A Therapeutic Moment: Pick it up | Lifestyle
Upon arriving in Guam, like other newcomers, I was struck by the abundance of trash spread across beaches, parks, forests, and around homes and businesses. I found myself wondering, “Who does this? How can anyone feel comfortable leaving so much trash behind?”
“Don’t worry,” a friend consoled me, “eventually you’ll wear your island glasses and you won’t see them anymore.”
In fact, after a while, I stopped noticing it. When the trash was in my sights, I would simply look beyond it and focus on the more beautiful aspects like the ocean, the sunset, or the lush green forest. Maybe you do the same.
Humans are interesting creatures. We naturally tend to pick up on social cues, follow each other, and read the environment. When we see trash on the beach, our minds perceive it as, “This is an acceptable place for me to leave trash.”
These instinctive behaviors are common to everyone, which explains why people of all cultures and social classes throw away, and why we find Infusion coffee cups, as well as cans of Mr. Brown, in the garden.
The problem of leaving a little trash behind is an additional problem. Wilson and Kelling’s broken window theory suggests that one broken window, in any neighborhood, can lead to a fair amount of vandalism. It’s as if one person’s negligence sends a signal to everyone else: “This is how we treat this space,” and others follow suit.
Even a single piece of trash somewhere can encourage 10% of visitors to litter. Worse still, when more litter is found, 40% of us will add more to the litter. That’s a lot of garbage!
If you give in to the trend of leaving your cup behind, you are not only adding to the growing pile of trash, but you are also adding environmental cues to encourage others to do so.
On the other hand, our collective efforts to maintain cleanliness in shared spaces can have a positive impact. Picking up a wrapper from the ground on your way to your car may seem like a no-brainer, but it can be a powerful gesture.
With repeated efforts from you and others, the environment begins to reflect a sense of care and respect. Over time, it conveys the message “I am sacred and I am taken care of, we don’t litter or vandalize here.”
Consider taking ownership of a space, whether it’s your yard, the side of a road, or a section of the park. Improve it by trimming bushes, pulling weeds and removing trash. This sense of community ownership will be evident, and others will likely follow suit.
These well-kept spaces can provide comfort to anyone who uses them, providing a place to clear their mind, connect with nature and enjoy better well-being.
Stephanie Patterson, MS, LMFT, is a mental health therapist on Guam. She sees clients in private practice and offers weekly tips for improving emotional resilience through her YouTube channel “Therapeutic Moment.” Her website is slofamilycounseling.com. You can access it at stephaniepattersonmft@gmail.com.
