Sometimes we do not need extra motivation or someone to push us. We simply need to understand who we are. Once that becomes clear, the way we live naturally follows.
I started the LOTM movement to raise awareness about what I believe is the real issue. It was never just about the system, it is about us.
The responsibility does not fall on one group or authority, but on all of us. How we choose to live and behave matters more than we often realise.
Littering has become a normalised habit. Whether at the comfort of our homes, we often find ourselves throwing paper or waste anywhere, even in our own yards. At the beach, people carelessly discard packaging and waste after eating.
We take from the Earth’s beautiful resources, yet leave waste behind.
Imagine being at the beach. The warm sun hits your skin, you feel relaxed, and you are enjoying a piece of your favourite treat from a local café. As you walk, a plastic packet slips from your hand into the sea. It drifts too quickly and too far to retrieve, so you leave it behind. You continue eating without much thought. Later, you pick up seashells and post them on your Instagram story.
When written down and reflected on, this is our reality. Many of us are guilty of this, whether in small or big ways.
What is even more concerning is that litter does not disappear, it simply moves elsewhere. Wind, rain, and animals spread waste far beyond where it was originally dropped. For example, I often wake up and find plastic bags in my yard at least once or twice a week because of litter being carried from the road by the wind.
Over time, these small actions build up. What seems minor today can develop into serious environmental damage in the future. Even the natural beauty of the world around us slowly loses its value when it is not cared for.
At this point, it is no longer only about awareness or education. We already know enough. The real question is whether we see responsibility as something that belongs to everyone, or something we keep pushing onto others.
It is easier to notice problems than to be part of the solution, but change begins when we start taking accountability for what we do.
This goes beyond picking up litter or caring for the environment, it also reflects how we act in our personal lives and relationships.