Ignoring What We See and Know

Veronika Török


In today’s society, people are so quick to jump to conclusions and judge other people based on things they don’t even have a clue about themselves. Or blame others for things they do as well.

Environmental problems are really close to my heart, so I’ll try to explain with this example, but I think this can be adapted to basically anything you can think of. Where should I even start? I’ve always been curious about our planet, but as I grow older and hopefully smarter, deciding to dig my way down various rabbit holes, reading about stuff nobody talks about (or to be honest, nobody dares to talk about), I see how big the issue is. But still, people do take it for granted, and sometimes I wonder, does anyone even care? Such little things could change everything. Just being a little more conscious would help so much. Yet people rather just ignore what’s right in front of their eyes. The fact that nowadays you are unable to to take more than five steps without seeing litter on the ground. The fact that you are unable to smell clean fresh air if you’re anywhere busier than the countryside, and you don’t even notice. The fact that you are unable to buy anything to eat or drink without plastic waste. It’s clear that it is an issue, but people just choose to look away, because it’s easier. It is, it is easier for now. But will it be this easy in approximately twenty years? To turn things back to normal? 

Did reading this make you feel bad? Did it make you think of all the things you do or don’t do for the planet? Did clips of whether you turned off your sink this morning start playing in your head? But do you remember what I said in the beginning of this little story? I said that we are so quick to judge others for things we’re also guilty of. And that’s exactly what I did. I made you feel bad for something I also don’t do. Or let’s just say I don’t always. I’m not the perfect person, I do forget sometimes to recycle, I do sometimes forget my reusable bag at home, and I do end up buying a plastic one that will just end up in a landfill for a couple thousand years. Am I proud of it? No, of course not. But I’m trying to change for the better, I even try to encourage others to do the same. And in the end we all realize that maybe rather than judging people, let’s just try our best to be the best version of ourselves and follow our own advice, and if possible help others become the best version of themselves as well.