Doing Good
“Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.” ~ William James
The other day when I took my daily walk I encountered a scene which made me think how classifying people of certain age groups is doing a disservice to mankind. From a distance I saw a person down in a ditch and wondered what in the world the person was doing. As I neared, I saw it was a teen. Her adorable black and white cocker spaniel stood on the sidewalk staring down looking forlorn or abandoned. The little dog waited on the sidelines obediently and patiently.
The teenage girl had a bag in her hand and was picking up trash from areas where the snow had melted. As I passed by, I asked “What are you doing, greening-up?” In Vermont, my state of residence for nearly 35 years, Green-Up Day happens annually.
“Yes, I found the bag on the side of the road, and I figured I may as well….,” the girl shrugged her shoulders and didn’t finish the sentence. I knew what she meant.
“Awwww…aren’t you nice to do that!” I said to her. She smiled broadly and her dog came over and sniffed me. I continued on my way, thinking, how tagging all “kids” as being uncaring is unfair. Growing up in the 1950s we didn’t think twice about throwing trash out car windows. It took the next generation to educate us how long it takes for trash to disintegrate when we pollute the environment with it.
Today, I’d like to give a shout out to the thoughtful girl in our community who was doing her part spring cleaning the neighborhood. Tomorrow when I walk, I’ll take a trash bag with me and a pair of gloves and do my small part. I promise!
