Giving Back

            This coming Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Not only is it a paid day off at my work, it’s a day to commemorate the progress we’ve made as a nation toward creating a more unified country. Martin Luther King, Jr. made such a positive impression on the social direction of the United States that we remember him year after year with his own holiday. In the past I’ve enjoyed the break by taking a day trip out to Lehman Caves or Antelope Island, but the last couple of years I’ve tried to honor the day by giving back to my community. Martin Luther King Jr. Day is the perfect opportunity to do something that makes even the smallest positive difference toward a happier neighborhood.

            When I was little, I remember seeing a television show about the organization Greenpeace. One of the scenes in the show depicted the ocean with a small Greenpeace vessel confronting a big oil tanker. The Greenpeace guys had a big hose spraying the tanker crew. Everybody was mad at everybody. As a seven year old I thought it looked like a fun “job.” I was able to recognize at that age that the people were trying to change the way humans interact with their environment. Now that I’m a few years older, I’m a little more aware of the danger involved in such an organization. Taking on large changes requires a lot of risk. I don’t have to be a Freedom Fighter or an Occupier to facilitate change in the world, though. Picking up litter or shoveling a neighbor’s driveway are ways I’ve found help make a simple difference in my world.

            If you are fortunate enough to have the day off of work, think about an activity that you can do that contributes to the well-being of your community. Because this is an outdoors column, I’ll stick to the suggestions that involve the outdoors - you’ll just have to figure out your own indoor activities. For example, fix the broken wood tables at the city park and give them a new paint job. Or take a trip down the popular running/walking path and make sure it is clear of debris and cut back any encroaching vegetation. Or roam around the foothills and mountains looking for any avalanche danger, then stand guard and warn all passing snowmobilers of the problem. There is a wide-range of things you could do, but pick something that will be enjoyable and/or interesting to you.

            There might already be some activities planned on Martin Luther King Jr. Day in your community, so ask around or check out your community’s website. If not, have fun planning your own project. Even if you only dedicate a half hour to doing something helpful, it will surely be noticed and appreciated. You may not get your own holiday to commemorate your efforts, but then again, only people like Columbus, who discovered a New Land, and Martin Luther King, Jr., who helped create a more united United States, get their own special days.