A few days ago, I was going towards a shop when I saw two kids walking ahead of me. They walked casually while eating ice-cream and it felt like they were friends going together somewhere. It seemed like just another ordinary moment, so I didn’t pay much attention.

While I was mentally going over the grocery items I needed to buy, I noticed the kids stopping at a community dustbin. They threw their ice-cream wrappers into it and walked on, just as casually as before.

Right then, a man nearby who was eating something, spit and tossed a wrapper from his hand on the ground — right where he stood — even though the dustbin was just a few steps away. It all happened in a matter of seconds, but somehow, it left a lasting impact on me.

That small act by the kids, something so simple — when no one was watching them, nor did someone instruct them to do it — showed they chose to do the right thing by not throwing wrappers on the ground. On the other hand, the grown man, someone you’d expect to know better, went on to pollute the environment without a second thought. The dustbin was just a few steps away, but maybe for him, those few steps were too much of an effort or perhaps he didn’t even feel the need.

It made me realise that it’s not always about age or education. Sometimes, kids raised with the right values can set better examples than adults who’ve just grown older without growing wiser. Maybe those kids didn’t even realise what they taught me that day. But they did.

We often talk about change like it needs to be something big and dramatic. But I feel it starts from the smallest things like choosing to use a dustbin, turning the running tap or switching the extra lights off, even when no one’s watching. Maybe the world doesn’t need heroes. Maybe it just needs more people who quietly choose to do the right thing, even when it’s easier not to.

Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day reminds us to pause, reflect and act. Most educational institutes celebrate the day in their unique way, the kids make cards and crafts, and are asked to share their thoughts, etc. At the same time, the world buzzes with campaigns to plant trees, clean beaches and reduce carbon footprints. While these efforts are........

© Dawn Young Magazine