still somewhere in my bedroom?
Coming up empty, I took a deep breath and looked in the container again. Something inside me knew the frog was still there, but I was terrified to look closer. What if it had died in the night?
Upon further inspection, I was shocked to find the little frog hiding under a leaf. Its bright green colors now dull and almost transparent. Some of the organs showed painfully through its slimy greyish skin. Sadness, guilt, and horror washed over me. What had I done!? I knew in an instant captivity had dulled the life of this frog, and it was slowly dying. I must set it free, even though the thought of letting my little treasure go was almost unbearable.
I took the container to the garden and gently emptied the containers–including the now-dull frog, into the morning sunshine. I fought back the tears as I said goodbye, wondering if I would ever see it around the garden again–or, much worse, if it would recover from its ordeal as my captive.
My encounter with that tiny green frog profoundly marked me for life. At the tender age of seven, I began to understand my power in the world. Though my intentions were good, I held the life and death of that frog in my small, seven-year-old hands.
The power is in our hands!
Perhaps you don’t have a striking “origin story” for your love of nature and the environment. Or maybe you’re just beginning your journey of discovering just how much influence and the impact you can have–for good and for ill–on our environment!
Whether you’ve been defending our delicate environment for many years or you’ve just begun to develop a passion for protecting our beautiful planet, we’ve all been given an incredible life mission: to guard and cultivate life–from the tiniest little spiders, insects, and frogs to the biggest, most fearsome predator animals that walk, swim, fly, crawl, and hop through the different climates and habitats.
Our mission at El Paso Zoo Society is to equip, empower, and encourage people everywhere to lead lives that respect and cultivate life.
Though most of us have good intentions, some of our everyday actions and decisions contribute to the exploitation and mistreatment of our planet. Our goal is to highlight resources, organizations, and tools to help each of us align our actions with our intentions; to empower each of us to be better stewards of our beautiful planet and all its amazing creatures. Will you join us in this mission of protecting, respecting, and cultivating life?
In the coming blogs, we’re excited to introduce you to some amazing opportunities, resources, and tools to help you discover and use your powers for good. Whether you’re just beginning to learn or you’ve been using your powers for a long time, there’s a place for you in this community! We can preserve and protect life and I’m excited to be on this journey together. Come join our community of compassion and action!
Follow us on social media and join the movement! @pamgoneglam @epzoosociety
