While on vacation recently, my daughter and I decided we needed some relief from the sun, so we snuck away for an afternoon film about a trash compactor. I was hesitant, though, wondering of all things, what Hollywood would come up with next. However I was completely charmed! Two hours later and despite the fact that the first half of the film is silent, I didn't want it to end. My heart was touched as I was thrown into the world of WALL-E, a futuristic glimpse at a passionate, dutiful, savior-of-the-last-green-thing-on-the-planet trash compactor who was the last one on earth left to clean up the humans' mess. To say the least, I was riveted!

An Eery Similarity

Hats off to Pixar! Kids and adults alike were thrown messages that were easily digested. I pondered and used my imagination without being beaten over the head to "get it." From the looks of it in that theatre, we were all drawn in and taken away to a world that, interestingly enough, was not too far away from where we live today: personal high-tech devices in overdrive; fewer and fewer personal connections giving way to TV watching; epidemic nutritional concerns fueled by fast food at every meal; robot-like powerful and omnipresent characters; an environment (or lack thereof) in peril; computers running the world; and so on. Eerily, the similarities between film and real life continued to match up.

WALL-E grabbed me with his commitment to save the last bit of green life at all costs, even if his motivation was for the love of his life. During a skirmish between good and evil and when given the choice to save himself or the green plant, WALL-E chose to save the planet for the sake of humanity. Such selflessness is endearing in a character that doesn’t even have a real heart. The environment, incredible waste, choices we make in the name of love, lack of mindfulness, and standing up for something meaningful are just a few of the general themes fueling this sweet yet sadly reflective tale.

Time to Reboot

I walked away with a refreshed commitment to the environment. I will remind myself to walk or bike ride instead of driving the car to the store, and to run back into the house for my reusable cloth grocery bags when I forget them. I want to make these small efforts and more before our environmental problems spin further out of control. I hate needing to learn a lesson more than once. Do we need a major catastrophe or apocalypse as in WALL-E to change our current behavior?

For further validation, ask a child about the film and really listen to the response. When we were leaving the theater, my 6-year-old said, "We've really got to do something, Mom!" "You are absolutely right!" I replied emphatically. Since then, I have noticed a piqued awareness on her part. She has dutifully reminded me to turn off my car when idling for under a minute, turn off the water immediately when washing dishes and brushing teeth, and to roll down the car windows instead of turning on the AC. She and her friends are thinking, so why can't we?  What is going to take to wake us up? 

Without question, WALL-E is a must-see for those who need a reboot in order to reset their innate green button!

PLUS: See what iVillagers are saying about the movie!

It's ridiculous! Why has it taken me so long to commit to riding my bike more consistently to the store, the gym, my daughter’s school, and our local pool? I’ve always done it on occasion, but I am embarrassed about how mindless I've been. 

Knowing that small steps can lead to big and lasting change, it’s better late than never. For those of you who are scratching your heads in reaction to the current astronomical gas prices and the poignant realization of our over-reliance on the slick black stuff, it’s time to get the bicycle out from the back of the garage, pump up your tires, and make use of a fantastic alternate mode of local transportation.

It is definitely my time to step up my commitment to traveling locally by bicycle... but did I have to feel the increased need on the hottest days of the year thus far?! And when I get a passionate idea in my head, there’s no stopping me; I just do what I need to do, sweat and all. So my daughter and I have been gallivanting around town on my bike with the child extender and crocodile horn, encouraging each other to go faster and taking turns singing. We enjoy our time peddling together, have made it fun and have learned that if you go fast enough, you can catch a breeze, no matter how humid it may be. Gifts present themselves when you least expect them!

Happy peddling!