February 28, 2026

Welcome to OneBeautifulPlanet.org’s newsletter, issue #59!

Launched in June 2023, our publication now reaches 313 subscribers. Thank you for being part of our readership and enjoy the current edition!

Mindset

“An authentic and genuine life grows like a sturdy tree. And like a tree, it grows slowly. Every time you make a different and better decision, it grows a little. Every time you choose to do the right thing, even when nobody would find out otherwise, it grows a little. Every time you act with compassion, relinquish your right to strike back, take a courageous stand, admit fault or accept responsibility, it grows a little.” ― Steve Goodier

Winter Cleanups? Why Yes!

Despite the cold and the snow, I am happy two report I carried out two spontaneous, and highly enjoyable cleanups this month:

Elk Mountain Ski Area - Pennsylvania

After recent ski trips to Greek Peak NY and Blue Mountain PA during which I witnessed the accumulation of trash on ski trails (admittedly after busy weekends), I have been itching to clean up litter while on the slopes. Unwanted litter in these beautiful outdoor winter sports settings consists of beverage containers, the occasional food wrappers, and other random items like used and unused tissues, ski and snowboard pieces of gear.

So on a recent trip to Elk Mountain Pennsylvania, I put my yellow vest on a couple of downhill runs, and made a dent in the trash. Several fellow skiers pitched in the effort - thank you!

Sourland Mountain - New Jersey

On the way home from my kids’ volleyball tournament last weekend, I noticed something intriguing on my GPS map: “New York Skyline Viewing Point” in an otherwise quiet, unassuming stretch of central New Jersey about 50 miles from Manhattan. Really? You can see New York City from here?

Overwhelmed by curiosity, ten minutes later, I parked at the entrance of Sourland Mountain Preserve and headed up the snowy trail to find out. I picked up a few pieces of litter along the way—though the trails were impressively clean. At the top, in a clearing in the woods, there it was: the New York City skyline, 40 miles away as the crow flies. One World Trade Center, aka Freedom Tower, stood out clearly against the horizon.

It was a fun, refreshing reminder to stay curious, embrace a little spontaneity, and always keep your cleanup tools handy—grabber, gloves, vest, and bag—just in case you get the chance to not only discover something new, but leave a place better than you found it.

Three New Articles

I am thrilled to report that we have three new contributors to the site: Grace Watson, Cristina Solis, and Dafna Nudelman. Check out the links to their contributions below - we are thankful for their inaugural and inspirational contributions to the site!

A PhD candidate in civil and environmental engineering, Grace wrote about horseshoe crabs, under our Remarkable Creature series. An environmental engineer and writer, Cristina wrote about Ocean Conservation and her experience with the International Coastal Cleanup. Last but not least, TEDx speaker and author Dafna wrote a powerful piece about composting.

Please share this newsletter if you found it helpful or interesting. And if you would like to collaborate in some way, whether in writing articles for OneBeautifulPlanet.org, or volunteering together at a cleanup, get in touch!

Razvan