Garbage out the window

It must have been 10-12 years ago that I took my son out for walks equipped with a plastic bag. We would go around in the close by park behind our house and pick up garbage. I dont think he loved the idea, but we did it and he still remembers those walks now. We would come home with a full bag of garbage, some bottles and always some pens and pencils, because there was a school nearby. We did feel good after picking up and helping to keep the park a bit more clean. Instead of focusing on who had dropped the stuff, we mostly talked about how nice it looked when cleaned up. It is such a great feeling to have contributed to a clean place to live. Anyway, we moved and my sons teenage years came and we didnt keep it up.

Yesterday I was with my boyfriend and his 2 daughters. The eldest suggested that we went for a walk to pick up garbage. I had forgotten how great it feels to help clean up the environment, and get some exercise at the same time. We walked 5300 steps according to the app on my smartphone. Came back with a full carrier bag, and a smaller bag as well as a newspaper and some cardboard. One of the beer cans had an expiry date from 2006 and didnt look any different to the newer ones. Of course, we all know that aluminium cans do not change in nature, but we were reminded here.

When I told my mother about this walk her comment was: I dont understand who throw garbage out of the window, because, everybody I talk to say that they do not do this but bring it to a garbage can. She is right, I have never talked to anyone who said I am one of those people who throw my empty can or other garbage out of the window.

So, I would like to encourage anyone who is able to go for a walk, take an empty bag with you collect some garbage. It feels great to help keep our planet a bit cleaner. Fresh air and exercise is wonderful too.

In my nature paintings I like to paint as if we have all been out picking up garbage. There is no garbage in my paintings. I prefer to see it that way, so, in my paintings nature is clean.