Let’s keep our blessings clean

We are so blessed to live in the beautiful province of Nova Scotia! In fact we’ve become so used to being totally surrounded in all its beauty we’ve become complacent.

Nova Scotia has been a wellkept secret from the world over the past decades. Tourists and visitors remind us what a treasure trove we have. Thousands of amateur and professional photographers capture God’s creation of perfection every minute of the day and night. We pride ourselves in weathering the four seasons in stride, something that many countries don’t get to experience. Mother Nature does her utmost to radiate her beauty, yet there is something that tries to hide her work – made-made refuse.

It saddens me, all the discarded packaging and waste I see on my regular walks in our cherished county of Pictou. The cause of it all?... Maybe if there were built in receptacles in our vehicles, or even having a refuse/recycle bag in back to tuck things into until we’re able to properly dispose of them at home.

I was brought up during a time of “Sammy Seagull.” What a fantastic name for such a clean-up campaign! Thousands of seagulls all over the province diligently collect up anything and everything for food. Unfortunately they can’t eat paper and plastics. I was also brought up to never, ever litter. What has happened? Are people no longer reminded that if they throw garbage out their car window, no one will be there to pick it up? Do we do it mindlessly, not thinking about the repercussions of such a small act? I hope it’s just a really bad habit people have gotten into. Habits can be changed.

It just takes one person at a time to hold back on dropping that bag or cup on nature’s beautiful covering. Take a single bag with you next time you get into your vehicle. That’s it! Don’t touch that window after you’ve finished eating or drinking on the go. Slip what’s left into the bag and leave it in back until you’ve gotten home.

Please, please, let’s be more present and aware in our daily lives. Allow our homeland of Nova Scotia to shine in all its magnificence. Feel proud of our province. Treat it as you would treat your own well-groomed front yard. It will make you feel better about how well you guard what we plan on passing on to our next generation. They deserve to enjoy their own treasure trove called Nova Scotia too. Heather Cunningham Westville