We Americans love our cars—that’s nothing new. It’ simply faster and more efficient to drive everywhere we want to go, right? But in addition to the increasing cost of fuel and the well-documented impact on our environment—there are other important reasons why we might want to consider hanging up the car keys for a day.
During last Saturday’s Great American I was assigned to a section of Old Elm just off School Street. As I walked up and down this quiet neighborhood it seemed as though I was seeing it for the first time. From ground level I could take time to enjoy the details of the architecture, the beauty of the twisted vines curling their way up through the trees, and the sounds of the birds calling out, warning one another of the approaching stranger below.
In the weeks and days leading up to the big cleanup, I must admit, I was thinking of the project as another day of work, robbing me of a much needed Saturday to do my own chores and tend to my own garden. However, I had volunteered and it was my duty to keep my word, show up on time, and do something good for the community.
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Surprisingly, on Saturday morning I woke up early and found myself looking forward to the task at hand—the sun was out, the smell of damp soil was in the air and I couldn’t wait to get outside. What had seemed like such a chore had now become my mission— I was in the sun, breathing fresh air, walking, bending, stretching, and thinking in quiet meditation. I was able to enjoy a part of Mansfield that I may never have otherwise enjoyed. And while I was indeed doing something for my community, at the same time, I was really doing something good for myself— I was saving money, saving gas, getting exercise, meeting people, and giving the landscape in my town a much needed and well deserved cleanup.
So, next Saturday morning, instead of speeding off to the mall or to the nearest drive-through for a bacon, egg, and cheese— do something good for yourself, and for your community too. Take a walk, take a bag, and take in the beauty of a neighborhood near you. Do your part to make Mansfield clean and please Keep America Beautiful.