Hatched- My New GREEN Life, The Doubters
Mon, 09/29/2008 - 15:52 — Administrator
So, I approached my family about my efforts to become greener in my everyday life. Turns out several family members of mine are taking similar baby steps. My Aunt and Uncle are spending the extra $5.00 a month for recycling, my other uncle recently bought a bike and rides to work everyday, and so on and so forth. I was overwhelmed with encouragement until one of my family members says “Nancy, you are just joining this new wave trend because it’s ‘cool’ – the whole notion of green is just a publicity push for businesses, trust me it won’t last.” As the rest of my family changed subjects and continued to go about their conversations, I was genuinely pissed off! Bottom line, this isn’t easy for me – as I mentioned in my previous passage, I have had tendencies to be pretty wasteful, and I really want to turn a corner in my life simply to better myself for today and for the future. Needless to say, I proceeded to pout for awhile, frustrated due to my grandfather’s lack of appreciation for the fact that this is a LIFESTYLE change, this is something I am proud of, and would love my family to jump on board – the more of us that act on going green, the better!
So, my question to all of you is – how did you cope with family, friends, significant others, etc. not agreeing with the going green or resisting your attempts to become more green???
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the nay-sayers, and my response
I will always be amazed at how "whatever!" people get about someone else taking steps to be more mindful. Whether it's your food, your buying habits, or your waste habits, people get a little touchy.
No matter what, I think an embarker has to remember to do one thing: STAY UPBEAT ABOUT WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND LEARNING. Staying chipper about it inspires others. Otherwise, you'll get tagged as the "angry hippy" or "enviromaniac" or something.
Sometimes, I find that people take it as a personal attack that they aren't doing enough themselves. Sometimes, I find that people are outright cynics. Too much life, too much jading. Sometimes, I find that people just don't want to care. It is a little overwhelming, if you let it be. Especially starting out. And sometimes, I just find that people are jerks and I don't know why.
I do try to remember though, which took a lot of years to do, that very few people mean to make you irritated by their words. They simply don't understand why you do what you do, and frankly, why you care as much as you do.
I also try to remember, I will go on about what I am doing and only TALK with people about my lifestyle if THEY choose to have a conversation WITH me about it. Otherwise, I'm just kinda boring them and their eyes glaze over. Or they choose to start an argument about how wrong I am. And I NEVER (anymore) entertain someone picking a fight. You can't win that. Ever. You can't gain ANY satisfaction from trying, so don't, I've learned.
I've learned though that I just have to take a deep breath, do what I do, and try not to judge what other's are [not] doing... especially when it's family. For instance, I know my father just doesn't make recycling a priority. And he already feels badly about it, but me nagging him isn't the answer. Me gingerly pulling aside the recyclables to dispose of properly when I visit is. And eventually, he started to (I have so many stories like that).
On a positive note, however, I've noticed that just by living the change, I do live as an example without having to talk about it to everyone. And by doing that, people become intrigued and start asking questions. And that's where it begins, I think. My experience, at least!
I've rambled enough. I'm bad about that. ;) You are a Rockstar, girl, through and through. Keep learning and teach us along your way, Nancy!
The appetite grows by eating. ~Francois Rabelais