Green Choices --
We all make hundreds of small choices every day, many without even thinking about them.
This is not a pretty picture. It represents the choices made by many people as they enjoyed the natural beauty of Village Creek, a local treasure. It is the newest of the Texas Paddling Trails, as designated by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department:
http://204.64.0.110/fishboat/boat/paddlingtrails/inland/village_creek/index.phtml.
As I kayaked on this beautiful creek Saturday, I picked 47 aluminum cans and 8 plastic bottles from the water and from sand bars along the creek. Such a shame that everyone cannot enjoy the gift of nature without leaving trash behind.
I'm sure that none of the readers of this blog, a blog that highlights environmental concerns, would ever consider leaving a piece of litter behind. That is a green choice, and I applaud and appreciate that.
Several years ago, as I was running on a beautiful wooded trail in a park, I came to a realization. I occasionally saw a piece of litter on or near the trail, and always thought, "I'd never do that. Why do people do that?" One day, I saw a walker on the trail stop, pick up a piece of litter, and take it with him. That both impressed me and kind of shamed me. At that moment, I realized that was another choice-- to walk or run past the litter, or to pick it up. Two levels of choice. The first choice, to not litter, or to not make a litter problem worse. And a second choice, to pick something up, and make the problem better. Since then, I put a bag in my pocket when I go to a park to run.
I decided I don't want to settle for not making the world worse. I also want to leave it better.
Village Creek, Hardin County, Texas, August 7, 2010.
