We CAN Leave the World Better than We Found it

“Leave it better than the way you found it,” has been spoken to me my entire life. However, today I think of it differently than I did yesterday. I always understood this phrase on a small scale, but when thinking about the trip to Mount Kilimanjaro I realized I am fulfilling this teaching on a much larger scale. Now, instead of it being about me, it is about the WORLD.

As a kid I would go on sleepovers, borrow friends’ toys, be driven around by friends, and so much more. The point here is we are always borrowing or using others’ stuff. I was raised that when I leave a sleepover to roll up my sleeping bag better than when I found it. If I borrowed my friend’s doll that had a smudge, to return it and clean the smudge off for my friend. If I got a ride from a friend to take the trash out of the car when I got where I was going. Again, leaving each place better than when I found it. The ultimate goal here is to be invited back, to be allowed to borrow a toy again, and to continue to be given a ride.

Fast forward to 23, now I can apply “Leave it better than the way you found it” to a mountain and entire city. I love that I will get to travel to such a beautiful place and leave it better than the way I found it. A rare occurrence in all my travels. Typically, as a tourist we go, we see, we eat, and we leave, without truly helping those that live there or the ecosystem around us. On this journey to summit Mount Kili, I will have the privilege to plant trees at the base of the mountain and gather trash on my decent. I will get to leave Africa having enjoyed the views, but also leaving a positive impact for those to follow. In addition, giving others the chance to enjoy this beautiful planet.

Yet, that is not all. Who would I be to only impact an area 8,097 miles away from me? This trip is about more than the mountain, it is also about impacting my local community, Indianapolis. In order to fund the trip to Mount Kilimanjaro, myself and 3 others (aka the Kili Crew) will be running the Cans for Kili campaign. We will be working with businesses, schools, and large venues throughout the city to first bring awareness to the importance of recycling, but also allow the local community to realize no matter how small their donation is, they can help impact the world on a larger scale. One event and day at a time, the Kili Crew will bring Indy into a position that is better than the way we found it.

Anyone could view this trip as a final destination, but I am excited to say that it is the journey that makes it so special. I get to impact more than Mount Kilimanjaro. I get to leave a mark on Indianapolis and hopefully leave an impact on the community about the importance of always “leaving it better than the way you found it.”

Yours Truly,

The Sergeant