i walk down a particular sidewalk at least once a day and couldn't help but notice that the grass alongside it was always littered with dog droppings. it looked like a very popular doggy toilet. i was tired of feeling cross about it so, back in december when i was thinking of goals for the year, i decided to adopt the sidewalk for the year. i started bringing an extra bag with me on each walk and would pick up as much as the bag would hold.

for the first few months, i must confess that i did not do the work with a happy heart. in fact, truth necessitates that i admit i spent most of the time thinking unpleasant thoughts about the people who left the messes, with the hope that they would see me picking up after them and feel guilty.

every day, i picked up a bag's worth (or more) but by the next day, it would either look like i hadn't done a thing or it would have gotten worse. it was driving me mad with frustration and annoyance that i was putting in this time and things were getting worse, not better.

around earth day, it occurred to me that with all the negative energy i was emitting, i was probably better off not picking anything up at all. it felt like the energy i was giving off was worse than what i was cleaning up, and it definitely didn't feel like i was doing something nice for the planet.

then, it occurred to me that i could actually be grateful for the opportunity. i feel so lucky to live in such a beautiful world and there are so few ways that i can show my love and appreciation. here was something useful and tangible that i could do to express my thanks.

somehow, that realization changed things. i stopped disliking the people who didn't clean up after their dogs and cleaning up after them became like cleaning up after atlas – something i do because it's part of taking care of this thing that i love so much and so i can appreciate it as such.

and then the interesting thing happened. the grass slowly became clean. i'd go to pick up a bag's worth and the place i cleaned the day before would still be clean. i'd go back the next day and both sections would be clean. slowly, i made it through the entire length of the sidewalk. i'd miss a few days and it would stay pretty clean. now, i can miss weeks and it still stays pretty clean.

i am just so fascinated by how the grass only became cleaner after my thoughts became cleaner. it is so very interesting to me.