If you are feeling flustered by the fact that America is leaving the Paris Climate Agreement, you are in good company.  While overseas it was endearing to see so many cities embracing solar farms, educating communities about how to reduce their waste, and incentivizing businesses to go green.  The hope for a brighter future - one with less asthma, less dying species, days where China's air is not rated for whether it is safe to breathe- seemed possible.  So it has been extremely challenging for me to return to the country I love, a so called leader in the world, to see our politicians turning their backs on the health of our people & the well being of our planet.

So I freaked out.

Then I decided that action was better than complaining on facebook or whining about it with loved ones.
Pretty quickly I realized that there is a lot that one person can do.

Deep Pockets?

• Every year I donate to just causes.  I urge you to investigate ones that support our planets well being. For me that is the World Wildlife Foundation but the Sierra Club, Greenpeace, the Environmental Defense Fund and a plethora of other fantastic organizations are doing a great job of aiding our earth's future.
• If you love to shop online be sure to use www.smile.amazon.com instead of just using amazon.  By using SMILE you can select a foundation that will be supporting through your purchase.
• Invest in the growing Solar, Green, and Clean space sectors.  Solar jobs are the fastest growing job creating sector meanwhile there are huge investments being put into battery/storage research and development.  Support a start up or research facility that is aiding in these fields! (lack of deep pockets? Look for employment in these blossoming fields!!!)

Spare Time?
Consider volunteering for a local chapter to aid with environmental impacts.  Whats great about this is that you can commit as little or much time as you have and can make your involvement as hands on as you want.

• Find a local Park Clean Up Day, a river clean up day, or help with a local garden project
• Register to Be a Water Quality Tester
• Volunteer to aid with a Campaign
• Bike instead of driving everywhere...or car share!
  

​ For me, this has meant aiding with the Sierra Club as we roll out a campaign to push Philadelphia to commit to a 100% clean energy future.   

No spare time?

• Sign petitions to aid with causes that matter to you.  
• Check out my "Philly for a Clean Future" petition
• Listen to podcasts while traveling to educate yourself about things to do on the daily to make a difference.

Clean Your Space
They say home is where your heart it.  So if your heart is hoping for a happier environment start showcasing it in your home.

• Conserve energy by turning out lights, reducing your water usage (check out this blog I wrote for another site!!!),  unplugging unused electronics, and investing in energy efficient appliances.
• Plant!!! Clean the air inside and outside of your house.
• Install solar panels or if that's too expensive investigate if there are solar sharing/co-op programs in your neighborhood.
• Keeping your house clean & not using chemical cleaners removes allergens and pollutants aiding with indoor air quality.

Have kids?

• Make recycling, gardening, volunteering, picking up liter, and caring about the planet a family affair.  By teaching these practices to our next generation we are protecting the earth for years to come.

Though the US may be pulling out of the Paris Climate Agreement, there is a huge swell of support coming from cities and states across the country vying to fight climate change.  This flourish of support at a grassroots level can be even more demonstrable if every citizen does their part.  You may feel like you do not have time, or money, or skills to aid with a cleaner tomorrow- but you can make a difference.  By doing a little bit, every day, you can ensure that our skies are brighter, our waters are cleaner, our shorelines swell less, and our planet lasts longer.

You can make the world a better place.
We must.

Huge muscles, tattoos, 220, bearded, gruff to the max.
6"4', pot belly, overly aggressive, but nonathletic.
Older, out-of-shape, but with years of experience.
Short, quick, technically savvy, unemployed, overly trained machine.
New, white belt, spastic, moves unjustifiably and makes up for lack of technique with muscle.

These are my mat partners.
I'm a 5'2, 118 lb, female.  On the mat I look like a lost child.  A midget amongst monsters.  Or a frail fish amongst sharks.

People seem to think that as a female in bjj, wrestling or judo you need to be tough.  You need to be able to take falls, thrive on physicality, and not flinch at bumps n bruises.  But it is rarely discussed the mental fortitude and chess that has to be played every time you walk onto a mat.  As a 5'2" tiny woman, I not only am trying to better myself on the mat but a large portion of my training is focused on not getting injured, which basically means learning how to read and interact with the other, often larger, sometimes misogynistic, people in the gym.

My husband has to deal with the same principle of non-injury on a basic level.  Knowing that he needs to control spastic white belts to ensure they don't inadvertently injure him.  Understanding that certain techniques shouldn't be used with larger partners or you can put yourself in a precarious position.  And knowing when he needs to change the pace as to not anger a hot-head.

But my husband never has to deal with the female part.

The unspoken distaste that many men have at the idea of being scored on, taken down by, passed by, or put at a "losing" position by a female.  As a woman on the mat, you see it immediately.  This heated look.  A deep vengeance stare.  A disbelief at themselves for being bettered by a female.  It's in that moment that I immediately have to turn on a charm that men never have to utilize on the mat.  A smile. A joke.  Something to ease their frustration.  Anything to ensure that their next action isn't something to deliberately cause injury to me.

This is not to say that a larger partner ever intends to train with a woman differently.  And many of my favorite long time partners are dudes.  This is usually a phenomenon that occurs when you are new to a gym.  When the males do not yet have a comfort level with you.  It's something that I have to feel out anytime a new member joins a gym, a visitor is in town, or I am visiting a new place.  It's an unspoken dialog that every female has with herself prior to working with a new dude - "How do I stay safe with you? Will you react like a jerk? Will you use too much strength? Will you roll using only technique?  Are you someone that will be pissed if a girl does ok?  Are you super chill and will aid my development while just working on your technique?".  Recently a good friend and I had a great conversation about this- reveling in the fact that we have this secret super power that needs employed at practice.

It's an unspoken conversation that every female has every time she goes with a new man.  It's a chess game she plays with herself to ensure each round is completed with her body remaining in tact.  It's an avenue of the game that most men are immune to, not attuned to, and will never be able to fully comprehend.  
Props to all my partners over the years who have put personal male pride aside.  Who have spent their rounds with me using minimal strength.  Who focused on sharpening skills, enhancing new techniques, and fixing details while working with me.  Thanks to my plethora of male counterparts who because of this have enabled my development, while I provide a body for them to attune specifics in their game.  You are the reason I have comfort rolling with the 250 lb gigantor, the 6'2" newbie, and the pot bellied 49 year old.  Your acceptance of my size and non-ego about my skill allow me to have partners, gain strength, improve speed, and accept new partners.

Props to all the coaches I have had that encourage men to roll appropriately with us little ladies.  Who remind the potential troublemakers that I am half your size.  Who drill as a leader- showcasing how to work on your technique despite your partners size.  To the coaches who set an example of excellence and acceptance in their gyms.  I thank you.

After training the other night my husband and I were discussing our rolls with a newbie and it was the first time in his 20 years of training that he realized how much must be considered prior to any roll I have with a new dude.  He hinted at a new level of respect for me.  And then, as if on cue, immediately changed the topic.

So to all you women super heroes on the mat- I see you.  I see the super power you have prior to each roll.  I know the mental game you must play to ensure your own safety.  I know the  mental strength and inner power you posses.  Congratulations on knowing how to fight anyone.  I know you are playing a bigger game of chess than anyone will admit.  Keep it up.  Keep yourself safe.  Warn the other ladies of the rougher guys. And keep spreading the education to our amazing training partners, on how to properly, safely, and beneficially train with the midgets.  
​
You may be a tiny fish amongst sharks - but you are powerful beyond words.