Join the Conversation - and party on
by Tao Oliveto, Carrboro, NC
Many of us tree-hugging, Sustaina-geeks are excited about what we’ve learned about saving more and consuming less and about the change we’ve created in our lives. And we want to share the news with our friends, family and communities. It seems so simple, but we often find ourselves hesitating to speak out. And, if we do, we are afraid to do it too often, too loudly or especially, too proudly. Actions speak louder than words, I tell myself.
I just returned from a week in a place where speaking out about sustainable habits was not, let’s just say, in my best interest. I was told to just “let it go” for one week. I gave it a good try, but found out that it’s just too late for that - it’s inside me. Not guilt, not sacrifice, not judgment - but pure, unadulterated joy, determination and optimism about what is possible for our future - if we do the work now. The party has started and I’m not going home.
In timely fashion, my fellow blogger and sustaina-superhero, No Impact Man, reminded me of something important in a recent post, where he says, “Both individual action and voter action are stronger if we talk to others about why we make our choices and become part of communities that reinforce those choices. And also, some of us are better at or more inclined to one type of action or the other. It’s all good. And, in my belief, both is better than either (and certainly better than neither).”
Many people feel that making small changes in their habits and lives cannot make a difference. I disagree in at least two ways. First, it’s a numbers game - and numbers do matter. A gallon of water saved by a billion people is, well, a whole lotta water. If one hundred people install a new light bulb…if one million people use one less plastic bag…..and so on. Second, ask yourself just how your actions make a difference in your own life - what does it feel like to live even a little more consciously? Then listen closely.
The answer may surprise you, thrill you and excite you and change your life for the better. And once it does that, I dare you to tone it down, stop hoping or keep quiet. I can’t.
November 20th, 2007 at 12:53 am
Right on Tracey! Connie and I eat healthy, compost and recycle; and we barely produce any trash. In fact, it would take us 4-5 months or longer to completely fill up the big trash can that we haul to the street every week. In fact, some weeks we do not roll the trash can to the street. We also have a clothes line in the back yard and we keep the heat on around 60 and even lower at night. And of course without a car, I am leaving a tiny print.
Greg
November 20th, 2007 at 8:57 am
Welcome back T!
I couldn’t agree more that it’s important to talk about what you’re doing. I do think though, that it’s important to be aware of how and when to do it. I’ve often found myself at my most effective, in terms of changing other folks behaviors, when I haven’t even been thinking about convincing others - just getting on with what I do. I’ve lost count of how many times a friend or relative has asked me where they can get the best insulation for their loft, or what the heck my recycled shoes are made of, and slowly but surely I’ve seen real change in those folks.
Of course it’s a tight balance to walk - the urgency of the climate crisis kind of necessitates we step up our efforts for change, but then if we shout too loud, we drive folks away. I guess the key is in celebrating and being excited about what we do so folks just can’t help but join in. TAOofChange does a great job of doing just that. (Though of course I may be biased!)