Step One to Survival: Think Bad Thoughts
by Kari Carlisle
©John A Carlisle PhotographyWherever you may sit on the scale of preparedness from those who scoff at “preppers” to those who have an underground bunker with a 10-year supply of food, water, and ammo, practicing a little preparedness can literally save your life. We may never face a global apocalypse in our lifetime, but they can be the small things that put us at death’s door.
Recently my husband was away, and I took the dog for a day trip for a hike in the woods and a little shopping. My starter went out in the parking lot of the Home Depot, and I was stranded. Fortunately I have roadside assistance, a cell phone and a friend living nearby, and we were well taken care of for the day. But what if I had broken down in the woods with no cell phone service?
The other day I took the dog for a hike on a trail just a couple of miles from home. Afterward, the day was still young, the air cool, and I felt like exploring a bit in the Jeep. Without thinking, I ended up far from home with no food or water, and the sun was getting hot. I wasn’t lost, and I was able to get some water from a store 35 miles from home, but what if I had broken down? What I intended to be a 20-minute jaunt turned into a 2-hour, nearly 100-mile drive. I just wasn’t thinking.
I rely on my husband a lot for his clear head and common sense, qualities I don’t always possess in critical times. What any of us lack in clear heads and common sense, we can at least make up for with a little preparedness. Whether you’re bitten by zombie or by a snake, what are you going to do? If help is not readily available, you better have a plan.
I put myself in survival situations all the time. So do you. We just don’t always think of them that way. What I need to do, what you need to do, is take a little time to think bad thoughts. Think about all the bad things that can go wrong – at home, on the road, out in nature, wherever I/you go. Then think about how I/you might handle those possible scenarios. What kinds of things would make the scenario not so bad?
One thing I did last year was to fill a fanny pack with a few supplies for my daily hikes. I worried so much about snakes and feral dogs (yes, I have to worry about feral dogs where I live), I bought an air horn and citronella spray as dog deterrents and carry those along with some activated charcoal for snake bites. Having those things with me provides a little peace of mind.
Do it NOW. Think bad thoughts. Make lists of all the things that would be good to have. Go shopping. Have enough “survival stuff” to keep at home, in the car(s), in your backpack. You’ll sleep better tonight.
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©John A Carlisle PhotographyWherever you may sit on the scale of preparedness from those who scoff at “preppers” to those who have an underground bunker with a 10-year supply of food, water, and ammo, practicing a little preparedness can literally save your life. We may never face a global apocalypse in our lifetime, but they can be the small things that put us at death’s door.Recently my husband was away, and I took the dog for a day trip for a hike in the woods and a little shopping. My starter went out in the parking lot of the Home Depot, and I was stranded. Fortunately I have roadside assistance, a cell phone and a friend living nearby, and we were well taken care of for the day. But what if I had broken down in the woods with no cell phone service?
The other day I took the dog for a hike on a trail just a couple of miles from home. Afterward, the day was still young, the air cool, and I felt like exploring a bit in the Jeep. Without thinking, I ended up far from home with no food or water, and the sun was getting hot. I wasn’t lost, and I was able to get some water from a store 35 miles from home, but what if I had broken down? What I intended to be a 20-minute jaunt turned into a 2-hour, nearly 100-mile drive. I just wasn’t thinking.
I rely on my husband a lot for his clear head and common sense, qualities I don’t always possess in critical times. What any of us lack in clear heads and common sense, we can at least make up for with a little preparedness. Whether you’re bitten by zombie or by a snake, what are you going to do? If help is not readily available, you better have a plan.
I put myself in survival situations all the time. So do you. We just don’t always think of them that way. What I need to do, what you need to do, is take a little time to think bad thoughts. Think about all the bad things that can go wrong – at home, on the road, out in nature, wherever I/you go. Then think about how I/you might handle those possible scenarios. What kinds of things would make the scenario not so bad?
One thing I did last year was to fill a fanny pack with a few supplies for my daily hikes. I worried so much about snakes and feral dogs (yes, I have to worry about feral dogs where I live), I bought an air horn and citronella spray as dog deterrents and carry those along with some activated charcoal for snake bites. Having those things with me provides a little peace of mind.
Do it NOW. Think bad thoughts. Make lists of all the things that would be good to have. Go shopping. Have enough “survival stuff” to keep at home, in the car(s), in your backpack. You’ll sleep better tonight.
Sign up to receive these blog posts in your inbox.
www.readmota.com
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