Talking About Green

I don’t know about you, but I’m just the “family hippie.” The efforts I make usually get dismissed with a roll of the eyes and a comment that goes something like, “Well, she’s just like that.”

My efforts don’t seem to be convincing anyone else to make an effort. I have no problem being an oddball, but I know how much more good we could do if we did it together. Yet, I don’t want to preach at my friends, because I don’t think that works. Nor do I want to come off as all “high and mighty” because I recycle. I don’t want people to hate me just because I think green!

So, what to do?

Probably the best thing we can do, as with anything in life, is to live by example. I can’t tell you how many people have asked me why I carry my own mug into the coffeehouse. People ask me all the time why I eat the way I do and dress the way I do. The trick is to answer them in a non-aggressive, non-judgmental manner.

You might also try tricking your family into watching documentaries. Netflix has delivered Food, Inc., An Inconvenient Truth, and King Corn to my mailbox and when it comes time for family movie night, I have plugged them in. Only one person has ever stomped off swearing that these movies were spouting lies. Most of my movie partners have sat in rapt attention, jaws hanging, and a few of them have said, “Is this true?” as if it just couldn’t be.

I’ve also found that when it comes to green, money talks. When friends ask questions, if I answer, “Because I’m trying to save the planet,” they often walk away, but if I answer, “Because I’m trying to save money,” their ears perk up, and, as I’m sure you know, many green methods also save money. So you can always teach your loved ones how frugal green can be. This still won’t explain the fair trade certified coffee, but it works for most things.

You can also utilize social media. Share facts and YouTube clips on your Facebook page and your Twitter feed. They can choose to click or not click, but at least you are giving them a chance. (And most of my friends will click on a video link – they just can’t resist.)

You can also invite loved ones to attend green events with you, saying only “I just don’t want to go alone.” I had tremendous success taking a few friends to a vegetarian food festival. They came away horrified at what they learned and craving carrots.

The truth is that most people aren’t anti-green out of spite for the earth or mankind, but simply because they don’t know the facts.

It is up to those of us who know (some of) the facts to share them. However, it is important to do so with compassion and without judgment. People like to learn new things, but they don’t like to be thumped over the head with them. I’ve offended loved ones by delivering statistics at the wrong time, in the wrong tone, which makes me a hypocrite, because I am not 100% green 100% of the time. Now, I’ve learned to just sneak a fact in every now and again, gently, under the radar.

I will probably always be the “family hippie,” but I hope that I have helped my loved ones to be at least a little hippie-ish.

Author:
Robin Merrill is a freelance writer from Maine. She can usually be found blogging about jobs in criminal justice.

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