Just Anyway

McTrashy Town, originally uploaded by rainbook101. Picture at Navy Pier's Gardens.

It bothers me that wherever we go, drive, sit or look there is always some sort of trash about us. It's just become so part of our "scene" that we've ceased to "see" it. It really bothers me, the blending.

Do you see it driving down the road? On your street? Bags hang from trees and plastic bottles line the side of the Interstate. Papers waft in the breeze and cups find homes in spots. We question what our child is picking up off the ground when hopefully they are going for a ladybug, but most likely it's somebody's smoke butt or a weird bottlecap.

Here is one example. Just one. In a beautiful little nook there sit a McTrashy cup. Just steps away is a trash can, and not far from that is the recycling bin. Was the person just too lazy to walk it over to the can, or did they care so little about it that they just thought that "someone else" would do it. Did they use it and then just let it blend into the scene?

It bothers me more when I see it outside, on playgrounds, in our neighborhoods. Isn't it sad that we have to have "Spring Cleanups" vs. just doing the right thing in the first place? We should clean it up anyway because it's the right thing to do.

I read a couple of days ago- - -and if you are the author of this statement then please post and take credit because I can't find the blog I found it on and I don’t want to jack somebody’s thoughts-about the "Theory of Anyway." (Update: See credit below)

It's simple in that even if you poo-pah global warming, peak oil, climate change and water shortages or even if you don't care two hoots about farming, pesticides, plastic or lead toys, even if you just aren't so much into the environment and like it manicured.........start caring because it's what we should be doing "Anyway." We should be paying attention.

Even if there is no global warming, just think about the global environment because we should "Anyway." Even if you can buy pre-made bread, make it yourself because you should "Anyway." Even if you can own a McMansion, then live in a regular size home because that is what you should do "Anyway." Even if there is somebody that is going to clean up your McTrash, then walk it to the can (or better yet, don't buy it) and throw it away yourself "Anyway."

In honor of the author of the Theory of Anyway, my kids and I are going to take at least one hour tomorrow and clean up a local park with trash and recycling. And tonight at the gym I'm going to fish the water bottles out of the regular trash and walk them over to the recycling bin. And this month I'm going to follow through with the Buy Nothing Challenge.

Just because. Just Anyway. What can you do for one Anyway?

Update: I backtracked myself to figure out the author. Sharon Astyk writes about it in Energy Bulletin, and I read about it on the blog Casaubon's Book. Check it out! Good stuff folks, good stuff. I love wandering around the Internet and following people's links. You find little nuggets of wisdom that are priceless.