Smelling Roses

A couple of days ago, while walking the last few blocks home after getting off the bus, I picked up a Tim Hortons cup lying on the sidewalk. Now, I have to admit, I usually don’t make a point of picking up litter while roaming about. Something about the cup at the time really stood out and I couldn’t leave it sitting there. After throwing it out I realized I’d done it instinctively, I just did it, without thinking... how cool is that? So I savoured that brief moment in time, delighted with my ability to recognize my attitude is more forward than backward. My mentality is steadily (albeit slowly) progressing more and more towards improving the world around me and my ability to stay in the moment is ever increasing.

Giddy with discovery I continued walking, looking for other things to pick up. That’s when my spirit got crushed a little. I suddenly noticed just how much litter there was around me. All the garbage I hardly seem to notice was now right in my face. I felt overwhelmed. I’d need a garbage bag just to pick up the stuff lying around the bus stop. As easy as it was for me to pick up a single cup it would be incredibly hard for me to make much of an impact in my area. But I am just one guy, if everyone stopped to pick up a few things every day then we could make a major impact.

Society just hasn’t made that attitude shift yet. I have faith in society though; I think we are slowly getting better. Until then I think I’m going to make a point of picking up some litter every day I take the bus, hopefully the idea will spread. It makes for a good random act of kindness too.