TheSortingHouse, Author at The Sorting House

One Piece of Rubbish – a poem

Cigarette butts are one of the leading causes of ocean (and planet) pollution – they are made from plastic fibres that do not decompose but rather draw further pollutants to it over time. They are easily mistaken for food by animals who have been found with heaps of our synthetic materials in their stomachs on autopsy and if that wasn’t bad enough, they look hideous littered everywhere, they won’t ever disappear and just one butt can pollute 500 litres of our clean water.

Every time I go out, I pick up at least #1pieceofrubbish , sometimes more, but never less. It feels quite good, I confess.

I don’t even have to go out of my way, because there is rubbish there every day. Whenever, all the time. Wherever I go, I find.

Today, wherever you are; whether you’re going from house to car, bus to work, or work to bar – whoever you are, just pick one piece of rubbish up this time and humanity might end up being just fine.

Without actually even going out of your way, it’s possible to claim this rubbish today, make it your piece to dispose of in a much better, a much nicer way.

Small Actions Build Big

Everything I do, I do for you.

Water, source of life on Earth.
Provider of incredible abundance and bearer of devastating decimation.

I am forever in awe of what water has allowed us to accomplish, and completely terrified of what we are allowing ourselves to do to it. Knowing that our brothers and sisters in some parts of our world are more likely to see this post on their smartphone than be granted easy access to clean water is harrowing.

Our Duty

Isn’t it weird that we know more about the surface of Mars than we do about our planet’s oceans?

The secrets are many, and our foolishness just as vast. For we are likely to destroy many of these underwater treasures without even having an inkling of their existence, secrets that could have held the key to so many enigmas and solved so many of our manmade problems.

What If We Learned More?

She wears many hats, but she doesn’t have to.

We all fill roles in life, and we have become adept at playing the parts given to us without much resistance or wonder.

We have become resigned to our roles without question, almost content in giving away our power. Complacent, unwilling and uninformed because that’s just the way it is, right?

You Will Never Walk Alone

Even if it appears that you are standing alone right now. Even if it feels like you are drifting from everything you once knew. Even if nobody has walked your path before, you are never truly alone, ever.

This is for anyone who is making changes and building their mindset consciously, whatever that might look like. Those who are developing their ideas, questioning everything they know and don’t. For the people who are choosing to evolve ethically, sustainably, kindly but still can’t do right by their entourage.

For those who are brave enough to feel awake in the darkness around them, and set out alone. For those who are bold in the face of discrimination, oppression, injustice and lies. For those wise enough to teach themselves, and wild enough to want change. For those strong enough to face the shadows and come out brighter.

I see you and I love you.
We got this.
💙

Quiet, Look Inside

When you quiet the mind, you look inside.
When you look inside, you quiet the mind.
Natacha Neveu @thesortinghouse

🌸 Artist @linolago

Like a Wave From the Ocean

“You didn’t come into this world. You came out of it, like a wave from the ocean. You are not a stranger here”
Alan Watts

You are no stranger on this planet.

Look after yourself and your home, our lives depend on it.

Nobody has it all figured out. Yet. Let that not be a reason to stop you.

Everything changes all the time. You can too. How exciting!

Why not try it? Won’t you come and join us too?

If you are reading this, know that

Vital Link

As functioning humans in society, many of us have lost our vital link to nature. We have forgotten the pivotal role that nature plays in our growth and wellbeing.

We have reduced nature to nothing more than annoying weather and pesky wildlife. Reduced it to something that stands in our way of a self-proclaimed good time or dirty profit. In doing so, we are robbing nature of its majestic, pure, effortless beauty, and we are sabotaging our rightful place here, as well as that of our children.

1818 Above Sea Level

_{Updated 17 August 2022 – Original Post 21 December 2019}

At 1818 meters above sea level on a stunning mountain top where people come to watch the sunrise creeping out above the clouds, cigarette butts in insane amounts are left polluting this breathtaking site. This means that the ground and rainwater which then runs down the valleys, to our gardens, to crops, to nature, the sea, rivers, lakes and into our drinking water is also polluted by this careless action.

I went to admire the sunrise on this early morning and admire it I did. It was magical to see the burning light of the sun emerge above the clouds, to witness the incredible power of golden energy piercing the darkness and humidity of the early morning as the night crept away into day. Yet there was definitely a saddening shadow cast on the moment, total disappointment ushering away the natural love and awe, for it was impossible to ignore the sheer thoughtlessness of my fellows.

Trashgram

_{Updated 15 July 2022 – Original post 18 December 2019}

Behind all the glossy, curated, fancy images we see on social media, there is often a deeper story. For every beautiful vista, the reality is that there are bag-loads of loose garbage scattered around just out of shot.

Anywhere and everywhere in the world, in even the cleanest of places, if nothing else, I bet that there is at least one sweet wrapper or at least one cigarette butt to be found on the ground, somewhere around.