New Years Day Resolution: Make an Impact

Earlier this year, I visited Matagorda Beach. If you don’t know it, it’s off the Texas coast and I go there a lot. One thing I tend to do is pick up trash while I’m there, but I never understood the full scale of my actions.

We had driven up and set out our beach supplies, but while trying to set up the tent we noticed the trash surrounding us. Glass bottles and aluminum cans covered the ground, more than usual. Thinking of the ocean and the volunteer hours I needed to get, I started to pick up the trash and put it in the spare trash bag we had with us. As I picked up the trash littering the ground I noticed the people next to us started to collect the trash around them too. I overheard one lady saying " I can't believe we are picking up other people's trash."

She may be complaining but she is still picking up trash I thought as I went on collecting more trash. That day I had decided I would skip the water to pick up some more trash. I walked down the beach collecting the bottles, lids, and cans until a man in an American flag swimsuit came up to me and put some trash he had picked up into my bag. I was thankful that my actions had inspired this man to pick up a few pieces of trash off the ground. After placing the pieces in the bag he looked at me and thanked me for cleaning the beach. I soon turned around to head back to our tent, picking up trash on the way and as I passed other people's beach set-ups one after another came up to me putting trash they had picked up around their camp in my bag. Some offered water, and others thanks. Some didn't contribute but I know they saw me. Despite missing a few hours of playing in the water this was one of the best beach trips I have ever gone on because I got to see the effect one person can have on many. I experienced first hand how my actions affect others. On that beach I learned the power of one person and that everyone can make a difference.