Success depends, in large part, in preparation. We all understand the need for preparation in tasks we tackle, or in our careers. For purposes of this post, we will discuss the kinds of prep that most people never think about.
If your home catches fire in the middle of the coldest night of the year, are you prepared to go immediately out into the cold? Prepared to stay in another place, perhaps for days, or weeks? In our home, we keep a folding chain-style ladder beneath each second story windowsill, just in case we cannot make it to the door. And each person has a "go bag" beside their bed at all times. The go-bag includes all the basic necessities - everything from a change of clothes to a toothbrush, flashlight, jackknife etc. Anything that might be needed in an emergency. And in the winter months, they also keep a spare coat near the bed. In Maine, it would not do to be caught out in 20 below zero weather wearing nothing but PJ's. You would escape the heat to die from the cold.
If the weather is bad and you run off the road where no one can see you, are you prepared? For the cold? Hunger? First Aid? Do you even have flares in your vehicle? Each of our vehicles maintains a full first aid kit, flashlight, road flares, dried food snacks and a space blanket. Just in case the cellphone battery dies...it happens.
I wear a belt pack on a daily basis that helps me cope with unforeseen emergencies. A "Leatherman" tool, jackknife, short-handled screwdriver set, strong twine (or monofilament), spare Bic lighter etc. It feels great to be able to stop and help some kid fix his bike, or to just not have to run back to the house every time I find need of a screwdriver. It sure simplifies life, and adds peace of mind.
What if an epidemic, or pandemic comes around? Will you be a victim simply because you were not prepared? We have a set of rules we go by when disease hits our area - things like not accepting change back at a store, swiping your own card, handling incoming mail with latex gloves and a little lysol. And shop at the least busiest times, to avoid contact. But we also have a tub full of face masks, latex gloves, extra lysol, some bleach, clorox wipes etc., just to be on the safer side, should the epidemic be a deadly one.
And today in the news, the high probability of a food shortage and food price shock. Are you prepared for a disruption in the availability of sustenance? In our house we have a 6 month supply of MRE's (meals ready to eat) for each family member, a 3 month supply of canned goods, a tub of flour, vac-packed, a tub of dried beans, vac-packed, and a six month supply of veggies canned from our own garden. I even have a few large cans of coffee set aside, and bottled water. I also maintain a supply of "heirloom" seeds so we can grow a new garden every year. Store bought seeds will not produce a harvest that can be used to reseed the next year - those seeds are hydrids, and will not reproduce properly in the second year. Heirloom seeds are the old-time, non-hybrids that produce the next years' supply of good seed, for a perpetual garden.
The point is this: the more "emergencies" you are prepared for, the greater you chances of long-term success and full-time peace of mind.
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