Day 350 - Oct. 27, 2012

lifeguard tower 26 – Ocean Park, Santa Monica CA

trash collected for 20 min.

1 pound collected

1,294.1 pounds total 

6 cigarette butts

I spent all day yesterday in a non-fiction book proposal-writing workshop at UCLA. As I approach my initial goal of 365 beach cleanups, my idea and the direction of The Daily Ocean seems to expand every moment. One question that our teacher asked us was, “Why am I the person to write this book?” If the book is about the beach cleanup project I’ve been doing for 3 and ½ years, then the answer is obvious and not as scary. 

If I start gathering all of the thoughts, ideas and messages I have to share about hope for the ocean, how we can all work together to restore the health of our blue planet, and how my brain fills up with concrete solutions to share and inspire as many people as possible, then answering why I am the person to write the book becomes a little more nebulous. 

Until I bring it back to the simplicity of how this whole crazy project started in the first place. 

A woman who had always loved the ocean went out one day to make a difference.

After taking action she believes in her heart that you can make a difference too. 

Put this way, I am just the person to write the book. Someday you might write your own message, or share it in another way that will reach people only you can. There’s no difference between us. We all matter, can contribute, and are needed.

Who’s with me?