Thursday, March 26, 2015

Chain Reaction

I think Danielle over at Live Run Grow might have started something. If you didn't read her post "The One With All The Trash", make sure to check it out. If you don't have time, let me give you a quick synopsis. Now that some of the snow is melting in the New England area, Danielle noticed her local running/ biking trail covered in trash. This frustrated her (wouldn't it tick you off too?!). Instead of waiting for someone else to do something about it, she went out with a couple trash bags in hand and picked up some of the garbage scattered along her route.

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Now here comes the domino effect.

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This afternoon I went on my normal Thursday cross-training bike ride. I take the same route from my house over to a nearby bike path. I go this way at least twice a week (once for my bike ride and once for my long run). For the past couple of weeks I have noticed a pipe near one of the intersections leaking. The corner in question has a traffic signal that takes a really long time to change, so I end up sitting there, stewing about how much water seems to be wasted.

Today, though, I did something about it! There is a fire house next to the pipe. Now I am not sure if the pipe is actually on their property or not, but as I was waiting on the corner for the light to change I thought to myself, "I need to do something, I need go tell them."

I made my way back over to the entrance. The door was locked, so I rang the little door bell. I waited for a few minutes and as I was getting back on my bike a fireman came out. I told him that I go by on my way to the bike trail a couple times a week. I let him know that there is a pipe on the corner that appears to be leaking (and has been for at least 4 weeks that I can remember). I explained I wasn't sure if it was on their property or not, but I at least wanted to make someone aware because it seems to be wasting water and especially in Southern California and with this drought EVERY drop of water counts.

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He thanked me for letting him know, mentioned that it might be run off but that they would check it out. Now obviously I don't know if anyone will actually fix it (although I will go by tomorrow morning and can see if it is still dripping) and I don't know if they are the ones responsible for it, but I had to do something.

Now just like Danielle, I didn't do it (or blog about it) as a way to get a pat on the back or to hear "Good job Carlee" (although I do give Danielle BIG kudos because I wouldn't be able to go for a 5 mile run and continue to stop and start, especially while picking up other people's litter... the only time I tend to stop while on a run is to take a picture :) ). I did it A. because it was something that had been bugging me for a few weeks now and B. because SOMEONE needs to do something, so why not me?!

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It seems as though Danielle started it, I am following it up, and WHO WILL BE NEXT?! Let's keep this chain reaction going. I mean, just think about it... How much different would our world be if we did MORE than we had to? If we went ABOVE AND BEYOND our responsibilities and things we needed to do? Oh what a wonderful place it COULD be...

Is there something you could do instead of waiting for someone else to do it?

1 comment:

Danielle said...

Oh Carlee, I LOVE that you took my small deed and have turned it into something bigger by taking the initiative to do something yourself!

That is EXACTLY why I wanted to write a post about it, not because I wanted a pat on the back, but because I felt that sharing the story may encourage even just 1 person to do the same - you turned that hope into reality!