Occasionally in prepper circles I hear comments about, “the will to live,” or “keeping spirits up;” mental health in other words. Talk about mental health is not as concrete as the mantra for beans, bullets and bandaids. I worry sometimes that it gets overlooked in favor of that classic 3 B’s prepping. Anyone who’s ever watched someone lose the will to live, knows that it’s not a trivial consideration. Everyone is different when it comes to what makes ’em tick. Whether it’s access to literature, art, or music. (Or something else entirely.) For me,
Life wouldn’t be worth living without music.
Period. I can have all the beans and bullets my little heart desires, but if the music in my life is dead, I can pretty much guarantee that I’m not a happy survivor. Would my children and husband be enough to keep me eating and breathing? Probably… for a while at least. I know enough about myself to know that I need periodic infusions of dancing and music in order to stay in top form. Mental fatigue and build up of stress and tension take a physical toll eventually.
So, my prepping includes forms of music that I know will work even if the lights are out. I have my piano that was a birthday present, (thanks Mom!) In the bench I have a variety of songs that I like to sing, as well as classics, holiday tunes and children’s music. I know my bunker-mate and best friend plays the flute, so I have a couple of duets for piano and flute. I can remember my mother’s piano always having a book of hymns, for those of you who follow a faith, don’t over look that in your mental health preps. I’m not 100% happy with my music prep, I don’t have much of the music that like to dance to, namely salsa and swing. It’s tricky to find the sheet music for those styles as the best stuff is often improvised. I suppose if I played more and gardened less, I could get good enough to wing it; but let’s be honest here, that’s probably not going to happen. My backup plan for that aspect is that I am friends with lots of salsa musicians, and my hope is that travel to visit them will still be possible.
Children need creative outlets too.
My kids aren’t old enough to have preferences for their creative outlets, so I’ve made sure to hang to the little basic bits of equipment from various art forms as I’ve tried them over the years. I have charcoal pencils and sketching tablets from my foray into line drawing. I have various paints and brushes. I have beginning piano books, as well as a tin whistle and beginning book for that. Even in the bug out bags, sheer basics for survival, the kids’ bags have crayons in them and little coloring books. If we actually get to the point where we’re living out of those bags, there’s likely to be a lot going on that they will need help dealing with and processing. Quiet, self-guided creativity can do wonders for that.
Even adults can work through challenging situations better if their creative juices are flowing. Don’t leave your mental health to chance. Think about where you turn in times of stress or sadness, and make sure you have prepped for that aspect of your well being. Your shrink might not be available when the SHTF.
The Will To Live
previous post
11 comments
I really like working with wood using hand tools. I have acquired a decent sized collection of tools through yard sales and thrift stores. No only does it bring relaxation it’s also a great skill to know when the lights go out.
Music is a good way to the pass the time when things get slow. Storing a few harmonicas (take up little room) would be a good idea too. No strings or other things to go wrong either.
I love to read so I have a lot of books. I have stuff for kids also, my husband is a chef so I have basic things that he can turn into awesome meals. I also have an mp3 player with a solar charger.
reality really bites.
hold on to your mental health. (I kinda miss mine sometimes…
as though I actually ever had any)
it’s good that you know this about yourself, and can try to prepare accordingly. post SHTF there will be lots and lots of distraught people.
… it would be pretty easy to mistake them all for zombies.
(if their whole worlds revolved around shopping, getting high, watching TV, etc.)
we all prepare, because we have something to live for.
The will to live. Apparently we all have that. Life, liberty and the pursuit of ???????
Music, arts, culture, learning something new everyday very important to civilization. Family, friends, community and common goals are more than enriching. How many times have you heard of the surviving spouse passing away (from a broken heart?) just a short time after the first. Then there are the people who die after a couple weeks of “retirement”. Careful, sometimes the philosophy major rears his head…… Anyway we need enrichment, re–creation and humor (right Ranger Man?). All the more in a SHTF grid down scenario. I like shade and a good book on a summer Sunday afternoon or the same with a fire in the stove for the winter. Quiet spot fishing or hunting can’t be beat either.
Books. But I hadn’t thought about what my kids might miss, or my non prepper wife…
Everything you need ,storys,music,love EVERYTHING is everywhere around you, all YOU need to do is, find it. Then shape it to your need.It worked for us in the caves, and it works now. All our lives we have been told to need “things” to make us happy.Its not true,Hands,Heart,Head,Hope and Will. That and take the TIME to learn,and you can “DO” anything. ——Ray in Ky
+1
That’s awesome.
We have a piano, a couple of guitars, accordion, marimba, and a couple other noise makers. I need to keep an eye out for an acoustic bass guitar and a bodhran, so we can have the full band cranking out tunes.
Most of the instruments were picked up for cheap on Craig’s List or were given to me by people that just wanted them out of the house. Check Craig’s List often or put up a note on FaceBook about what you’re looking for and things will have a way of making their way to you.
Sidewalk chalk is a great for kids of all ages. I have a couple of nephews in their early 20’s that draw some really cool stuff when they come to visit.
I was curious if you ever thought of changing the layout of your website? Its very well written; I love what youve got to say. But maybe you could a little more in the way of content so people could connect with it better. Youve got an awful lot of text for only having 1 or 2 pictures. Maybe you could space it out better?