When I moved to St Paul I decided to begin walking to work instead of driving. I find the 0.7 mile walk each morning energizes me before work and my 0.7 walk home in the afternoon erases some of the stress of my workday.

I grew up in the 1970s and recall public service campaigns from that decade. They made me think twice about ever littering. Both have influenced me to this day. Not long after I began my walking routine, my childhood memories of the “Give a Hoot, Don’t Pollute! and “Crying Indian” campaigns began to haunt me as I walked past litter.

I began to pick up litter along the way to work.  Coincidentally, there is a college across the street from my home so there is an abundance of litter daily ... picking up that litter requires a lot of squatting. Soon it became apparent I needed gear for this routine and I bought gloves and garbage bags to aid me. Now, every weekday as I am about to leave for work, I put on a pair of latex gloves and a bag and begin my walk.

I casually mentioned this daily routine to my doctor. Effective doctor that he is, he encouraged me by saying that squatting to pick up litter was great for my glutes (as long as I bend at the knees and not at my back). So that did it for me ... my routine is now permanent. Not only am I getting the health benefits of the brisk walk to and from work, I am also keeping my booty in shape and cleaning up the landscape along the way.  

Written by: Robert W.