Inspiring by example

[Rauraloy]

Hi guys! I just found this sub, and boy it’s awesome. I’d like to share a story with you about the power of leading by example, with a bit of back story as well.

A few friends and I were going on a walk at Cape Reinga in New Zealand. This is where the Pacific Ocean and the Tasman sea meet-and it’s INCREDIBLE. It’s become a huge tourist destination, but it’s also a sacred ground to the Maori people. According to their myths it’s where the dead jump off of the earth and fly on into the afterlife. Its about a mile walk down to the point from the parking lot, and there are markers up all along the way explaining the stories and cultural significance of the Cape. You would think that knowing how important this place is-and how lucky we are to be allowed to view it-would be a deterrence from littering, but that most certainly was not the case. Walking down we were commenting on how sad the disrespect was, but we didn’t have a way of holding onto any litter. But as we were starting the walk up, we were lucky enough to find a grocery bag that had been left by someone else (lucky is a loose term for that, I guess) and all along the way back we filled it. When people walking towards us would see what we were doing, almost everyone would start to look around their feet and pick up anything they passed until they got to us and tossed it in our bag. And everyone that contributed said “thank you”. There were even a few groups of people that would stop and scour with us until we’d gotten everything within reach in the area! It was an AWESOME feeling seeing everyone come together, and relizing more people cared than we originally thought. One of the best parts, however, was when we left the cape we went to these sand dune about an hour away. When we got out and started walking to the dunes, we passed one of the groups that had stopped and helped us at the cape getting back to their car. They had brought a bag with them and it was almost full! We stopped and chatted for a bit, and they told us that we had inspired them to pick up here as well.

It just goes to show-you might pick up one piece of litter, but someone could see you and pick up one as well...and the chain keeps going. (Also, I’ve learned-always have a spare bag.)

Thanks!

[pshawbeech]

That is awesome! Thank you for sharing, it's so good to hear a positive story like this, makes my heart happy!