Question from Karen
Hi Debra,
How do u get loved ones to pay attention instead of tuning out, rolling eyes, pressing delete…
Debra’s Answer
This is not an easy thing to solve, so readers I hope many of you will comment with your own stories, because this is important.
I will just tell you my experience.
When I first became aware that my body was sick because of exposures to toxic chemicals, most people had no interest at all.
I was fortunate that my father took me seriously and helped me. It made sense to him, but nobody else in my family was interested.
I was engaged around that time and my fiancé didn’t believe me. We broke up for other reasons, but two years later he came back to me and said “I understand now what you were saying. I’m sick from my apartment too.”
Over time, it became less important to me to have family members believe me or help me because I was meeting new people who were interested and in agreement, who could and did understand. I knew what I was pursuing was right.
When I would meet new people, I would tell them I needed to live nontoxic and tell them what I needed from them. I just wouldn’t get into relationships with people who thought it was more important to wear perfume or aftershave than be with me.
And over time, I met new friends and now this isn’t an issue.
Eventually, though, we need to get everyone in the world on board with living toxic free. It’s just a matter of education, I think, of giving them information in a friendly way. Make them curious instead of defensive.
An example of eduction…one year I discovered organic oranges for the first time. They were soooooooo much more delicious than regular grocery store oranges. So that year for Christmas I gave everyone a bag of oranges as an extra gift, along with a card saying they were organic oranges and explaining what organic is.
Another time a man wanted to date me and I gave him a gift bag of unscented products. He used them and we went on a date and then lived together for a year. He wanted what was best for me and so was entirely willing to live according to my needs.
Later I met another man that I married. He was THRLLED to live toxic free with me.
That’s all I can say on this subject. Except…remember you can catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. Give toxic free products as gifts, speak with love and caring, help others make the transition.
Readers, what are your successes with this?
