Seek Joy, Spread Kindness: Change Yourself and the World

Litter pick up t-shirt created by one of the founding members of Spread Some Kindness.

A very good friend of mine pointed out that I have been remiss in not sharing one of the highlights of my journey of seeking joy and spreading kindness over the last few years: Organizing a group litter pick up.

It started with a few friends. We would pick up litter individually whenever we saw it on our walks about town or when visiting parks. Then, when we were together, we would inevitably share how messy a place was. It stood to reason that we could make more of an impact if we visited places and tackled the litter as a group.

Initially, three of us formed a monthly meetup, which quickly grew to a group of fifteen in a text thread. Once a month, we would pick a park or trail and spend an hour or two cleaning it up. Anyone who could make it was welcome to join us. 

After a few months, we realized we would look more organized with matching T-shirts. We settled on a color and a group name and then took size orders from everyone. We also allowed everyone to add a personalized message on the backs of the shirts and sleeves. (Shout out to the friend who has a Cricket and took the time to make each shirt personally!)

I felt even more invested in what we were doing, seeing everyone in bright shirts with Spread Some Kindness on the front and sayings ranging from “One more piece!” to “because you’re my sister…” on the back. It also felt so good to make a difference in our community. Yes, people asked us what we were doing and thanked us, but even when we went somewhere no one saw us, it filled me with warmth knowing we’d made the world a little bit better.

When we started seeing others out with grabbers and trash bags around our area, it filled my heart with joy. I don’t know if they just had the same idea we did or if they saw what we were doing and decided to help, but it was fantastic. 

The impact of cleaning one playground may seem insignificant in the grand scheme. However, to the families that use that playground, the effect was that their children were safer with the glass of broken bottles removed, their view of the park was more pleasant with the plastic decorations from someone’s party cleaned up, and the environment was a bit less toxic with all of the cigarette butts hauled away.

When we feel helpless to change the big picture, we can remind ourselves that we can still be a force for good. We can take care of the places we live and visit, leaving them better than we found them. 

If enough of us take these small steps, we can effect significant change and build a community that feels connected and caring. With many small communities invested in their space and citizens, we can begin to make a real difference. It all starts with you and me and our desire to seek joy in our lives and spread kindness to others.

Resources:

#breakfreefromplastic is a "movement to demand massive reductions in single-use plastics and to push for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis." Visit their website to learn more!

Your city, county, province, and district waste management websites can be a wealth of information on what they accept for recycling, how to prepare it, and where to take it.

In my experience, the following items will make your concerted litter pick-up efforts a bit easier:

• A trash grabber - these long-reaching claw grabbers can be found at your local home improvement stores and do wonders to save your back from all of the stooping down to pick things up.

• Disposable gloves - protect yourself from viruses and bacteria when handling waste. Compostable gloves are available for purchase; just be sure your recycling center or compost drop-off will take them, as they may not be suitable for home composting.

• Bags - for the most part, we reused grocery bags, whether plastic or paper. However, there were occasions when larger garbage bags were necessary due to the volume of litter and/or the lack of a trash container on-site.

• Poop bags - yes, I did bring poop bags along to pick up other owners' dog dirt. Nothing upsets me more, as a dog owner, than other owners giving the rest of us a bad reputation.

• Appropriate clothing for the weather - coats, rain jackets, hats, sunscreen, bug spray, etc.

HOT TIP: If there is any breeze or wind, dropping litter from your grabber into your bag can be challenging. A few rocks to weigh it down will be a lifesaver!