When I began my journey of using natural personal care, I naturally wanted to include my family.
It has been a journey of patience, connecting and understanding.
I thought by just sharing, why one should use natural products I can get my family, friends or
anyone to move to natural products. Turns out is not that simple. It's not enough to say "Hey, your products have toxic chemicals so stop using them." I need to engage with them, understand their needs and slowly and gradually it will happen. The switch will not happen the way I want rather in the way they want and I need to respect that.
The biggest thing that I think helped was that I was using natural personal care products myself every day. I was walking the talk. Also, I never imposed or judged but rather just showed the choices and let them choose.
Just by natural products being available in the house, my mother started to pick up the products and gradually began to use them. She is the one in the family who has always been willing to try. In fact when I began Dhanak, my business of natural products, I used her as a guinea pig to try my products on and get feedback.
It has been a journey of patience, connecting and understanding.
anyone to move to natural products. Turns out is not that simple. It's not enough to say "Hey, your products have toxic chemicals so stop using them." I need to engage with them, understand their needs and slowly and gradually it will happen. The switch will not happen the way I want rather in the way they want and I need to respect that.
The biggest thing that I think helped was that I was using natural personal care products myself every day. I was walking the talk. Also, I never imposed or judged but rather just showed the choices and let them choose.
Just by natural products being available in the house, my mother started to pick up the products and gradually began to use them. She is the one in the family who has always been willing to try. In fact when I began Dhanak, my business of natural products, I used her as a guinea pig to try my products on and get feedback.
My father is on a different level, he doesn't use any products forget natural. Salt is enough for his brushing and plain water for everything else like bathing, washing clothes and even shaving. I was happy to contribute by making a foot salve for his cracked heels.
Switching to natural products with my younger brother is where it has been fun and a learning
He loves his Deodrant, nice smelling soap, shampoo and other products. He plainly refused to even try some of my products because they don't smell appealing to him. This gave me the challenge to make products that can appeal to him. I made a peppermint mouthwash and he gladly started using it. He likes the soaps I make for bath, hand wash and laundry, he even says that they wash well. These were small achievements for me.
There are some products he refuses to switch like shampoo or toothpaste.
Initially, I thought that I am right and he is wrong, I need to change him. However, he doesn't see anything wrong with the products he is using so I soon understood it his journey. When he wants to make the switch he will. At first, I couldn't accept but as time went by, I learnt to accept his needs and choices. I realized my role is to show him the choices.
I have been persistent and so has he, and we both have rubbed off on each other a little.
He started using a natural deodorant I bought, I was jubilant. After a while, he said he no more liked it, which was fine by me but I keep trying. :)
I enjoy the debates and arguments we both have, it has really helped me respect his choices and further anyone choices. I have learnt to look beyond right and wrong, rather look at it as choices for our lifestyle.
