Whenever Mitch and I get the chance to walk Blaze, together, I like to bring an extra garbage bag and clean up some trash from the streets as we walk. It not only cleans up the area but it forces me to do some bending down and picking up along the walk. Yesterday morning that was just how it went and though I in no way mind doing it (or else I wouldn’t!) I am always saddened by what kind of trash I am picking up! If I use that bag of trash as a sampling of what we are consuming and ingesting, it’s no small wonder why we are an unhealthy, overweight society. Walking just under 1 mile yesterday I did pick up several water bottles, but the rest of the garbage was empty bags, soda cups and fried “stuff” boxes from McDonald’s, Wendy’s, and Chick-Fillet. There were also empty candy wrappers, loaded with sugar energy drink cans, and no-real-juice fruit juice boxes. Of course, their are always some empty cigarette boxes.
So people in cars are driving thru fast food places and eating while driving. Giving the indulgers the benefit of the doubt, I understand that some people work a couple of jobs and have no choice but to drive thru fast food joints and eat on the run. Problem is, they are NOT on the RUN. They are not only on the run, they are not even on the walk. They are sitting and driving and then they are too lazy to even throw their garbage away, instead tossing it out the car window.
I realize that those people aren’t reading my blog. (At least in my mind, I can’t believe anyone reading this, would do that!) What I would like to say to them, however, is this…People, it is 2012. You should know by now that eating and drinking that junk, more than once in a while, is bad enough for your waistline and your health, but then throwing your trash out the window? Really? Where exactly do you think the trash will go? Walk it to a trash can and you might even burn a calorie or two.
For the record…I am not ranting or even venting. I, for one, don’t mind picking up the trash. It’s more that doing it shows me a sampling of what’s going on in with people in my neighborhood and it’s sad and frustrating. If we don’t care enough about ourselves, it’s really hard to care about others and you know how I feel about us all being connected. Thanks for “listening.”
Last night was the first episode of Extreme Makeover Weight Loss Edition with Chris Powell but I opted to DVR it and watch the Heat game. Awe, Heat. You guys put up a great fight! So close. It’s anyone’s series now. This afternoon I will have a chance to watch the weight loss show. For now, it’s time to get my own butt moving. To all my educators and students…THIS is the week you all wait for. Enjoy the last Monday of the school year!
