Great epiphany story. You changed your frame of reference and your perception changed.

It's such a weird thing that no one thinks about what happens to the gasoline they "burn" in their cars. Basic high school chemistry teaches you that matter is never destroyed.

So, none of that gas goes away. All of it, every gallon you put into your car, goes into the air. That's the "long tail" of pollution that each vehicle on the road is towing unseen.

Like the chains worn by Scrooge and Marley.

Like you show, it adds up.