Before:
At Johnson’s Wood I found a spot I liked on the boardwalk, plopped down, pulled out my notebook and wrote this:
During:
I saw a footprint so how could it be that deep? I decided to step in the footprint:
I figured I was already muddy so I kept going, but then I sunk more and more. I got the beer can and with a sign of relief I threw it to the boardwalk. But, now I was stuck:
I finally managed to get one foot out, my left foot. My right foot was not as cooperative. I managed to get it out but lost my shoe. Therefore, I had to dig through with my right arm to retrieve it. I finally was out, with the beer can.
After:
Luckily, the bus driver was nice enough to give me a jug of water and a towel to wipe my arm. He also gave me a garbage bag for my shoes. After the trip, as I walked back to my room from the bus, barefoot and muddy, I realized how I wish I could tell the person who left the beer can how much I had been through to pick up their mess. Alas, they will never know and they have moved on and probably don’t even remember that they had left it behind. I realize the “Beer Can Incident” could have been avoided.
If everyone pulls their own weight, there will be no need for others to pull extra weight. Ideally, everyone would do their part, but realistically this will never happen. The world is not perfect and if you care about the world this is necessary to realize because if you remain upset at those who don’t care and don’t do their part, you will never not be upset and you will remain unhappy for your entire life. It’s important to recognize human’s role and impact and do one’s own part, but if having to pull other’s weight, remain positive.
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