we all care about something but where would you go to find the most deliberate
would you go to find the most deliberate
would you go to find the most deliberate display of care would you go to a
display of care would you go to a
display of care would you go to a state-of-the-art health care facility or
state-of-the-art health care facility or
state-of-the-art health care facility or perhaps a beautiful well cared for
perhaps a beautiful well cared for
perhaps a beautiful well cared for garden or maybe a museum for the
garden or maybe a museum for the
garden or maybe a museum for the preservation and care of great works of
preservation and care of great works of
preservation and care of great works of art we all care about something I don’t
art we all care about something I don’t
art we all care about something I don’t think you’d have to look far I think
think you’d have to look far I think
think you’d have to look far I think that we can find extraordinary examples
that we can find extraordinary examples
that we can find extraordinary examples of care right in the back parking lot
of care right in the back parking lot
of care right in the back parking lot yeah next to the garbage inside the
yeah next to the garbage inside the
yeah next to the garbage inside the recycle dumpster yes yes the recycle
recycle dumpster yes yes the recycle
recycle dumpster yes yes the recycle dumpster it’s much more much more than
dumpster it’s much more much more than
dumpster it’s much more much more than the place just to go and throw out your
the place just to go and throw out your
the place just to go and throw out your old cardboard paper or plastic and
old cardboard paper or plastic and
old cardboard paper or plastic and aluminum you’ll see the recycled
aluminum you’ll see the recycled
aluminum you’ll see the recycled dumpster is really a container filled
dumpster is really a container filled
dumpster is really a container filled with wisdom ancient as the dow
with wisdom ancient as the dow
with wisdom ancient as the dow unexpected leadership and acts of
unexpected leadership and acts of
unexpected leadership and acts of extraordinary care because recycling is
extraordinary care because recycling is
extraordinary care because recycling is an act of caring and i really care about
an act of caring and i really care about
an act of caring and i really care about that in addition to my work at City Year
that in addition to my work at City Year
that in addition to my work at City Year an education focused nonprofit fueled by
an education focused nonprofit fueled by
an education focused nonprofit fueled by national service a couple of years ago I
national service a couple of years ago I
national service a couple of years ago I decided I wanted to start a small
decided I wanted to start a small
decided I wanted to start a small business and so I chose recycle
business and so I chose recycle
business and so I chose recycle collecting and with any small business
collecting and with any small business
collecting and with any small business especially when you’re first getting
especially when you’re first getting
especially when you’re first getting started right you have to be really
started right you have to be really
started right you have to be really hands-on and I was okay with that I
hands-on and I was okay with that I
hands-on and I was okay with that I remember one day hmm
remember one day hmm
remember one day hmm I was way out in the country in a
I was way out in the country in a
I was way out in the country in a backwoods lot standing waist-deep in a
backwoods lot standing waist-deep in a
backwoods lot standing waist-deep in a recycle dumpster
recycle dumpster
recycle dumpster now I remember this particular time
now I remember this particular time
now I remember this particular time because it had rained the night before
because it had rained the night before
because it had rained the night before yeah and I’m standing in this recycled
yeah and I’m standing in this recycled
yeah and I’m standing in this recycled dumpster it’s a steaming 100 degrees and
dumpster it’s a steaming 100 degrees and
dumpster it’s a steaming 100 degrees and there’s surrounding me was all this was
there’s surrounding me was all this was
there’s surrounding me was all this was a soggy wet cardboard and spiders frogs
a soggy wet cardboard and spiders frogs
a soggy wet cardboard and spiders frogs and an assortment of other little
and an assortment of other little
and an assortment of other little critters now I was horrified like what
critters now I was horrified like what
critters now I was horrified like what if somebody sees me where’s my dignity
if somebody sees me where’s my dignity
if somebody sees me where’s my dignity where is my pride the fact is that this
where is my pride the fact is that this
where is my pride the fact is that this was you know there was nobody around for
was you know there was nobody around for
was you know there was nobody around for miles but still I remember I looked up
miles but still I remember I looked up
miles but still I remember I looked up into the pine trees and I lamented
into the pine trees and I lamented
into the pine trees and I lamented dramatically Gail Gail Gail why why in
dramatically Gail Gail Gail why why in
dramatically Gail Gail Gail why why in the world are you doing this and then I
the world are you doing this and then I
the world are you doing this and then I heard my own voice answer the question I
heard my own voice answer the question I
heard my own voice answer the question I am doing this because people really care
am doing this because people really care
am doing this because people really care and that is the moment that everything
and that is the moment that everything
and that is the moment that everything shifted you see what I discovered as a
shifted you see what I discovered as a
shifted you see what I discovered as a recycle collector is that something kind
recycle collector is that something kind
recycle collector is that something kind of mysterious happens in the workplace
of mysterious happens in the workplace
of mysterious happens in the workplace environment if you have a person who is
environment if you have a person who is
environment if you have a person who is really passionate about recycling the
really passionate about recycling the
really passionate about recycling the folks that would contact us they weren’t
folks that would contact us they weren’t
folks that would contact us they weren’t the senior leaders of the business okay
the senior leaders of the business okay
the senior leaders of the business okay but they also surprisingly weren’t the
but they also surprisingly weren’t the
but they also surprisingly weren’t the folks from facilities ground or
folks from facilities ground or
folks from facilities ground or maintenance from what I could tell there
maintenance from what I could tell there
maintenance from what I could tell there was no work-related reason that some of
was no work-related reason that some of
was no work-related reason that some of these individuals should be contacting
these individuals should be contacting
these individuals should be contacting us at all I mean I can assure you that
us at all I mean I can assure you that
us at all I mean I can assure you that the phrase Go Green was not in their job
the phrase Go Green was not in their job
the phrase Go Green was not in their job duty or responsibility but yet and still
duty or responsibility but yet and still
duty or responsibility but yet and still they’re the ones calling around asking
they’re the ones calling around asking
they’re the ones calling around asking for information even requesting a quote
for information even requesting a quote
for information even requesting a quote now that got my attention I started to
now that got my attention I started to
now that got my attention I started to ask them about this I would ask them all
ask them about this I would ask them all
ask them about this I would ask them all and they all said exact
and they all said exact
and they all said exact we the same thing I believe recycling is
we the same thing I believe recycling is
we the same thing I believe recycling is really important and I think we should
really important and I think we should
really important and I think we should definitely be recycling here so there
definitely be recycling here so there
definitely be recycling here so there you have it they really cared so they
you have it they really cared so they
you have it they really cared so they were compelled to take action and the
were compelled to take action and the
were compelled to take action and the next thing you know they would just lead
next thing you know they would just lead
next thing you know they would just lead the charge I mean it was fascinating
the charge I mean it was fascinating
the charge I mean it was fascinating when you think about what these
when you think about what these
when you think about what these individuals were able to accomplish
individuals were able to accomplish
individuals were able to accomplish their willingness to sort of take this
their willingness to sort of take this
their willingness to sort of take this cause and then they would push it
cause and then they would push it
cause and then they would push it through this maze of indifference and
through this maze of indifference and
through this maze of indifference and resistance and they would champion it
resistance and they would champion it
resistance and they would champion it all the way up to the top they did not
all the way up to the top they did not
all the way up to the top they did not ask for permission to lead they were not
ask for permission to lead they were not
ask for permission to lead they were not elected nor appointed they felt
elected nor appointed they felt
elected nor appointed they felt authorized to take action simply because
authorized to take action simply because
authorized to take action simply because they cared and because they cared so
they cared and because they cared so
they cared and because they cared so deeply they were able to powerfully lead
deeply they were able to powerfully lead
deeply they were able to powerfully lead and their leadership inspired others
and their leadership inspired others
and their leadership inspired others along the way I mean it certainly
along the way I mean it certainly
along the way I mean it certainly inspired me so now I’m starting to think
inspired me so now I’m starting to think
inspired me so now I’m starting to think is this really just about recycling I
is this really just about recycling I
is this really just about recycling I mean is there something else going on
mean is there something else going on
mean is there something else going on here so I started to take a closer look
here so I started to take a closer look
here so I started to take a closer look and this is what I saw if the workplace
and this is what I saw if the workplace
and this is what I saw if the workplace environment had no recycle program in
environment had no recycle program in
environment had no recycle program in place these were often the same
place these were often the same
place these were often the same individuals that would just take the
individuals that would just take the
individuals that would just take the initiative step up to the plate and do
initiative step up to the plate and do
initiative step up to the plate and do the recycling themselves and they would
the recycling themselves and they would
the recycling themselves and they would take this action even when it wasn’t
take this action even when it wasn’t
take this action even when it wasn’t required there was no financial reward
required there was no financial reward
required there was no financial reward or incentive to do so and for the most
or incentive to do so and for the most
or incentive to do so and for the most part their actions were not even
part their actions were not even
part their actions were not even acknowledged but none of that mattered
acknowledged but none of that mattered
acknowledged but none of that mattered they would take the action anyway even
they would take the action anyway even
they would take the action anyway even though they could not tell you which
though they could not tell you which
though they could not tell you which tree they had helped to save or where
tree they had helped to save or where
tree they had helped to save or where this aluminum
this aluminum
this aluminum can would end up five years from now
can would end up five years from now
can would end up five years from now they took the action because they cared
they took the action because they cared
they took the action because they cared and they believed that this action was
and they believed that this action was
and they believed that this action was going to have a great impact on the
going to have a great impact on the
going to have a great impact on the world and so they would faithfully take
world and so they would faithfully take
world and so they would faithfully take this action day after day after day
this action day after day after day
this action day after day after day now I understand almost everybody agrees
now I understand almost everybody agrees
now I understand almost everybody agrees right that recycling is good for the
right that recycling is good for the
right that recycling is good for the environment yes but not everybody does
environment yes but not everybody does
environment yes but not everybody does it and certainly not everybody cares
it and certainly not everybody cares
it and certainly not everybody cares deeply about it so what makes us care
deeply about it so what makes us care
deeply about it so what makes us care deeply about anything at all why do we
deeply about anything at all why do we
deeply about anything at all why do we donate our money to support our favorite
donate our money to support our favorite
donate our money to support our favorite charities why do we volunteer why do we
charities why do we volunteer why do we
charities why do we volunteer why do we do service why do we tutor and mentor
do service why do we tutor and mentor
do service why do we tutor and mentor that struggling student and what does
that struggling student and what does
that struggling student and what does any of that have to do with recycling I
any of that have to do with recycling I
any of that have to do with recycling I just felt that there was some sort of a
just felt that there was some sort of a
just felt that there was some sort of a connection I just couldn’t find that
connection I just couldn’t find that
connection I just couldn’t find that missing link and then one day I found it
missing link and then one day I found it
missing link and then one day I found it written on the pages of that ancient
written on the pages of that ancient
written on the pages of that ancient Chinese philosophy the Dow ditching the
Chinese philosophy the Dow ditching the
Chinese philosophy the Dow ditching the Dow dear Ching written in what the sixth
Dow dear Ching written in what the sixth
Dow dear Ching written in what the sixth century BC the Dow dear Ching is still
century BC the Dow dear Ching is still
century BC the Dow dear Ching is still one of the most translated works of
one of the most translated works of
one of the most translated works of literature in the world and there it was
literature in the world and there it was
literature in the world and there it was three little sentences and I was
three little sentences and I was
three little sentences and I was perfectly clear the Dow is an empty
perfectly clear the Dow is an empty
perfectly clear the Dow is an empty vessel it is used but never filled oh
vessel it is used but never filled oh
vessel it is used but never filled oh the unfathomable ten thousand things the
the unfathomable ten thousand things the
the unfathomable ten thousand things the Dow is an empty vessel okay so if it’s
Dow is an empty vessel okay so if it’s
Dow is an empty vessel okay so if it’s empty that means there’s nothing there
empty that means there’s nothing there
empty that means there’s nothing there and it is completely and totally reduced
and it is completely and totally reduced
and it is completely and totally reduced it is you
it is you
it is you but never filled but so if it’s never
but never filled but so if it’s never
but never filled but so if it’s never filled they can certainly be reused oh
filled they can certainly be reused oh
filled they can certainly be reused oh the unfathomable source of ten thousand
the unfathomable source of ten thousand
the unfathomable source of ten thousand things yeah that’s a very good
things yeah that’s a very good
things yeah that’s a very good definition for what it means to recycle
definition for what it means to recycle
definition for what it means to recycle I could almost see those green chasing
I could almost see those green chasing
I could almost see those green chasing arrows of the recycle emblem sort of
arrows of the recycle emblem sort of
arrows of the recycle emblem sort of hovering above the page this is reduce
hovering above the page this is reduce
hovering above the page this is reduce reuse recycle and this is us when you
reuse recycle and this is us when you
reuse recycle and this is us when you strip away indifference when you cut
strip away indifference when you cut
strip away indifference when you cut through our complacency when we get rid
through our complacency when we get rid
through our complacency when we get rid of all of this garbage that is weighing
of all of this garbage that is weighing
of all of this garbage that is weighing us down then we are reduced to our
us down then we are reduced to our
us down then we are reduced to our highest calling and that is our care and
highest calling and that is our care and
highest calling and that is our care and our care is just like the vessel of the
our care is just like the vessel of the
our care is just like the vessel of the Dow it is there it is always available
Dow it is there it is always available
Dow it is there it is always available to us when we lead when we take action
to us when we lead when we take action
to us when we lead when we take action from that place that’s when we can
from that place that’s when we can
from that place that’s when we can create things we never dreamed or
create things we never dreamed or
create things we never dreamed or possible so that’s my theory I call it
possible so that’s my theory I call it
possible so that’s my theory I call it the Dow of reduce reuse recycle
the Dow of reduce reuse recycle
the Dow of reduce reuse recycle is this about recycling yes yes it is
is this about recycling yes yes it is
is this about recycling yes yes it is but it’s also about leadership and
but it’s also about leadership and
but it’s also about leadership and possibilities and people people who
possibilities and people people who
possibilities and people people who really care people like Sally Sally
really care people like Sally Sally
really care people like Sally Sally worked at the same insurance company for
worked at the same insurance company for
worked at the same insurance company for over 20 years and every day she’s the
over 20 years and every day she’s the
over 20 years and every day she’s the person that would go in and make sure
person that would go in and make sure
person that would go in and make sure that the office ran efficiently and then
that the office ran efficiently and then
that the office ran efficiently and then everybody else had what they needed to
everybody else had what they needed to
everybody else had what they needed to do their jobs but every night Sally is
do their jobs but every night Sally is
do their jobs but every night Sally is that person that would go around to all
that person that would go around to all
that person that would go around to all the offices collect the cans and the
the offices collect the cans and the
the offices collect the cans and the bottles put them in her car and take
bottles put them in her car and take
bottles put them in her car and take them home to recycle them and my friend
them home to recycle them and my friend
them home to recycle them and my friend Patrick Patrick is a retired lieutenant
Patrick Patrick is a retired lieutenant
Patrick Patrick is a retired lieutenant colonel who spends all his time
colonel who spends all his time
colonel who spends all his time volunteering at his church now Patrick
volunteering at his church now Patrick
volunteering at his church now Patrick created one of the most strategic
created one of the most strategic
created one of the most strategic faith-based recycle programs I had ever
faith-based recycle programs I had ever
faith-based recycle programs I had ever seen and he enlisted like-minded
seen and he enlisted like-minded
seen and he enlisted like-minded volunteers from the congregation and
volunteers from the congregation and
volunteers from the congregation and they got together and created this sort
they got together and created this sort
they got together and created this sort of zero waste policy because to them
of zero waste policy because to them
of zero waste policy because to them recycling is stewardship and stewardship
recycling is stewardship and stewardship
recycling is stewardship and stewardship of the earth is their ministry I met
of the earth is their ministry I met
of the earth is their ministry I met bill and Helen at a college and Cheryl
bill and Helen at a college and Cheryl
bill and Helen at a college and Cheryl at a little elementary school but these
at a little elementary school but these
at a little elementary school but these educators felt that this is not a
educators felt that this is not a
educators felt that this is not a subject that’s just left to the
subject that’s just left to the
subject that’s just left to the classroom it is a core value but how can
classroom it is a core value but how can
classroom it is a core value but how can our schools our institutions of higher
our schools our institutions of higher
our schools our institutions of higher learning expect our children our future
learning expect our children our future
learning expect our children our future leaders to learn these values when they
leaders to learn these values when they
leaders to learn these values when they fail to recycle themselves so Sally and
fail to recycle themselves so Sally and
fail to recycle themselves so Sally and Patrick and Bill and Helen and Cheryl
Patrick and Bill and Helen and Cheryl
Patrick and Bill and Helen and Cheryl they didn’t just care about recycling
they didn’t just care about recycling
they didn’t just care about recycling they felt personally responsible they
they felt personally responsible they
they felt personally responsible they could no more turn their backs and walk
could no more turn their backs and walk
could no more turn their backs and walk away from this issue then you or I could
away from this issue then you or I could
away from this issue then you or I could turn our backs from a friend in need
turn our backs from a friend in need
turn our backs from a friend in need when I met them when I began to
when I met them when I began to
when I met them when I began to understand everything they had to go
understand everything they had to go
understand everything they had to go through to make this happen then I
through to make this happen then I
through to make this happen then I became an extension of their care and I
became an extension of their care and I
became an extension of their care and I felt responsible to honor it so you see
felt responsible to honor it so you see
felt responsible to honor it so you see it was their caring that kept me in that
it was their caring that kept me in that
it was their caring that kept me in that recycled dumpster this is the dowel of
recycled dumpster this is the dowel of
recycled dumpster this is the dowel of reduce reuse recycle this is what it
reduce reuse recycle this is what it
reduce reuse recycle this is what it looks like to be your caring and take
looks like to be your caring and take
looks like to be your caring and take action for good and recycling is that
action for good and recycling is that
action for good and recycling is that the perfect analogy because it
the perfect analogy because it
the perfect analogy because it demonstrate this type of caring that
demonstrate this type of caring that
demonstrate this type of caring that inspires you to keep taking action over
inspires you to keep taking action over
inspires you to keep taking action over and over again but recycling is only
and over again but recycling is only
and over again but recycling is only half of this story here’s what I mean
half of this story here’s what I mean
half of this story here’s what I mean let’s just fast forward and say that the
let’s just fast forward and say that the
let’s just fast forward and say that the recycle movement wins
recycle movement wins
recycle movement wins yay and we have this glorious planet
yay and we have this glorious planet
yay and we have this glorious planet that we’re gonna pass on to our future
that we’re gonna pass on to our future
that we’re gonna pass on to our future generations but what if at the same time
generations but what if at the same time
generations but what if at the same time what we are handing to our future
what we are handing to our future
what we are handing to our future generations is a world where caring is
generations is a world where caring is
generations is a world where caring is at risk because we have squandered and
at risk because we have squandered and
at risk because we have squandered and wasted opportunities to take action for
wasted opportunities to take action for
wasted opportunities to take action for good
impossible did you ever think we’d be
impossible did you ever think we’d be living at a time when 46% of our
living at a time when 46% of our
living at a time when 46% of our beautiful rivers and lakes would be too
beautiful rivers and lakes would be too
beautiful rivers and lakes would be too polluted to swim or fish or that every
polluted to swim or fish or that every
polluted to swim or fish or that every second an acre and a half of forest land
second an acre and a half of forest land
second an acre and a half of forest land is eliminated chopped down and destroyed
is eliminated chopped down and destroyed
is eliminated chopped down and destroyed if the way that we treat each other is
if the way that we treat each other is
if the way that we treat each other is but a mirror reflection of the way we
but a mirror reflection of the way we
but a mirror reflection of the way we treat the earth are we at risk of
treat the earth are we at risk of
treat the earth are we at risk of becoming a care less Society but the
becoming a care less Society but the
becoming a care less Society but the story doesn’t have to end here because
story doesn’t have to end here because
story doesn’t have to end here because we all care about something so what’s
we all care about something so what’s
we all care about something so what’s next how about this we use the recycled
next how about this we use the recycled
next how about this we use the recycled dumpster as a powerful affirmation yes
dumpster as a powerful affirmation yes
dumpster as a powerful affirmation yes the same recycled dumpster that you and
the same recycled dumpster that you and
the same recycled dumpster that you and I see every day that recycled dumpster
I see every day that recycled dumpster
I see every day that recycled dumpster reminds me that my caring creates the
reminds me that my caring creates the
reminds me that my caring creates the world in which I want to live so how
world in which I want to live so how
world in which I want to live so how about you what do you care about because
about you what do you care about because
about you what do you care about because that’s your aluminum and like aluminum
that’s your aluminum and like aluminum
that’s your aluminum and like aluminum the possibilities are endless I want to
the possibilities are endless I want to
the possibilities are endless I want to thank you for recycling and I appreciate
thank you for recycling and I appreciate
thank you for recycling and I appreciate you care
you care
you care you
”
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