While in a discussion with Dr Prepper, the author James Talmage Stevens, I mentioned ‘ideally I’d like to be off the grid and self-sufficient’. James chuckled, ‘You’ll mine the ore and smelt the metal for your tools. You’ll plant and harvest all your own crops, raise your own animals, create your own fuels, pump your own water, make your own toilet paper, soaps, and clothes. You’d weave your fabrics from the wool you sheared from your sheep.’ I got the point.
I now flinch when I hear that phrase, but let’s take its broader definition. Self-Sufficiency really means, “We reduce our reliance on the precariously dangerous systems (Banking, Government, Utilities, etc).”
IF you are a realist, you know a team (Family, community, region) can provide far more resources over a wide variety of skill sets than any one individual or couple. Even if you had all of the physical resources, a simple accident or illness might be your downfall. Who will provide when you are out of the picture for a while?
A few years back, a team of scientists asked the question, “What makes us human?” There must be some thing we do that animals don’t. Yes, we have opposable thumbs which provide a stronger grasp, but a variety of animals can hold tools. IF it’s not thumbs and tools, it’s language. Many animals communicate quite effectively from elephants all the way down to viruses. Then what makes us Uniquely Human?
Humans are the only species where animals cooperate when it’s not for their direct benefit. Wolves will hunt in packs until they are full. Humans will work for another person selflessly. North of Toyko (7-13), 40 strangers pushed a 35 ton train off of a woman who had fallen and was stuck between the car and platform. Each risked potential bodily harm to save someone they didn’t know. This IS our human Super Power; ‘Rescuers’ are our real Super Heroes. The bigger your community, the more potential heroes.
Since you are reading this, you realize there are many great and physically-difficult challenges in our not-too-distant future. A “Perfect Storm” of events shakes our already troubled institutions plus whatever Nature throws our way.
At 67+ and partially handicapped, I won’t be able to survive by “Self-Sufficiency”. I must build a team.
SURVIVAL TIP: “Power is NOT in the ‘Correct Answer’. Power comes from Mind Expanding Questions.”
Things will change. The unexpected WILL happen. It’s all about our flexibility and improvisation. The more you are prepared for, the more options you draw on to improvise in an emergency.
Ask yourself questions like these,
· What if I fall and break my hip? What if I’m alone?
· What if my family is all ill at the same time?
· What if our crops fail? The well runs dry? The ‘game animals’ are gone?
· What if we need ________ & where do we secure it? (Prescription medicines, for example)
· Does everyone in my ‘Family’ (or group) know 1st Aid? You are your Doctor till help arrives.
We don’t want to think that way. It’s harder than it seems to ask ourselves the toughest questions.
One family I know IS the most Self-Sufficient I’ve ever met. “Off the grid”, no electricity, grows food, has animals, etc. They are getting old. How long will they be able to keep up this life style? And then?
Another family told me, “We are 40 miles up in the mountains (outside of Denver, Colorado) and if the worst happens, we’ve got a safe place, well stocked & plenty of ammo.” Sounds ideal BUT Coloradans are the most fit in the U.S., heavily into outdoor activities and drive vehicles in the snow. IF a TEOTWAWKI strikes, there are 10s of thousands of people in the Denver Metro area who would flee into the mountains for water, the shelter (wood for heat & to build with plus caves) and game animals. How quickly would starving people wipe out the limited numbers of Elk, Deer, Sheep, and Bear populations?
“Okay, Survivor Jack, what’s the answer?”
What IF:
· Hundreds of Thousands of people around us each year began to “Be Prepared”?
· 1st Aid was Universal? (taught in every grade of school & refreshed every year at work)
· Our “Self Sufficient” community became more public and vocal?
Each of us in this “Preparedness Movement” should consider this. Both natural and man-made disasters can bring society to its knees in minutes. Most “Virtual Reality” people today can’t make a fire in real reality. We know they will panic, loot and turn on their neighbors who are better prepared. Wow " pretty scary!
You and I can wait for them to show up, or we can educate more of them so less ‘show up’? No, I’m not asking you to write or public speak, unless it’s a gift you wish to share. I’m asking you to share the profound writers, speakers and intelligent videos with your friends and communities.
This publication provides valuable lessons and strategies. Do you send its ripples out to your social network? Especially to your skeptical family and friends? I ‘follow’ experts on my Social Media and I pass on the exceptional articles " once in a while - yet regularly. Drip, drip, drip - like water wears away rock.
Too often, members of our community are invisible, or portrayed in the media as idiots. The most ‘difficult group’ of our community are so obsessed with “prepping,” they’ve forgotten the Joys of Life. They make their family and their friends wrong for not feeling as compelled as they are. Ironically, forming and supporting the team concept would take a lot of the burden off their shoulders.
When I had my awakening after the 2010 Haiti Earthquake, I was a couch potato. My family did not want to hear about being better prepared. I did the early work all on my own. When Japan in 2011 hit, I used my photographic eye, wrote and voiced
“Letter to My Children " Lessons from Haiti and Japan” (8:30 " no ads)
I’ve had several nice emails saying this opened the eyes of “my followers” family members.
Taking a positive, when-you-are-ready approach will open people’s minds over time. This is where our future team members will come from.
Is Your Team:
· ‘Big Enough’? Strong enough? Diverse Enough?
· Cross Trained to do each others’ jobs?
· Willing, equipped & qualified to come to each other’s rescue?
Tough Questions for Tough Times.
As a Photojournalist, I saw too many situations where lack of knowledge and poor teamwork cost someone their life. What-You-Don’t-Know CAN Kill You, or someone you love!
“Cooperation makes it Happen” sang Sesame Street characters, and they were right.
You and I can’t KNOW everything, but we can learn more every day. You and I can’t DO everything but with a team we have a better chance. Spread the word. Expand your mind, and build an enjoyable team you trust. Every person we add to the “Prepared Group” is one less we’ll fight later.
Cooperation (Teamwork) is the Best of Humanity! Build a great community.
Survivor Jack was created by Jack Jobe, an Emmy-nominated photojournalist, inventor, voice actor and more. “Survivor Jack’s™” Misson is to Equip, Empower & Educate people on 1st Aid and Survival Tips. Email Jack@SurvivorJack.com & Subscribe to his free newsletter, see articles and videos at SurvivorJack.com.