Our existence is based on a delicate balance of systems working together harmoniously. Combine that thought with the fact that the only constant is change, and you have an awareness of fragility.
This understanding of fragility was the catalyst for my journey towards preparedness. You don’t need to be a conspiracy theorist, or a survivalist to see the inherent dangers around us and use that awareness to be a more prepared person.
The reality is, that disaster can strike at any time in a multitude of ways. This understanding can be mentally daunting and spark anxiety if not checked. Rather than dwelling on the potential doom and gloom of this awareness, I decided to use it as a catalyst to become more prepared and let the solace of my preparedness ease my concerns.
Dependencies
We depend on technology, electricity, people, supply chains, ecosystems, and the list goes on. The point is, we have a lot of dependency. What happens when one (or more) of those dependencies fail? Are you prepared to react? Are you prepared to live without it for an extended period?
Take electricity for example; how long could you live without that? To answer my own question, I decided to take the no power challenge, and turn it off. What was learned from the experience is how unprepared I was to live without electricity. I used this challenge to discover all the supplies needed to cope both physically and mentally.
The no water challenge is also enlightening, however the supplies needed to combat this issue are much more obvious. If you really want to test your ability to cope without dependencies, turn them both off. It doesn’t take long to realize how uncomfortable life without these dependencies can be; especially for the unprepared.
Get Uncomfortable
Taking the no water and no power challenges are great ways to test your ability to handle the lack of creature comforts we are so used to. The fact is that we take all of it for granted, and you are faced with how much dependency you have when it is gone.
Extreme situations are uncomfortable. To learn how best to prepare yourself or teach yourself to be prepared is to get uncomfortable. Take a cold shower, turn your phone off, go for a 5-mile walk. Getting uncomfortable will help you learn more about yourself and what areas of preparedness to focus on for you and your family.
Preparedness Mindset
Getting prepared is something most people think about daily. Whether you are packing a lunch, grabbing an umbrella, or filling an extra water bottle before you head out, you are preparing to leave the comfort of your home. If you put on sunscreen when you go to the beach, pool, or even mow the yard, you are preparing to deal with the forces of nature.
Avid preppers have all kinds of supply bags ready; the most common being an EDC (everyday carry) bag. The truth is that most women have been using this concept for generations; it’s called a purse. In it, you will find supplies that may be needed while away from home. From extra snacks to hand sanitizer, this bag was developed with the preparedness mindset.
For most people moving from standard daily preparedness to being a prepper is taking that thought process of ‘how do I need to be prepared for the next few hours’ and expanding it to ‘how do I be more prepared for situations’?
Situations
We protect our skin when sun exposure is inevitable because we understand how fragile we are in relation to the power of the sun. We have an awareness that sun exposure is dangerous. We have a similar understanding of other threats that we do not tend to prepare for as they are less common or more unlikely to impact us personally.
These other factors, situations or scenarios can be much more impactful to us if they occur, yet we play the odds and just focus on being prepared for the day and not for situations. For example, when you are packing up to head out the door, you are thinking about what you need to be comfortable while you are away for a short period of time. What if that period is extended? What if you have a vehicle malfunction, get caught in an emergency situation, or get injured?
