Roll up your window.

I love my mom. I find it cool when I see a situation in my present life and I'm reminded of the advice my mother gave me in the past that I may or may not have taken at the time.

She lives in Jersey and going through the tunnels she would always remind me to roll up my windows. She would show me news stories of toll booth attendants who were regurgitating or getting seriously ill from working near the tunnel fumes for too long. I believe they actually used to have attendants stationed in the tunnel but that idea didn't last very long against the fumes.

I drive to Jersey often now and it's strange that every time I drive through the tunnel I see people with their windows rolled down. I understand that even with your windows rolled up you're still breathing the same air but I close the vents and I find that to make a significant difference. I see some people who seem really out of the loop, sitting in the tunnel in traffic with their windows rolled down while smoking a cigarette.

My mothers wise words to watch what I breathe combine common sense with hard fact medical advice. The hard facts are that car exhaust fumes are highly toxic and they are accumulated in a tunnel, especially in heavy traffic. Common sense means you are aware enough to realize, this air doesn't smell or feel right. It also means having the leadership and gumption to tell those around you, "roll up your windows" without feeling like a party pooper.

Awareness of this will help you love yourself better as you realize how important it is to breathe fresh air. It will also help you love the Earth better as we realize the impact that systems we've created have on our environment.