Don’t Wait for the Revolution — 'Be the Change' and Live It

[MineralMan]

4. K&R! If you want change, it starts with you.

For example, rainwater washing off yards in dense residential areas pollutes local lakes & rivers in Minnesota. If everyone planted a rain garden in their front yard, they would reduce the amount of runoff.

Now, a guy could form a committee to study this and put out recommendations that everyone create a rain garden. OR, the same guy could grab a shovel from the garage, go out in his yard, and start making a rain garden in his own front yard. The neighbors see it, and ask about it. They're impressed by the positive change the rain garden makes in that front yard and go get their own shovels out.

If you want change, make a change. If you're neighborhood needs sprucing up, paint your house. Your neighbors will see your nice new paint job and be stimulated to do some work on their own house. I did that a few years ago, and several neighbors painted their houses the same year, or replaced old worn siding.

This works.