Discoveries in the Bitter Cold

Monday,  I had the wonderful privilege of running six miles at an astounding 10 degrees below zero.  I headed out for my run at about 5:00 pm and despite being chilled to the bone, I actually enjoyed it.  There's simply nothing quite like it.  The cold seems to have this phenomenal way of heightening your senses.  The wind feels sharper, the air seems crisper, and the stars look a little brighter.  It's like someone  pulls away the veil and suddenly you are aware for the first time.

I had that same feeling earlier in the day on my drive to work.  I was sitting in my car, waiting for the light to turn green, and then suddenly noticed exhaust billowing out from the truck in front of me.  I watched it for a few seconds and then turned away only to see similar results from other cars on the road.  Car after car coughing up toxic fumes all around me.  Thinking I could escape the scene I looked towards the Montpelier skyline only to be greeted by plumes of smoke and steam spewing out of the distant buildings.  As I sat there, contemplating the environmental impacts of the human machine, I couldn't help but think that on a warmer day the issue of air pollution probably wouldn't have even entered my purview.

Sadly to say, that seems to be the case for many environmental issues.  All too often they only seem to exist when they are staring us straight in the face and we have no choice but to stare straight back.  It's partially because a lot of issues are invisible to the naked eye (carbon dioxide, phosphorous, etc.) but also because we have become so numb to them that it's takes something absolutely shocking to get our attention.  As an example, how many times a day do we drive or walk by a stray piece of trash and simply disregard it.  Would our reaction change if it turned into a pile or even mountain?
    
Image from: Day in Pictures January 24, 2011 <http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-12266102>