A good portion of Sunday last weekend was invested in roadside clean up – the Adopt a Highway Program is active in Montana, where I live, and I’ve long wanted to participate in the effort.
Citizens getting involved, to support the work of part of our social fabric (road systems) as we know it boosts and bolsters connection in several ways.
- We literally get hands on experience to what the professionals who work on our highways and freeways already know well.
- We see first person what other humans (maybe even us!) toss, don’t secure in open loads, decide it’s okay to let fly, and whatever else the behaviors are that facilitate items and stuff arriving in the shoulders of the roads.
- When we recruit and invite people to join in the effort, we build human connection around an aligned purpose.
- With boots on the ground, we get a fresh and usually new perspective of what these side-ways look and feel like.
All of this then gives me pause: why would we institute such a program when we have hired people to help take care of the roadways? Why are we “picking up” stuff that shouldn’t have gotten there in the first place? And what if everyone was required to help in the effort?
With the hours ahead of me, the sun shining, low breeze, gloves and boots and my heavy duty hunting pats on, I had ample time to think.
I signed up, adopted 2 roadways actually, last February, with inspiration in my eyes and heart.
Sunday brought up those feelings again along with fresh feelings of “Oh my goodness, 2 miles (each side) is a LOT!” I felt like my dogs and how they can cover about 4 times as much ground as I do when we’re out and about, checking out the nooks and crannies, smells and sights of the world.
I felt both encouraged and saddened by those who are care-full and those who are care-less. Seems a commentary on how we first feel self-connection, then how we feel (or don’t ) connected with our neighborhoods and geographies in which we live.
The feelings of wanting to Make A Difference drive me in this effort. I’ll absolutely continue. We’ve got 1 mile of state highway, which is effectively 2 miles – 1 miles per side of road, plus 2 miles of Interstate – 4 miles with each side, no medians though.
I may release one of the Interstate miles because the hours needed are much more robust than I had imagined. My *ahem* confidence was goading my own “Sure!” sign-up volunteer for 3 full miles, along with my naivete in the doing. While I’m not sorry, it’s also an instance of acknowledging that I want to do this well and 6 miles, twice a year, is a lot for one person. Yes, My Fine Husband helped me the first time – it still took us a full 5 hours (4 together, 1 more solo) to accomplish the single state highway mile.
The personal lessons I want to share today are these:
- Be ambitious – take a big bite with something you wish to get into.
- Get into it.
- Notice, acknowledge, reflect.
- If adjustments need be made, then do so.
- Commitments can be altered when done well and honestly.
- Stretch in all ways to grow and be more connected with self and the world.
Self-connection happens wherever we are, whatever we’re doing, being whoever we’re being. It’s up to us to dig into life and to participate. That’s how we learn about ourselves and the world around us. Sign up for life, my friends. The signs are everywhere.
Do tell: How have you signed up before? What was the plan and purpose? I’d love to learn what you do to support your own self-connection where you live.