Humans in the environment photoshoot/ Amber Nichols

 

I decided to take a walk through my neighborhood to observe the world around me. As I walked, I couldn’t help but notice the trash scattered on the ground—discarded items left behind by humans. I saw markings on the pavement, trees that had been cut down, and trash polluting streams that should be clean and full of life. Walking down the streets of Skagit, I noticed the portable toilets and other signs of human activity left behind. The markings on the concrete stood as a reminder that people had passed through, leaving their imprint on the world, both literally and figuratively.

The trash dumped carelessly at dumpsters and scattered on the ground made me reflect on how we, as humans, are not doing our part to care for the Earth. It made me think about how easy it would be for each of us to pick up just one piece of trash or to take a moment to throw things away properly. Yet, too often, we act selfishly, littering without a second thought and leaving the mess for "someone else" to deal with.

What if everyone made a small effort? Imagine a world where each person picked up one piece of trash every day. Our lawns, bushes, grass, forests, lakes, and ponds would be free from garbage. It would completely transform the way our neighborhoods look and feel. The beauty of the natural world would shine through without the clutter of waste. All it would take is for each of us to do our part and take responsibility. It’s a small action that can make a huge difference—if only we chose to care.