Eleanor Roosevelt said that you have to get up every day and do something that you’re scared to do. I think dedicated preppers should really ask themselves, “What am I scared to do?” What are some of the areas that you aren’t strong in? Is there fear holding you back from a safer level of preparedness?
Are you too scared to meet the neighbors? – I know, neighbors are scary. They might watch a different news show than you. Or listen to different music. Or worship a different god. Or, terror of all terrors, belong to a different political party. In all seriousness, it can be hard in modern America to connect with real live people, even those who live right next to us. Take it in small steps, work together on something small, like sharing garden produce, or pet sitting. Work up to the intermediate steps, like splitting bulk orders of dried fruits or beans. Then on to harder things like neighborhood watches and communal preps. Learn the art of small talk.
Are you scared to get in shape? It might hurt. You might miss a tv show.
It would cut down on your gaming time, or drinking time, or nascar time. I know. Let’s think about this though; 2 days before a flood, is not the time to introduce your arm muscles to the weight of a bag of sand. Bug out time really shouldn’t be your first attempt at walking all day. If you start before you need it, you can work your body into fit. You can start with walks, then fast walks, then walks interspersed with jogs or cardio moves. You can start with a yoga basics class before moving up to a full on crow pose. (Source)
Are you afraid of guns? Yes, they are loud. Some are heavy. They can kill people. They can also protect you and the people you love. They are much nicer than spears for hunting with. And really, it’s hard to find spears. You’re mostly just better off with a gun. I remember watching one of those prepper shows, maybe the one Jarhead mentioned yesterday, I don’t remember. And the couple interviewed were totally anti-gun. They have preps and strong community ties, and they don’t intend to need lethal force to keep any of that. I’ll be as diplomatic as I can be here, but I think they are mistaken. I think it’s foolish to declare to the universe exactly what line you’re not willing to cross, because that’s exactly the line a Stormagedon or Frankenstorm or pandemic, is going to push you past.
Are you afraid to cook? Or afraid of veggies? Don’t kid yourself, delivery pizza is not going to be easy to come by in any sort of natural emergency, and could become hard to find in a financial emergency too, whether by supply or demand. Cooking a sweet potato right is a joyous thing, but I know I’ve messed up a time or two. I’d hate to be making those kinds of mistakes during an actual emergency. Learn to cook real food, in real cook ware, from whole ingredients, oh and learn to do that in the dark. (ok fine, you can have a candle, and whatever light leaks out of the rocket stove.)
Confront your fears people. Now, while you have a warm house to fall back on and safety nets to catch you when you mess up. Get in some practice, take the baby steps, the important part is to keep moving forward.
– Calamity Jane
What Are You Scared To Do?
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38 comments
I’m 66 and, yes I could some exercise. My wife has gone from zero prepping to serious paranoia prepping. Stocking up on everything because she, like me. is afraid of the government. Confronting that fear could be hazardous to one’s health. We are in the mountains of East Tennessee. My daughter found out that the other teachers at her small country school are, to one degree or another, into prepping. Why, because they too are a bit frightened of the government.
Very good article Jane & I whole heartedly agree. Doing those things you fear is the perfect test to see if you are really alive.
While I did not vote for Obama nor am a fan of him, I did decided to look at him from a different & unbiased angle & tried to see why so many, including very intelligent people, voted for him. Actually, it began when I posed that question to you – why did you vote for him? I asked not to put you on the spot but to find out what I may have been missing because of all of the rhetoric coming from the conservative community.
What I did discover over the course of time was something about me – my near phobic fear of doing anything outside the conservative party line. I had become a lemming.
The interesting part is it cost me nothing to look at something without blinders & the big bad liberal devil did not sweep me away into the abyss. I gained a much clearer perspective on my views by actually seeing the other side & was able to speak respectfully but pointedly against the Christian bashing which began after he won his first term. Romney was not the answer either, nor Ron Paul. One man cannot change the future of America, as much as everybody wants to believe.
What that group (and I am a member) conveniently chooses to ignore is, once a leader is elected we need to drop the immature hatred, which should have NEVER been there in the first place, and pray for him & treat him with respect – Matthew 5 & 1 Timothy 2 is pretty clear about it.
If you are going to be a Christian, you might as well become responsible & go all the way otherwise, you’re nothing more than just another hypocrite.
I wholeheartedly agree – one man is not the answer. (A woman on the other hand…. 😉 😉 ) Seriously though, the president can’t magically make oil appear where we’d like it to be. He can’t fix the economic mess that is a result of empirical overgrabbing, aging infrastructure and an unbalance in population age distribution. These sorts of things are just going to have to work themselves out, in their own painful sorts of ways. I’m sure congress will debate about bandaids for the symptoms of the underlying problems, but something tells me they won’t come to any meaningful compromises.
As an atheist, and an Independent, I never really understood the vitriol unleashed against the president after the election. He seems like a moderate sort of Christian to me.
Congrats on your journey past the blinders. I’m telling you though, dump the TV, and stop watching anything more mainstream media than youtube videos. You’ll be amazed at how TV shows/commercials/news shows look to you after a few months away.
😀
I should have added ditching the TV to my list of scary things. 😀
that’s so sad.
Jane, I do not have a TV & cannot stand it but I do have Netflix!
Irish – assuming you are referring to the atheist comment, we all are free to choose what we believe. I was not quite an atheist before I decided to cross over the line but had some very strong, negative opinions about Christians – in fact, I was nearly embarrassed when I became one because of my former position I had so clearly expressed.
What I did find was, when I examined the claims against the validity of the Bible, they were in error. Further, as I dug into the Bible further & beyond all of the main, popular themes & looked at it as more of a life text book & as an integrated message system, the doors blew wide open.
I am not here to convince anyone to believe, that is impossible, but will say to give it a chance, independent from world opinions – positive & negative. It is the most incredible thing I have done – ever.
Yes. What a Bummer.
I thought her bemusement with so many things in life, was because of her superior intellect. Now I’ll just see it as the haughtiness of the declared athiest.
And, seeing Obama as a “moderate sort of Christian” is just so alien to the reality in which I’m living…
Irish,
Being committed to being an atheist is a clear choice as is being a committed Christian & is independent of intellect because it is a spiritual battle only.
Haughtiness on the other hand is more of a judgment of one’s position, again independent of intelligence. Sometimes when Christians express themselves or intimate being right, they forget they are imperfect & are still sinners. Without exception, everybody falls short of the glory of God.
Remember Paul who was arguably the most influential writer of the Bible & was brilliant, participated in the killing of Christians prior to his conversion – now that is a perfect example of haughtiness then turned into complete humility.
None of us were born into God’s family, we had to choose it later in life.
lol, irish, I’ve mostly ignored your comments about my lack of faith and republican values, but today, I wanted to answer you directly.
I’m certainly not sad, and I see no reason for you to be sad for me. I’m way happier as an atheist than I ever was as Christian. I studied religions in college, and while living in India participated in Hindu, Islamic and Jain rituals. I think religions are fascinating, from an anthropological aspect, but I don’t think that one of them is “right.”
“I thought her bemusement with so many things in life, was because of her superior intellect. Now I’ll just see it as the haughtiness of the declared athiest. ”
Do I seem haughty? I’ll work on that.
I’ll own that comment about superior intellect though, that sounds about right. 😉
I write in peace Irish, but I won’t pretend to be something I’m not. How you read it or see it, well, that’s not something I can control.
Keep on prepping!
-Calamity Jane
Not that you asked me but haughty? No, edgy with strong (solid) opinions is how I see you & I do like people who are unafraid to take a stand on things.
Funny, but I can see why you would be happier being an atheist than a Christian. It took me a good decade of being a Christian before I really discovered the difference in happiness. I thought I had joined the Stepford club when I first became one. I thought it was a group of extremely straight people who were afraid to have fun or express an opinion or question things.
I began to separate myself & really look into the Bible as something different than a weapon of bigotry against all those whom followed a different path. I had to be honest with myself & my beliefs because if someone asked me why I believed, I had to have an answer based upon personal conviction, not some scriptural regurgitation.
What I found, with the aid of some great scholars (some in person but most via books & audio files) was the most fascinating thing ever – a single integrated message written by 40 +- authors over thousands of years that is truly multidimensional & personal to me. If you like intellectual stimulation as I do, this the best I have ever encountered.
Besides, wouldn’t it be great to spend an eternity with the Creator of the entire universe & be let in on its secrets? Beats any alternative any day!
thank you for your reply.
it was more a general observation about athiests, than about you in particular. I didn’t really know you were lacking in faith until you said it. the modern day “liberals” are similarly condescending. (not saying that applies to you, either)
I regard athiesm as extremely narcissistic. (the APA doesn’t consult me about such things, but if I was rewriting the DSM, I would place athiesm somewhere in the autism spectrum)
superior intellect unfortunately is often a curse. although I function at a fairly high level, I am painfully aware that I don’t have one. I try to surround myself with the smartest people that will tolerate me. (they generally are surrounded by numbskulls)
You, on the other hand are probably even smarter, which is why it pains me that you believe some of the things you believe. (…and, the Deity claims he does exist. I’m compelled to take Him, at his Word)
Irish,
That was a very good point about narcissism & atheists, I never looked it that way but you are right. The two have to go hand in hand.
For me there is way too much evidence pointing to the existence of God, creation & the fact that it is a pure fact that Jesus lived & performed miracles. The problem is, most do not want to take the time to really dig into it & look at it from an unbiased point of view.
Jason:
…and I wasn’t suggesting that Calamity Jane is especially narcissistic. This is just an observation regarding the general case. (from my very limited experience) What I forgot to add, is that once one declares that he or she is an athiest, he/she no longer has standing to argue right and wrong. “Because I say so!”, only works if you have sufficient coercive force available. “Because you know it’s wrong.” doesn’t always work much better, but it is a more potent argument. except that the Deity said so first, there is no “wrong”. (no horrible, depraved thought or act is really wrong for the athiest. although he (or she) might not be happy about it, if it were done to him)
The get in ‘real’ shape pretty much. Have a pair of kids and with school in full swing, dinner and homework pretty much takes up most of the time after I get home from work. Working out in late afternoon keeps me up late – I would have to start working out in morning before rolling them out of bed.
Motivation – it burns! Lol. But it needs to be done.
When I worked (love retirement) I would make a list every morning of the three things I needed to do but didn’t want to. Arguably the same as being “scared” to do. Things that take up a lot of time or have you dealing with jerks or will likely result in opening up a can of worms. But they also tend to be things that will bite you in the butt if you don’t do them.
easy enough. I’m scared of everything.
Yes but do you face those fears?? LOL
Thoughtful feature Calamity:
Too many individuals complain that they never have the money or time to do what they would like to do. When they have the money they don’t have the time and vice versa.
I am the luckiest guy in the world doing what I want, where I want to do it and with whom.
Right on Calamity – WRITE ON!
“Yoda’s Safe House”
http://www.magnifiedview.com
So Yo-duh, what are you scared to do? That is what this thoughtful feature was about ….
Telling the world that you have enough supplies to ride out nearly any disaster, man-made or otherwise, and in the next breath admit that you don’t have the means to protect those supplies, is nothing short of stupid. You have just made yourself a target for those who are unprepared and are willing to do anything to survive including steling and killing.Having guns and amunition alone is not what I would call being prepared but, depending on how far you are willing to go, can be used to procure those other things even in the worst of time. No, simply having a gun and knowing how to use it does not make you prepared. However, without one, or more, you are arguably unprepared.
PS Jane about your woman president comment ….
I do not care for Hillary Clinton but do think she has great leadership skills & is strong enough to run this country, even though I am quite conservative.
I thought Condeeleza Rice might have made a good president. Hillary – umm nope, not a fan. She and Bill have too much U.N Kool-Aid in my estimation.
I would love to see Condoleeza Rice run, that would be a GREAT race.
Eleanor R. “…do something you’re scared to do”. FDR “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.”. Yoda -” mmm much fear I sense in you. Fear to the darkside leads” …a-a-anyway anything out of my comfort zone. That zone gets bigger all the time by stepping out of it. When I do, I usually have a blast. We are in exciting times , or terrifying times. But that is what we prep for. Does it make sense that if we didn’t fear we wouldn’t bother prepping? But you have to be aware and not america idolizing or kardasian watching. Ramble on D’ja’c. Wramble on!
Hmmmmmmmm I’ll have to have mt gf take a look at that pose .
Fear, what am I afraid of, mankind, it’s imorality, it’s bash anyone that believes different then I, that’s a bash verbally and physically, overall, I fear I see a world divided and loving it to be so,as in the dark ages, whatever is the flavor of the day is what we shall witch hunt, until the next bloodlust comes along and then we shall chase that one… so I see preppers afraid of non-preppers, is paranoia helathy? It keep’s us alive, Wonderful post CJ, alot to chew upon there, spirit, mind, and body….
problem is non preppers outnumber preppers overwhelmingly , thats why keeping quiet about what your doing now is absolutely critical IF something does happen . As for trusting a fellow prepper …………..NO .
I personally dont think that because a person is a prepper makes them any more or less trustworthy than anybody else . If you look at this another way , hoarding and paranoia may keep you alert ( not necessarily alive ) ………day after day , year after year ……..is absolutely not a healthy mind set . just sayin
my fear is letting anyone….anyone know about my preps. I always think that whoever I tell will be the one that storms my house for food. Thats why I have never progressed to the “formed a team/community” step. I have always had a dont follow the herd kind of personality and even within the prepper world I find this hard to overcome. OPSEC rules! On a practical note the rocket stove that I bought months ago will be broken out, tested and even used once in awhile.
Always a good read.
I,personally, am scared of yard gnomes.
I hate those pink flamingos. Creeeeepy.
Couldn’t agree more, CJ. I like the quote from Eleanor Roosevelt, too.
hey guys: ordered some stuff thru you on amazon. Any way I can be sure you got the credit?
Fear and prepping go hand in hand. What I fear is losing my children to starvation, disease or someone taking them from me. So I prep for this by keeping them close and aware that there are dangers out there. River, bears, wolves, etc. I educate them on what to do if. If they see a bear, stay off the ice, etc. We have built a pantry and are now working on stocking it so the kids don’t go hungry. We’re teaching them how to cook, from real ingredients, for themselves, teaching them how to think for themselves and not be a sheeple, although I must admit, with a 12 and a 16 this is a much bigger challenge than I expected!
> He seems like a moderate sort of Christian to me.
Obama is not Christian, he supports what God hates. Obama is a wolf in sheep’s clothing doing the work of Soros and Satan and his work is almost done. The ones that will lose the most are not the people in the USA, it is the Arab “princes” as they have to all be over thrown and Obama will continue to do it while stirring up the locust.
Though I do not fear the destruction of the USA, it is still something that saddens me, but, makes me glad knowing the end is but a few short years away.
One man can save a nation, one that intercedes for the people that God loves. For that man God will do anything including popping oil out of the ground. I am sure we will have all the oil we want soon, because of Satan’s war on Rockerfeller’s word, just like Israel had all the meat it wanted. But, that is a bad thing.
Regarding oil – wake up John Brown ….
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/12/iea-oil-report-idUSL5E8MC7GA20121112
Obama is consciously doing Satan’s work, are you serious?? The man in high leadership who does Satan’s work will be liked by ALL & received with open arms, that completes the deception. Remember, Satan & the third that fell with him were once angels & angels are beautiful – even the fallen ones.
I’d suggest studying the Bible more & speculative eschatology points of view much less …..
> Jason
> Regarding oil
You obviously do not know how to correctly parse plainly written English. If I wanted to include a lame link I would have. In the FWIW category, I got the CAP to change their lame articles on the Gulf of Mexico oil and Canadian processing, by accident. What have you gotten CAP or even recovery.gov to change?
> The man in high leadership who does Satan’s work will be liked by ALL
ALL?
Even God’s election?
> & angels are beautiful – even the fallen ones.
Where does it say that in the Bible?
You might want to go back to sleep.
Good advice – I’ll go back to sleep regarding you.
PS – I have read your stuff & highly doubt you could get anyone to change …. anything.
Rev 12:9 – “…. Satan, who deceives the whole world …..”
Whole = All.
Matt 24:24 – “For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.”
“If it were possible” means – the elect, as long as they obey God’s word and obey the leading of the Holy Spirit, will not be deceived by the incredible signs and wonders of false Christs and false prophets. It is only those who fail to take God’s holy word very seriously and who ignore or only partly heed the leading of the Holy Spirit who will tricked by false Christs and false prophets. Therefore, it is possible for ALL to be deceived, nobody shall be outside of Satan’s influence.
Does the Bible specifically say they are beautiful – NO, but it is inferred in several ways. ALL angels were created by God & it is quite safe to assume they were beautiful because it falls in line with the description of Heaven. Eye witness accounts & encounters of angels state they are beautiful.
Gen 6 – Speaks of the Nephilim & their offspring with the women of the Earth were described in V:4 as “heroes of old, men of renown”. That description implies someone of appealing physical characteristics. Although not crystal clear, many scholars believe the Nephilim were fallen angels, which is supported by the time of the occurrence being pre-flood of Noah’s time.