The bathroom sink seems to be the most propitious place for my ah-ah moments. This morning, as I washed my face, the realization of the water running a bit too long threw me into deep thoughts. What will it take to drive the global warming message home? What will it take for my new habits to become second nature?
I started playing with this notion of first and second natures. First nature for most of us is a world infused with assumptions of abundance and demands of convenience. Second nature needs to become a way of living based on limited material resources and respect for the laws of the natural world.
I wrote before about ‘What’s Bred In the Bone‘ and our propensity to fall back onto our old ways. The best that I can come up with, is that I – we – need help to develop and support that second nature. Help in the form of technologies, sensory/automatic reminders, consequences, practical solutions, consistent messaging, inspiring leadership, and supportive social networks.
Going back to the running faucet example, a simple solution would be to install a timer on the faucet. So that the environment trains me to behave.
I think that technology could help us behave but at the same time I think technology is part of the reason we are in the situation we are in. We are so used to something making our lives easier that we begin to think these things are necessary when instead we need to learn to become more self reliant.
Daily activities become habits, habits become nature, and when they’re absent you notice.
It helps if lots of other people are doing it. Nothing else explains why people would sit in traffic for a good part of their day.
I like what was said here about “18 ways to know that you have bicycle culture”.
“You don’t even know that you live in a ”bike culture” and have never used the expression. You just ride.”
So I think one way to be green is not to be conscious of being green. It’s just the way you live.
I can switch off the tap quite easily when i’m not using it, but my partner really struggles with the idea (though he’s just as green as I am). Funny how different people can be in habit forming behaviour.
I think that the key is in the balance – where we are we need to make the right choice in balancing our needs and the needs of community. When we all start thinking more outside of self – we will achieve this in community – this is my hope.
Maureen
Bad Human, I do believe like you that technology is partly responsible for our predicament, and I am also convinced it will also play a great role in helping us out of it.
Kyle, I agree with you about your benchmark for green. Only once it permeates our culture and our values, will we have succeeded.
Green Poet, I have observed the same phenomenon with my husband. He and I have different things that we do well, others not so well.
Maureen, I am not so optimistic as you are regarding our selfless nature . . . but necessity can bring out some amazing things out of people.