Our Daily Ocean: 218

For the past week, weather here has been bouncing back and forth between warm and cold.  On November 13, a record was set for the first November snowfall in recorded history.  Then just 5 days later on November 18, our area reached 84˚F breaking the previous record high.  But like the weather lately, it was a short lived phenomenon and when I went to the beach on Tuesday morning... it was cold with a whipping wind.

Even though it was cold, I was immediately impressed by the sideways waves and loved watching them smash into the pier pylons. It's fun seeing the variances in the ocean... one day it can be completely calm and the next it can be rough and kind of violent.  I would have loved to sit on the beach and watch the waves and wind interact.  But there was something that I needed to do.... and it started with me walking the tideline...

The tideline was littered with cigarette butts, plastic wrappers, straws, and other various smaller plastics.    No doubt things that were left behind from beachgoers of the previous warmer days.

I often wonder how we can reach those who haven't yet learned ... or those who just haven't (or can't) made the connection that their actions make a difference.  How can we inspire and motivate others to do something beyond sharing a post or thought on social media?  How do we really inspire real motivated and committed change?  If you're up for it... I'd love to hear your thoughts.

20 minutes on November 19, 2013 at Access 16

Litter by weight: 8.9oz
Cigarette butts: 98

Total amount of cigarette butts removed from Wrightsville Beach, NC in 218 days:

56,848