Like probably all Kossacks, I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking of ways to influence the people within my circle to change their mindsets and behaviors regarding the various pressing issues of the day. In my case, it's usually how to get them to make a habit of conserving energy, reducing waste, and being more conscientious consumers, without my coming across as pushy, righteous, or condescending.
First, I try to lead by example:
I proudly talk about the manual reel mower I recently purchased and how I'm looking forward to using it, getting some serious exercise, and being mocked by my neighbors. (I've found self-deprecation to be quite disarming and makes people more receptive to such ideas.) I mention how I recently discovered "organic" eggs from free range, hormone-free chickens that cost a bit more, but taste soooo much better than mass-produced eggs. I brag about how I live close enough to a locally-owned convenience store to walk when I only need a few items. Sure, the products themselves might cost more than at the big grocer, but when one factors in the gas used to drive to the big store, the hassle of putting on real clothes (I often walk to the convenience store in my flannel jammies - the staff doesn't bat an eye), and the exercise I get, the difference is negligible. And anyway, isn't it great to have one less car on the road? It reduces traffic!
In other words, I try to find ways to show how these changes can benefit people by eliminating things they might find annoying. Personally, I've been making these positive, albeit small, changes in my behavior for some time because I know they are good for the overall welfare of the planet and its inhabitants. But a lot of people just don't care about that, as we sadly know all too well. So, I have to bring it home to them a different way - by getting them to realize how it affects them personally.
Today I was prompted to once again ponder ways to encourage such lifestyle changes in others. The catalyst came as I was rummaging through my laundry room storage closet and spotted a dozen still-functioning incandescent light bulbs that I stuck in there when I switched over to compact fluorescents. These light bulbs have become something of an albatross for me; on the one hand, I had put off changing to the fluorescents for some time, because I wanted to wait until the current bulbs blew out. I hate waste, you see, and if something is still remotely usable I generally stick with it until the bitter end. But early last year, I reached the conclusion that I just couldn't wait much longer. I made the switch and stuck the old bulbs in the closet. Out of sight, out of mind, I suppose.
Except those stupid incandescent light bulbs were never really out of mind. They were still perfectly good, after all. Should I give them to my friends, neighbors, or coworkers? I could do so with the comment that I'd switched over to compact fluorescents which, while more expensive, last a whole lot longer and lower my electric bill. The problem is, I'd just be passing the inefficiency on to someone else. Should I donate the bulbs to a local charitable thrift store? I'm sure they'd be snapped up in a heartbeat, benefiting both the charity (in this case, the local Humane Society), and me, by providing a small tax deduction. But still, I would just be passing a wasteful product on to someone else, so really, what good would it do?
Then the proverbial light bulb came on: why don't I occasionally buy a 5-pack of compact fluorescent bulbs and donate them, brand new, to the thrift store? I personally know many people who are hesitant to try these bulbs because of the cost - about triple the old-fashioned ones. It's what held me back for a long time, since I'm also quite frugal (what a surprise) and hate to spend more money than I have to. But what better way to finally prompt someone to use compact fluorescents? The thrift store would probably price them about half the retail price. I can see it now - a thrift store shopper spots these bulbs, and since they've been wanting to try them anyway, seizes the opportunity of getting them at such a bargain. Voila! Another convert! (Or so my mind works, anyway.)
There are probably loads of relatively inexpensive products that could be deployed to the front lines of the GWOW (Great War on Waste): rechargeable battery kits (batteries included); wind-up alarm clocks; LED flashlights. In fact, I've seen these items for less than ten dollars in retail stores. And since I itemize, I can deduct them from my income taxes, although probably not at the full retail price.
You're probably wondering how this solves the problem of those dozen incandescents in my storage closet. Erm, well, it doesn't. It's just that my worrying about those bulbs was, in actuality, related more to how to change other people's mindsets than to the annoying yet benign presence of them in my closet. And that makes me feel good, because I realized I'm now starting to automatically consider how even the most minute actions on my part affect others and the world. As for the light bulbs, I guess I'll hang on to them, since I still have a couple of infrequently-used lamps that I can put stick them in. But at least they don't have to annoy me anymore. And me not being annoyed is certainly in the best interest of the common good as well. ;-)