“If You See It, Pick It Up”
Who Am I, I am just someone who intends on leaving the world better than I found it. I can't tell you I always thought this way. What I can tell you is a story that changed the way I want to live my life.
"If you see it, Pick it up"
It is a phrase that comes from childhood. It doesn’t fully represent what it means literally as an adult. As a kid, it simply meant if you come across a mess on the floor, you should pick it up. If your mother was anything like my mother, I know you know the phrase, as it was very much a part of your childhood, too.
I remember a trip to the grocery store with my mother when “If you see it, Pick it up.” Changed the way I live my life.
It was a Saturday morning in July. We made it an early trip to avoid the Arizona heat that feels as if it turned all seat belt buckles into torture devices. All danger aside, I was excited to have a chance to pick out my favorite snacks. After a short drive and what seemed to be an eternity to find the perfect parking spot, we made our way to the entrance. We were halfway through the parking lot when I heard it first.
I had just stepped over the candy wrapper when my mother said it; “If you see it Pick it up.” Then I said something that I wish I could take back the moment they escaped from my mouth. I had just looked at my mother eye-to-eye and said, “NO, I didn’t leave it there!”
Those who know, already know what she said next in a calm, yet firm tone, “I never said, you did it. I said If you see it, pick it up!”
Feeling like I was just served a dish of unfairness, the look in her eyes told me I should not make her tell me twice!
Just like that my stance against injustice was over just as fast as it started. Still feeling the sting of defeat, I picked it up. To be honest I was still counting my blessings that I would not be walking through the store with rosy cheeks for that little stunt.
On the way to the trash can to deliver the wrapper that was rudely left behind. I made myself promise to never again allow myself to be subjected to an unfairness caused by another person’s careless behavior.
For the next few weeks, I could not get that day of unfairness out of my head. Determined to keep the promise I made. By the time I went on another grocery trip; I had become the self-proclaimed “Litter Monitor”. If you happened to be having a snack in my area, I would watch you like a hawk.
If your trash didn’t make it in the trashcan, I would kindly remind you that you forgot something. Most mess makers would smile in response, some laughed, and others would even admit that they knew better, as they would all pick up their mess delivering it to the trashcan.
At this point I was feeling extremely confident, I even remember thinking that this life stuff isn’t so hard, what’s everyone always complaining about?
Now as I truly believed that I had life all figured out. I even started thinking there was nothing left to learn. As I walked around proudly with a confidence that could not be broken. I didn’t have a clue that I was on a fast track to learning life’s given wisdom.
A Simple Truth That Never Fails to Disappoint.
Whenever you believe you know it all, there will only be one outcome. One way or another you will learn that you thought wrong. Life likes to snap-back like an overstretched rubber band. Learning that lesson is guaranteed to have a sting to it.
That’s exactly, what unfolded as soon as I found myself calling out another mess maker. I was left standing looking down at this wrapper as this mess maker showed me no regard and walked away.
I couldn’t believe that this person told me, “If you don’t like it, you should pick it up”.
As I was staring down at the wrapper trying to understand what went wrong. There was one thing I knew for sure; it was that I was not going to be the one that picks up this mess.
I almost didn’t hear my mother heading towards me with a full cart of groceries. I made habit of running ahead to our car to ensure there would be no mishaps in this game of “who would have to pick it up.
I’m not sure what size rubber band of life just snapped back at me, but it crushed my confidence. By the sound of the shaky wheels getting closer, I had to act fast, or my promise would surely be broken. I needed to stop my mother from crossing paths with that wrapper, or any second, the dreadful words of “if you see it, pick it up” would become my reality, yet again. I decided to run towards her “WAIT” I frantically yelled, “I forgot something in the store, we need to go back!” I cringed as I waited for my mother’s response. Instead, she replied, “Hurry up, I’ll wait by the door”.
I couldn’t believe it worked, sprinting in the store, slowly stopping when quickly realizing I had nothing to find. After pacing back and forth a couple times, I decided I had to face the music and started walking back to face my fate. “Well?” She asked. “I couldn’t find it.” was my only answer. That’s when something amazing happened, she didn’t seem to care. Even better, she didn’t even ask what I had lost.
As we made our way back and began loading the groceries, I was loading the last of the bags into the truck that I heard those word, the words that seem to be taunting me with cruel satisfaction.
“If you see it, pick. It up! My jaw dropped, as all I could think of was How? Did my mother really have eyes on the back of her head!?
Feeling instantly defeated I turned around to pick up the wrapper that I carelessly left behind too. To my surprise it wasn’t my mother who said it, but it was to this day that I still believe to be the evil twin of my mother. She was unleashing the unfairness that is the “if you see it, pick it up, “burden upon another kid.
In that moment I watched my worst nightmare come to life before my eyes, then suddenly the feeling of guilt came over me. I didn’t understand why I left the trash there. although, I could have picked it up, when I saw it first.
This kids' misfortune was by my doing, and I couldn’t escape the shameful feeling. I had realized the dissatisfaction of picking up another's mess could never feel as horrible as I felt watching someone else being subjected to “if you see it, pick it up.”
From that day forward I would pick up every mess I came across, I didn’t even mind doing it. It all seemed worth it to me if it was saving another kid having to hear those words.
As an adult, “if you see it, pick it up”, doesn’t stand for trash left on the floor. As I grew older, I came to understand that a mess left behind can mean many things, the worst form of a mess left behind is when someone decides another person isn’t worth their time and shows the other no respect.
Then continue to use the other person like a resource recklessly leaving the person a mess when they no longer need them.
Whenever I see someone that has been knocked down like this, I always take the time to pick them up.
I also do not have a problem with calling a mess maker in action. It is not right to treat anyone disrespectfully; it should never be tolerated.
Sadly, I even run into similar situations that I faced as a child, with a reckless mess maker responding with carelessness by responding with; “it’s not my problem” or “they probably deserved it!”
All the while I have seen these same mess makers receive their same action right back, only by another reckless mess makers doing.
Without hesitation, if I see another down, I will take the time to pick them up from where they were so recklessly mistreated. It will hardly ever seem the trouble once you see how a simple action can be all that matters.
By simply seeing another down and picking them up from where they were carelessly let down.
I ask you to please take a moment, close your eyes, and picture how beautiful the world could be if everywhere you looked there was no mess in sight!
Please do the world a favor If You See It, Pick It Up!
