A Dangerous Habit We All Need to Quit

One fine morning, I woke up early, filled with excitement. My friends and I had planned a trip to a nearby waterfall, a place we visit every year. It’s a beautiful spot near my village, surrounded by lush greenery and fresh air. We all gathered at a common meeting point, geared up, and started our journey on our bikes, heading towards the mountains.

As we rode through the scenic route, nature welcomed us with its melody, the chirping of birds, the distant call of a rooster, the rustling of leaves, and the occasional sound of cows and goats. Who needs earphones when nature plays such beautiful music?

Before starting the trek, we decided to stop by a shop to buy some snacks and drinks for the journey. My mom had reminded me to buy buttermilk packets and carry water bottles, so we grabbed a dozen packets and resumed our ride.

A Refreshing Break at the Falls

When we reached the mountain base, we parked our bikes and started trekking. The path was narrow, lined with uneven stones and deep-rooted trees.

With every step, the view became more breathtaking. After about 25 minutes of walking, we finally reached the falls, a mesmerizing sight of crystal-clear water gushing down, surrounded by lush green hills.

We spent some time enjoying the falls, soaking in the cool water, laughing, and creating memories. After a while, hunger kicked in, and we decided to head back. On our way down, we stopped at a big rock, sat down, and drank the buttermilk to regain our energy. After drinking the buttermilk, we kept all the packets in our bags because we didn’t want to litter and harm the environment’s health.

Feeling refreshed, we continued our ride back home. While passing the same shop, we decided to buy more buttermilk. After finishing our drinks, we looked for a dustbin to dispose of the empty plastic packets, but there wasn’t one. This shocked me.

A Small Action That Sparked Awareness

I asked the shop owner, “Brother, where is the dustbin?”

He casually replied, “No dustbin, just throw it outside.”

I was taken aback. Here was a shop selling ice creams, curd, buttermilk, and chocolates, all in plastic packaging, yet there was no dustbin! The area in front of his shop was littered with discarded plastic covers, creating a mess.

I couldn’t accept this. I never throw waste outside a bin, no matter where I am. Then, I noticed an empty milk container lying nearby. It was usually used to transport milk and curd packets. Without a second thought, I picked it up, placed it in front of the shop, and put my empty plastic packets inside. I asked my friends to do the same, and they did.

The shop owner stood there, watching us. He was silent but visibly annoyed. Soon, a couple of customers arrived, bought ice creams, and instinctively searched for a dustbin. I pointed at the container and said, “Here’s the dustbin, use it.” They nodded and disposed of their wrappers properly.

That small action felt great. We had unknowingly set an example. A simple act of placing a dustbin had created awareness among others. Hopefully, the shop owner realized the importance of keeping his surroundings clean and would soon provide a proper bin for his customers.

A Gentle Request with a Meaningful Message

We wouldn’t sit or eat near garbage,

then why should we contribute to making places dirty? Keeping our surroundings clean is not just the responsibility of the government or authorities, it starts with us. If each of us makes a small effort, together we can make a huge difference.

Let’s build a habit of disposing of waste in dustbins and encourage our family and friends to do the same. A clean environment benefits everyone, so let’s take responsibility and create a better place for ourselves and future generations.

This is a real incident I experienced, and it reflects a problem happening all over the country.

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If this story made you think, or if you have a similar experience or thoughts to share, drop a comment, I would love to hear from you!

Thank you for reading.

With 💚,

Hari Ramanathan

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This post was previously published on medium.com.

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