Pay Attention to Your Surroundings

Good morning and welcome to Sharing Saturday. All month, we’re focusing on teens and the trials they face as they move toward being adults. Today, it’s all about school violence and exactly what everyone can do to curtail school violence.
One thing people need to relearn is to pay attention to their surroundings at all times. This is especially important in these troubled times, when it seems that not a month passes without at least one report of school violence.
The most important reason for being aware of your surroundings is so you can find a safe place if a shooting starts. Instead of having to look around, you will know exactly where you can hide. While it will be very nice to bring along your friends, survival instincts will kick in and you’ll find yourself diving into cover without any thought about them. This is not a bad thing. The human mind is wired to survive. You will move without thinking and only realize later that no one came with you.
Not only be aware of what’s immediately around you, but also what’s ahead and behind you. You don’t necessarily need to be suspicious of the activity, but it’s always good to know this information. What if a group of guys are roughhousing and you’re going to walk right through them. You’re now forewarned of the potential of being part of something you’d rather not and can move aside.
This is also a good way to practice for what you’ll face later in life. The world won’t move aside because you’re on your smart phone, checking out social media or texting someone. You’re expected to take care to avoid oncoming problems and work a way out around them. Another reason to be cautious about your surroundings is if you want to avoid a certain person. How can you do that when you’re busy with your phone? And once you’re working at a job, your boss certainly isn’t going to be happy if you’re always on your phone instead of doing the job you were hired for.
Now that you’re aware of your surroundings you might notice that you’re seeing things you might not have normally. Like that bunch of girls teasing a younger girl because she’s different. Or the guys roughhousing have stopped to admire the trophy case… or a girl they just happened to notice. Or the creepy guy from science has changed a lot since last week and looks pretty cool now.
Maintaining a firm grip on the place where you are isn’t just for personal safety but also for connecting with the real world. You’ll soon discover that you’re enjoying those sights. You might even strike up conversations that don’t require you using a keyboard to communicate. Talking is a real thing and you can find out more about someone than if they have time to think about how they’ll respond to a comment you made and ensure it’s what you want to hear.
Remember that even though your personal safety is the most important reason you should be aware of your surroundings, there are also fun benefits to this.


About K.C. Sprayberry
Living a dream she’s had since she first discovered the magic of books. K.C. Sprayberry traveled the U.S. and Europe before finally settling in the mountains of Northwest Georgia. She’s been married to her soulmate for nearly a quarter of a century and they enjoy spoiling their grandchildren along with many other activities.
A multi-genre author, K.C. Sprayberry is always on the hunt for new stories. Inspiration strikes at the weirdest times and drives her to grab notebook and pen to jot down her ideas. Those close to her swear nothing or no one is safe if she’s smiling gently in a corner and watching those in the same room interact. Her observations have often given her ideas for her next story, set not only in the South but wherever the characters demand they settle.

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