10 Fascinating Clarifications on Preparedness
Many people misunderstand the concept of preparedness. There are many myths and preconceived notions about what it means to be prepared.
In this blog post, I will try to dispel some of the common myths and provide clarification on the 10 essential and fascinating points of preparedness. By understanding these basics, you can begin taking steps towards being better prepared for whatever may come your way.
10 Clarifications on Preparedness
Preppers are a unique breed. We are always looking ahead, preparing for the unknown. And while it’s important to be prepared, it’s also important to stay grounded in reality. This is especially true when it comes to prepping. There is a lot of information out there on prepping, and much of it is conflicting.
Here are 10 clarifications on preparedness:
#1 Being Prepared Does Not Mean Being Paranoid
There’s a lot of advice out there about being prepared for the worst. And while it’s good to be prepared for emergencies, it’s also important to not let fear take over. Being prepared doesn’t mean being paranoid. It means being informed and having a plan.
One of the best ways to be prepared is to have an emergency kit. This should include items like water, food, a first aid kit, and a flashlight. It’s also a good idea to have a plan for where you will go if you need to evacuate your home. Knowing what to do in an emergency can help you stay calm and collected when things are chaotic.
Being prepared doesn’t mean that you’re expecting the worst to happen. It just means that you’re working to be ready for just about anything that may come your way. So don’t let fear get in the way of being prepared. It could just save your life someday.
#2 Preparedness is Not Just for Doomsday Preppers
Many people think of being prepared as something that only applies to doomsday preppers. However, being prepared is something that everyone should do.
You don’t need to be hoarding supplies or building a bunker in your backyard to be prepared. There are many simple things you can do to be prepared for emergencies. For example, you can keep a first-aid kit in your car and make sure you know how to use its contents. You can also have an emergency plan for your family so that everyone knows what to do in case of an emergency. By taking these simple steps, you can be prepared for whatever life throws your way.
#3 Being Prepared is not Just for Catastrophic Events
Preparedness is about being prepared for any eventuality, not just catastrophic events. It’s about being ready for anything life might throw at you, whether it’s a power outage, a natural disaster, or simply being caught without your wallet or phone.
Being prepared doesn’t mean being paranoid or living in fear, but it does mean taking some simple steps to ensure that you and your loved ones are as safe and comfortable as possible in any situation.
#4 Preparedness Is Not Just About Supplies
Being prepared is not just about having supplies on hand, but also knowledge and skills. When the power goes out, do you know how to start a fire? If your car breaks down, do you know how to change a tire? If you get lost in the wilderness, do you know how to find your way back?
Being prepared means being proactive and educating yourself on how to best respond to various situations. It means being resourceful and knowing how to improvise when necessary. It also means staying as calm and level-headed as possible in the face of adversity. By being prepared, we can increase our chances of weathering any storm.
If your family members and others around you understand you’ve done your homework and know how to work your preparedness plan, they’ll look up to you and respond when given directions that could save their lives. Being a prepper is being a “take charge” type of individual who doesn’t wait to be told what to do. You’re prepared, and in most cases, you know the best steps to take to protect yourself and others.
#5 It Is a Lifestyle
Preparedness is not something that you can do once and then forget about. It’s a lifestyle. It’s a mindset. It’s a way of thinking about the world and our place in it.
When we’re prepared, we’re better able to handle whatever life throws at us. We are less likely to panic or make impulsive decisions. We are more likely to think clearly and act responsibly. If not, then we really aren’t properly prepared.
#6 Preparedness Is About More Than Just Surviving
While survival is certainly a key component of preparedness, it is not the only thing. Preparedness is also about thriving. It’s about more than just surviving an emergency; it’s about being prepared to live life to the fullest.
When we are prepared, we can enjoy greater peace of mind. We know that we have the supplies and skills we need to weather any storm. We can live life with confidence, knowing that we are prepared for whatever comes our way.
#7 It Is an Attitude
Preparedness is not just about having the right supplies or knowing the right skills. It’s also about having the right attitude.
When we are prepared, we approach life with a sense of confidence and calm. We know that we can handle whatever comes at us. We aren’t afraid of the unknown or the unexpected. We are ready to face whatever challenges we may have to face.
The preparedness mindset is one of self-reliance, determination, and confidence. It’s a powerful attitude that can help us through any situation.
#8 Being Prepared Is a Journey
Preparedness is not something that you can achieve overnight. It’s a journey. It’s a process of learning and growing. As we gain knowledge and experience, we become better prepared to handle whatever life throws our way.
There is no finish line in preparedness. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. What works for one person or family may not work for another. We all have to find our own way and tailor our preparedness journey to fit our unique needs and circumstances.
Families come in all shapes and sizes. Some of us still have little ones at home. Others are in the next phase where they’re caring for an elderly parent. Some families are dealing with a disabled member, others are faced with a physically or mentally challenged member who needs special care on both good days and those chaotic emergency days.
#9 Preparedness Is Flexible
Preparedness is not static. It’s flexible. It’s dynamic. It has to be because the world is constantly changing. What worked yesterday may not work today. What works in one situation may not work in another.
Preparedness is about being adaptable and resourceful. It’s about being able to think on our feet and come up with creative solutions. It’s about being prepared for the unexpected and being able to roll with the punches.
#10 It Is Personal
Preparedness is not one-size-fits-all. What works for one person may not work for another. We all have different needs and circumstances, so preparedness has to be tailored to fit each individual.
What works for a family of four may not work for a single person. What works in an urban environment may not work in a rural area. We all have to find our own way and tailor our preparedness journey to fit our unique needs and circumstances.
No two people are exactly alike, and neither are their preparedness needs. Preparedness is a very personal journey. You will want to keep this in mind so that you can plan and prepare in the way that you and your family need, not what everyone else is telling you.
More on Preparedness:
- 7 Shocking Facts About Preparedness
- Why Emergency Preparedness is Important
- Prepping for Beginners: A Guide to Get You Started
- Common Sense Rules for Prepping
Final Word
Preparedness is a mindset. It’s a way of thinking about the world and our place in it. It’s a lifestyle.
When we are prepared, we are better able to handle whatever life throws at us. We are less likely to panic or make impulsive decisions. We are more likely to think clearly and act responsibly.
What have you learned about preparedness that others could use on their journey? Let me know in the comments below so I can help my other readers. May God Bless this world, Linda
Copyright Images: Disaster Supply Kit Depositphotos_564789380_S NewAfrica
Linda,
I completely agree with everything you said in this article. Being prepared is just good common sense (as well as a duty to your family).
Hi Ray, great comment, it is a duty to be prepared for our families. It truly is common sense at least for most of us. Linda
I found myself in an awkward conversation with another election inspector during the school board vote. In a discussion about the current baby food shortage, I mentioned buying food in quantity when available. I was quickly taken to task for depriving others with my greed. I would never deprive a baby during this shortage, but my buying 10 cans of corn on sale hurts no one. I don’t generally share my shopping habits with anyone outside my immediate family, so I quickly changed the subject.
Chris:
I don’t talk about my stocking up for my family not even extended family. I have family I have tried to talk to and they said I was nuts so I just don’t say anything anymore. My nieces and their extended families like in the country so they do a lot of stocking up but my sister is another subject. When I can get good sales on foods we eat then stock up. I also use coupons to stock up little by little with stores that give me coupons on my store card. I got tuna that is usually $6 a can for $2 a can and my husband had a fit. I don’t care we will not go hungry we have 2 chest freezers 1 is a medium size and the new one is huge. We also have 3 Refrigerator freezers full and my son and daughter in love have a small freezer and a refrigerator freezer. We are also well stocked on Canned bottled foods.
Hi Jackie. way to go, my friend! It’s all about stocking up. Linda. P.S. Great price on the tuna!!
Hi Chris, oh boy, yeah, we have to be careful if we ever say 10 cans!! LOL! Here’s the deal, I always buy ten of everything, it’s a way of life for me. Great comment, my friend. It’s all good. Linda
I use my family as guinea pigs.
I’m always trying to simplify recipes. Use substitutions to see if recipes will still work without some ingredients. What could there be shortages of. Simplifying bread making. Always asking myself, “ if I skip this ingredient will it still work.” I’ve been working on bannock bread and come up with some pretty good substitutions. Cooking in the oven, on stove top, open fire, loaf pan, Dutch oven, cast iron. Adjusting cooking times, temperature. So far no complaints. It’s been fun.
I enjoy your articles and have tried many of them. Good work!
Hi Mary in mn, thank you for your kind words, my sweet friend! I LOVE LOVE LOVE your comment because you do what I do. I. have always ade my cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, and white bread with eggs and milk. I’m trying to skip the eggs and the milk and it’s working. We can do this, Mary!! Linda
I have learned not to be intimidated by people who are overly concerned about calories, food additives, menus, and organization. My buckets are not color coded. They are dated though. I don’t put up any food myself except sugar and salt, so I don’t have to worry if I have enough O2 absorbers and there is not always something waiting for me to do. I just buy the foods I want from different LTS companies. I don’t can any food. I know how and have done it in the past, but I am sure not going to do it again unless I HAVE to. I don’t even have an inventory. Even Ray Charles could see that I have plenty of food for my family for several years. I have leukemia so I don’t have a lot of energy. I have made prepping easy on myself. I do keep a list on my phone of things OTHER than food that I want to buy. After about 20 years of prepping, that list is getting smaller and smaller.
TAKEAWAY: 1) Prepping DOES NOT have to be a science or math project. 2) You do not have to feel inadequate if you have no picture perfect pantry or no shelves full of colorful home canned foods. 3) If you don’t own a vacuum sealer, you are not deranged. 4) If you don’t know what EXCEL is and you can’t make a spreadsheet of your food and supplies, you are not stupid. You can still prep.
Hi Angela, oh, I LOVE LOVE LOVE your comment! First of all, I’m sorry to hear you are dealing with Leukemia!! Hugs from Utah! I’m so glad you mentioned you do not have to make food storage HARD TO DO! You nailed it. So many people are making food storage harder than it needs to be. As I age, I do less and less. I’m okay with that, I can’t worry about what others think, it’s my food storage and your food storage is YOUR food storage. Bravo, Linda
Hi Linda…I truly appreciate all that you say and do. For me, preparedness is nothing more than being organized in life. When I make a recipe, I make sure to have all the ingredients. When I build a bookcase I make sure to have all the tools to build it with. When I plant a garden I have the necessary tools. Over time, I am pretty much ready for everything. It’s not about racing around, buying everything in site. Now that I’m much older and have the basics, each year I decide what area of preparedness I need to focus on. Maybe it’s shelter (is my house kept up), food (do I have enough for 20 easy meals, or maybe 3-6 months), heat (do I need to make more quilts?), or water (we all need water). Being organized has saved my bacon more times than I can count. Thanks again for all your ideas.
Hi Karen, oh, thank you for your kind words. I LOVE your comment! You are so right,, when we have a “project” of any kind we gather the items we need before we start. I love how you compared building a bookcase, planting a garden, and keeping your house up with preparedness. You nailed it. It’s called planning or planning ahead! I LOVE this! Thank you for sharing, Linda
After all that I have read about other preppers talking people about what they are doing, I decided quite some time ago that it is better not to do that. There’s always the fear that some (or all) of them will be visiting after SHTF expecting hand-outs. I know that the Christian thing to do is to share, but not this guy. If they haven’t figured out that they need to prepare, it’s not my problem.
I concur. I am the steward of our family and our home. I also feel compelled to help the widows and the fatherless. But I will do so when the Spirit moves.
Hi Carrie, great comment. Linda
Hi Karl, you are so right. It’s frustrating to me to prepare my entire life for the unexpected, I turned 72 years old this year. LOL! That’s a lot of prepping, but it’s a way of life for you and me. You nailed it when you said, it’s not my problem. It’s frustrating when I am mocked when I buy two bags of flour instead of one. I have had people laugh at my cart at Costco and ask are you preparing for the apocalypse? I smile, they don’t get it. But you and I do. It’s all good! Linda
Oh, I have had the chronic kind of leukemia for 14 years. I just take a chemo pill every day. I can live a long life but I had to adapt to loss of energy. Other people may have loss of energy in different ways, like holding down 2 jobs, caring for small children or elderly parents, and I just wanted to emphasize YOUR point that prepping is personal to your needs and there is no wrong way to do it. By the way, I finally got the solar freezer but I had to go smaller than planned because a big one requires too many panels and too many power banks. But I can make ice now in a grid down situation.
Hi Angela, you can make ice in a grid down??? Oh, I love hearing this!! I’m sorry to hear you have had to adapt to a loss of energy. Life brings us curves and you are making the most of it! Good job! Linda
Angela, I hope I wasn’t disparaging anyone in your position. My final sentence was for those who are able-bodied who think that they can rely on neighbors and friends to take care of them when the SHTF occurs. I’m 71, in relatively good health. My wife is 74 with some health problems. Our youngest is 40 and lives with us. She also has health issues. My primary concern is to take care of them, not others.
Angela, I am a survivor of AML leukemia and have been off treatment since I was 12 yrs old. As a survivor, I deal with lifelong side effects from the 3 yrs I was on treatment, so I understand the importance of prepping for hor chronic health conditions/diseases. One of my preps most would never consider a prep, is me working a flexible schedule from home due to flare-ups of my chronic health conditions.
Hi Ravenna, I’m so sorry you are still dealing with the effects of 3 years of treatments. Great idea about flexible work hours. Linda
“Being Prepared” for some of us, is just what we do.
One day when I was 13 and bored, while I was exploring a big extra closet where we stored extra blankets, seasonal clothing or anything looking for a place, I stumbled on a stash of Crisco, canned goods, sugar and the like. This was odd so I asked my Mother about it. This was during the Cuban Missle Crisis and her way of being prepared. She was born in 1917, so when she was a young teen there was a Great Depression going on. She lived in a farming area in North AL and was one of 8 kids. I’m sure my grandmother worked constantly to put food on the table and conserved whenever she could.
Some things are just a way of life. We have been blessed in this country for a very long time. Our grand kids have no concept what is unfolding.
Hi Mt. Grammy, great comment. It’s interesting how we remember the good things our mother or grandmother did to put food away for the family. It really does instill the need to be prepared without saying much. It was a way of life for them and now for us. Great example by the way. Your last comment, you nailed it. “Our grandkids have no concept of what is unfolding”. You nailed it. God help all of us. Linda
All the comments have been so enlightening. I had been caught off guard, because my initial thoughts were about people not preparing for something as common as a snow storm….and we get a lot of those, and we usually know days in advance. To me it just seemed basic….. My husband always laughs when they show people battling the deep snow to get to the grocery store…..and what do they buy……beer, junk food and diapers. Also, if you use 4 chicken breasts a week, and they are on sale, why wouldn’t you buy 24 or 40? You don’t need a major inflation problem to try to stretch a dollar. Stay safe and healthy everyone
Hi Chris, great comment, I totally agree with the 24 or 40 chicken breasts if they are on sale. It’s a way of life for us and we will get through this crazy situation going on right now. We have to stretch the dollar, more than ever before. Thank goodness we know how to cook from scratch. Linda
I just had this conversation with a good friend this weekend. She wants to stock up but her husband is NOT on board. She said he not only gets on her case when she purchases more than they need for the week but also gets into what she has set back for emergencies. She also noted that money is tight since they are both retired. I gave her the run down in how to stock up in the most budget friendly way and always rotate; follow the sales; best ways to store things, etc. She was amazed that I had so much knowledge on this subject! I told her that I have been staying stocked up for over 20 years. She promised to work hard on setting up a system for her household.
I also recommended this blog so I hope to run across some comments from her in the near future.
Hi Leanne, I don’t understand why a partner/spouse would begrudge stocking up food. I understand money being tight, I get it. I’m so glad you shared tips with her to make it work. What a blessing! Let’s hope she joins our forum here, thank you my friend, Linda
I LOVE this news letter!!!~ You rock Linda!
The .gov websites recommend 1 gallon of water per person per day. Linda you recommend a far more reasonable quantity of 4 gallons of water per person per day. But I think people aren’t taking into consideration how much dogs drink when it’s hot. Or if they keep chickens…the water needs to stay fresh so no bacteria grows. For us we need closer to 10 gallon a day for our household of 2 (with dogs, cats, chickens and rabbits) We can harvest water in rain barrels in the summer for the critters and the garden.
Hi Hazel, oh thank you for your kind words, my friend!! I have 2 dogs, so if you have a household of 2 with dogs, cats, chickens, and rabbits, thank you for sharing your need to have ten gallons a day!! I know I calculate 1 ounce (30ml) of water for each one of my dogs. One weighs 17 pounds, so I need 17-ounces for her, and the smaller dog weighs 10 pounds so 10-ounces for her. That’s per day per dog. I love hearing you have rain barrels!! Linda
Linda, As I go over your posts for the last several years, I realize just how much you have taught me and others. Thank you so very much for all your time and effort.
Hi Chris, thank you for your kind words, my sweet friend. We can do it! Linda
Great article! As someone who has worked at two different major companies that permanently laid everyone off due to outsourcing, I mainly prepare for financial and job insecurity.
I admit at first glance I thought it said “10 Fascinating Certifications of Preparedness.”
Hi Ravenna, that’s a good title as well!! That’s tough to be laid off due to outsourcing. I think right now all of us really don’t know what the next few months or years will bring. We must all be prepared for financial security. Crazy times. Linda