Today I decided that I would look for opportunities to pick up trash whenever I walked by it. This is an interesting exercise for several reasons. First, you begin to notice trash in places you might not have even seen before. It's amazing how it can blend into the background when you're not looking for it. Second, you have to confront your typical thoughts of "Why is all this trash laying around?" and "Isn't somebody going to take care of this?" It's amazing how often I can be guilty of assuming that it's not my responsibility and that someone will/should get it. Ultimately, at some level, it's all our collective responsibility to keep our world clean. Whether we should or shouldn't have to pick up the mess that someone else made is irrelevant. It's there and we can either ignore it or we can help clean it up.
Obviously, I'm not intending to become a garbage man and clean up every street and sidewalk in town. However, if I'm walking down the street and I see a piece of trash on the sidewalk in front of me, I can either ignore it or I can throw it away. For today, at least, I focused on throwing it away.
Hello David!
ReplyDeleteBreast Cancer Mom here.(I'm switching to Bluegrass Belle since it sounds more positive.) I have been following in your foot steps and I cannot tell you what a difference it has made in my daily life. I get my own "high" each day and it makes me feel so good! I've been picking up trash, baking and giving to others, holding doors open for the wheelchair bound, etc.! I am so much happier! Thank you for being an inspiration! This is just what I needed!