A Natural High

This morning was my moment of truth. I have been doing my research about the trash we all see and how it eventually makes its way into the ocean. I learned about “beer can island” across from the Rusty Pelican. I also learned that the damage is not limited to the trash on our beaches. Garbage everywhere flows into the sewers and makes its way to the water. I have seen the effects firsthand and smelled the stench of dead fish and vegetation along the sea wall. I sign up for group clean-ups yet know that I could do more.

As I walked toward Brickell Ave today, I could see my moment to step up. Like the childhood game that starts with “I spy with my little eye, .....”, here is what I saw laying across my path:

• A red plastic cup

• A face mask

• A sauce packet

• A plastic coated candy wrapper A champagne cork

• Another red plastic cup.....

I decided that if I can get these items to the trash can at the end of the street, that is that much less garbage taking more oxygen out of our ocean. It isn’t just a bandaid fix, it will help, even if only a little bit. I cannot control the people throwing garbage down, but, I can control my response.

No excuses. I picked up that mask by one of the loops (that I learned sometimes get caught on birds’ feet). I put the sauce packet into the plastic cup, added the cork, and was on a roll. By the time I got to a (dreaded) cigarette package, I added it to the batch and deposited it all into the trash can at the end of the street. Armed with hand sanitizer (thanks to the pandemic), I continued my walk. And a wonderful thing happened—it felt really, really good. In fact, it felt so good that I am looking forward to tomorrow and brightening up my little corner again. Thus the invitation is extended to you, will you join me to do the same? Environmentalist, Chai Jing says “The strongest governments on earth cannot clean up pollution by themselves. They must rely on each ordinary person, like you and me, on our choices, and on our will.”