Part of trying to live more gently, to me, does not just mean living gently on the land.
It also means living gently in the world...and being gentle on myself.
Look, I have nothing against being prepared. In fact, I've blogged about it before. I think that, like many people, I've fallen into the trap from time to time of acting out of FEAR.
As my husband would say, "Be alert, not alarmed". Fear can unfortunately be contagious. When one person perceives a danger, whether real or imagined, and then convinces OTHER people to also be afraid of that danger, it begins to spread. Before you know it, everyone is afraid.
"But what about....(insert current rumor, facts, or other information here)?" some might ask.
Look, I'm not saying that it isn't wise to make some preparations. Natural disasters are unpredictable and can certainly create havok. There are also possibilities of unrest in some areas. We are coming to an age where sources of energy may become a challenge. Food freedoms are being challenged by some fairly nare-do-well folks.
I think that it is wise to consider the LIKELY issues that can be prepared for, and make some preparations for them. Such as:
1. If you can, grow some of your own food. It's healthier for you, and you become less dependent upon the fluxuating prices of food, as well as the ability for trucks to deliver them to your area.
2. Create a storage. Can, freeze, dehydrate and otherwise store food items. The usual recommendation is to aim for a 6 month supply. This would cover natural disasters, the temporary loss of a job, or other issue. It also might get you through until the next harvest season...at which time you'll know whether you need to grow more food to store depending on what your circumstances are. Store basic emergency items (flashlights, toilet paper, bottled water, fire arms, hand-crank radio, etc)
3. Consider alternative forms of energy. Look at the current trends. Renewable energy simply makes sense. If you have the money, start creating some of your own energy. Solar, wind, water, geothermal, passive solar, human powered, etc. If you have the extra cash, I'd recommend sinking some money into some of these, since the trend seems to be that it is probably going to be smart to have ways to make your own source of renewable energy rather than depending upon others. Do your research. Discuss your needs with several sources before you make a purchase. Check consumer reports and other spots online that give reviews of products before you buy.
4. While you're at it, consider alternative forms of transportation! If you're making your own energy, why not consider an electric car you could charge by yourself? Why not look for a bike-converter kit to turn your push bike into a motorized one? Drive a moped in nice weather - at least the fuel needs will be lessened. Carpool, walk where you can, etc. Now is a good time to explore all of these options.
5. Consider how you can live more simply, and yet with joy. It doesn't make sense to live in a cave with no enjoyment just 'to be prepared'! Enjoy some pleasures that make sense. I am talking more about getting rid of clutter and 'stuff' that you really don't need. Instead of turning on your TV and watching a movie, why not play a board game with the family? How about reading a good book, or taking a walk with the kids? Maybe it is time to start redefining the things that truly bring JOY to your life.
6. Stay alert, but not alarmed.
Many people are getting all riled up about what MIGHT happen. That is focusing a lot of negative energy on an outcome. I happen to believe that sometimes what you focus on is what you manifest. Do you REALLY want to manifest all those horrible things that some people are getting all riled up about?
I'm not suggesting that you stick your head in the sand and pretend that nothing is going on around you. Look at all of the facts first, however, before you make a final judgement. Take a step back and think and breathe for a moment. Sometimes all is not as it seems. I've learned that making assumptions based loosely on a few opinions and a smattering of facts does not always lead to the truth.
Do you suppose the government is out to get us all? Do you think there is some world agency hoping to cull much of the population? Do you really think they put that much thought into their actions? Sure, many government (and other) agencies are greedy. They are out for themselves, and do not always look at how their actions impact the little guy (that's you and me). Sometimes they just don't CARE about the negative impact their actions might have. Yes, this is all true. Does that mean that EVERY time the government (or other) agencies does something it is simply to gain an advantage over people and/or that the actions are ill-intended? No, I do not believe that is the case.
As with all times of upheaval and 'revolution', this period of time is, I'm sure, going to be remembered long into the future. The actions we take now WILL be remembered by our grandchildren.
Moving back to a more natural life that is more connected to the earth, more simple and independent is definitely a GOOD thing. I think most people would agree with that. As a society, we've gotten far too addicted to technology and materialism. We've gotten away from truly enjoying time with our families, enjoying nature, and living more in harmony with the earth.
It's too bad it has taken such a high-energy time like this to get people to wake up and realize that things need changing. Maybe, just for a moment, we can take a step back and be grateful for this atmosphere for providing us with that incentive to discover what is truly important to us as individuals, as families, and as a society.
It's OK to take a step back from the fear-mongering going on right now. Even well-respected friends that so many of us know are spouting off in fear.
We can begin some basic preparations and take slow steps toward becoming more independent without doing it in fear. We can pay attention to the news and the actions of government (and other) agencies to ensure that our needs are being met. We all *DO* have power, and if enough people agree that something is not as it should be, we will all join together to deal with that as we always have as a society since the creation of our country.
Have a little more faith. Realize that the energy of fear is very draining, but the energy of creativity is expansive. Get creative about what kinds of preparations you feel you and your family might want to make. Enjoy the process. Get creative about alternative sources of energy. There are lots of DIY videos on youtube and other great sites (instructables comes to mind) that can point you in directions of how to become more energy self-sufficient. Consider your purchases carefully to maximize your every dollar...because financial comfort is important to everyone and helps free up some of your money for emergencies.
Please...just consider my words. Be gentle. Breathe deeply. Before you listen to someone that is all riled up and then get yourself riled up and then you go spout off to someone else (thereby spreading that riled-up state around to others)....ask yourself if it all makes sense. Sit and marinate in the information you've been given. Do a little research and see if there aren't other facts involved. See if there are other angles to look at the situation. Then ask yourself if the situation is really and truly worth you getting upset about.
I'm as guilty as the next person when it comes to sharing information online with others when I feel it is concerning. That sharing of information can then become a time of discussion with others. I often find that after I share some info about a concerning issue, those creative juices I mentioned earlier can get going. People come up with very creative ideas to issues. That then becomes a catalyst for others to look at a situation from many sides, and realize that it doesn't have to be something of FEAR, but rather an invitation to get creative. Sometimes it's an invitation to fight for a cause, and other times we may feel more inclined to take personal steps or create a personal plan that may resolve any issues.
If the answer (after all that considering above) is 'yes, we need to take action on this', then by all means make careful decisions and take action as you see fit. I suspect that in at least some of the instances you'll encounter, you'll discover a few weeks or months down the road that perhaps the fear-mongering was a bit misplaced.
Consider this: Y2k never happened. Do you remember the chaos surrounding it?? Many other things never happened that have been warned about. Sure, the economy has been pretty crappy, but we aren't eating each other in the streets just yet. Could we get there? I honestly don't know. Hopefully not. Hopefully enough people are starting to grow and/or store food. Hopefully people are waking up and making some basic preparations.
Just...try to let go of the fear a bit. Act out of reasoned judgement.
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