Chapter 1: Meeting Environment
Entry 6 Dear Diary, Wow.
I left my green sea of nothing.
I rode my bike towards the horizon.
And I did not ride of the earth! Phew.
You know, for a minute there I was thinking I really would fall off. I know the earth is
round, and I know there's gravity. So even if the earth were flat and you continued over
the edge; you'd just flop around and continue riding on the underside!
But this place...
It's so alien. The grass is too green, the sky is too blue, everyone has clear skin (and I
mean
really clear skin)! That's not normal! So, naturally, I wasn't sure if things worked
the same. But they do, apparently. At least that's something.
A short while later. Entry 7 Dear Diary, I feel confident enough now to put my plan into motion.
Of course the first step in
every plan that wants to be taken seriously is going to the library.
Now I know what you're going to say. I mean: you're a digital diary. But
NO! The internet
does
not have it all! I'm sorry to disappoint you, but some things you can only get at the
library. The smell of the books, the screaming silence, that whole aura of studiousness.
The internet hasn't got that! And that's why the library is always the first step in every successful plan. Period.
...
Aren't you going to ask me what I did at the library?
...
Fine! Be that way! I'm telling you anyway!
I read a book. Well... part of a book.
You see, for my plan to work I need social skills. Not an area I'm particularly talented in.
Unbelievable of course, but it's not like I can help it. So to help myself, I decided to read a
book about charisma. A book that went like this:
"Charisma is a personality trait which is actually quite difficult to define, because no one is
exactly sure what charisma really entails. Someone who is described as “charismatic” is
generally viewed as having a very charming, persuasive personality, and often charisma is
viewed as an almost supernatural trait, with charismatic individuals being remarkably
skilled communicators who can often be quite convincing." A book about a personality trait we can't really define. Who made that up.
"The word “charisma” was originally used by members of the Christian faith. It comes
from a Greek word which means “divine favor,” and it was used to describe individuals like
Christ who were capable of creating divine miracles. In its earlier incarnation, “charisma”
had much less to do with leadership and communication skills, and much more to do with
unusual or extraordinary powers which suggested that the individual was favored by God
or the saints." And it went on and on and on like that. I won't lie, it was somewhat helpful, I guess I
"skilled up a point", so it say. But after that I felt I learnt all I could from the books.
But before I could put my newly acquired "Charisma" into practice, however, I had one
more thing to do at the library. I had to make flyers. Lots and lots of flyers.
Meeting Environment. Get it? Quite clever if I say so myself!
I don't really believe in the power of flyers by themselves though. Who
ever reads
something that's being forced into your hands in that one second you're not paying
attention?! People just discard it as soon as they can, which usually is
before the nearest
trash bin, and we can't have that of course! No, I decided on a different approach. The
flyers were just extra information for those I considered worthy enough to attend my
meeting. That's why I needed the social skills. I went to talk to all the people first; to get
an impression and convince them to come to my meeting if I felt positive enough.
And that's what I did.
I talked to my neighbours.
I talked to local business owners.
I was so successful that by then it was time to sleep. So I talked to the firefighters and afterwards they let me crash at their place.
The next morning I talked to people in social places.
I rang bells and talked to people at their houses.
I even talked to the next generation of people.
And again, the day flew by: time to sleep. So I went back to the fire station and asked if I
could stay another night, which I could. Bless them heroes.
To recap on those two days of employing my charisma in an effort to enthuse people
about environmentalism: there were bad times, and there were times that weren't so bad.
Some people are obviously ignorant about the environment. I don't even think some know
what you're talking about when you bring up the sustainability of our planet. Others just
claim they are too "busy" to care about the environment. And the next generation... well
let's not talk about them. They hate vegetables and think butterflies are the epitome of
sustainability. That's why I don't like kids!
But there are some people who genuinely seem to care about our planet. That's an
encouraging observation. It doesn't actually take many, to create many. Adam and Eve
created the whole of mankind with just the two of them too, right?! Of course, things are
never so simple. There definitely were some people who cared, but were there people who
would fit into my plan? Let's just say the jury is still out on that one!
For instance, there was this loaded untrimmed blondie who kept sobbing about some guy,
Ernst I think? About how he would've
loved to participate in my initiative. All very sad for
blondie, but now
she wanted to participate, because
he never would.
I don't
need people like that!
The environment is not served with self-pity. It needs feist, and character, and passion,
and representability. All things blondie
clearly doesn't have. And with her a whole bunch
of people I talked to. So yea, they did not get a flyer. And if they were really persistent I
gave them a wrong date and time for the meeting.
Sorry! Clerical error!
Maybe that sounds cru, but can you blame me? My plan is important, my plan will
save the world! I've got to uphold a certain standard!
The next day. Entry 8 Dear Diary, This Tuesday, 18:00.
15 Summerhill CT.
I managed to arrange some chairs after all.
I wonder who will show.
I've got important things to discuss.
