What would it mean to always leave a place
in better condition than you found it?

The documentary No Impact Man follows Colin Beavan and his family through their year-long experiment living a zero-waste lifestyle in New York City. One thing the film touched upon – that has also been coming up in conversations I've been having with friends recently – is the idea of focusing on making a positive impact on the planet. 

When all of our focus is on not polluting or not wasting, it is easy to lose track of the ways we can make things better. A friend who does a lot of hiking put it simply:
 

"Instead of just picking up garbage in the woods, I could plant trees!"

The next time you are about to leave a communal space ask yourself: What could I do right now to leave this place in better condition than it was when I arrived?

And then, try to take the time to do it.

PS – If you are interested in watching No Impact Man, check to see if your local library has a copy. If they don't, you can suggest that they purchase it. That's how I got my hands on a copy!