Safety

I feel like most people take safety for granted.

We snuggle up in our warm beds at night, looking forward to rest most of us not even thinking about the possibility of danger. We expect that we're safe. That because there's blankets and walls separating us from the outside world, that we're somehow immune to everything that goes on out there. But we're not. Glass can be shattered, doors can be broken, and security systems can only go so far. Some people are ignorant enough to think that money makes them impermeable, maybe because they can afford better security, some just because they think it makes them better. But the truth of the matter is that every single person alive has something to offer. Something that makes them worth something, even if a particular person chooses not to believe it. There are people who are just mentally ill, there are some people who just don't have the patience to attain something honestly, and others who feed on the displeasure of others. You might think that you have nothing to make you vunerable to a situation of that type, or that nobody would come to your particular house or apartment, but I can tell you that almost everyone who has something happen to them thought it would never happen to them.

So if nobody is really safe (at least not all the time), then what do we do? I am by no means saying be afraid all the time and always think of the worst. It's that American saying I've heard .. prepare for the worst and hope for the best. But please, be prepared for the worst. We can't think that everything is fine and that nothing can happen to us or the ones we love just because. I say give yourself a reason to feel safe. That means very different things for different people. That may be martial arts training, forming a neighborhood patrol, guard dog, extra security around the house, whatever in particular makes you feel safe. It's important to have a contingency plan just in case. Cover all your basis and make sure that you know no matter what may happen, even if you're put into a compromising situation, you will be safe. People may be unpredictable, but your house, your surroundings, your knowledge doesn't have to be.

Some tips from me to you ..
-Don't share your plans with anyone who wouldn't be directly involved or doesn't need to know. If someone does choose for some reason to go after you, the first people they'll go to is the ones you care about most.
-Have more than one plan. Few things in life ever go exactly how you want them, be prepared for everything. Even for the things you might not know might happen.
-Have an emergency kit in your car and in your home. If you do need to run away and are able to drive away or just get to you car, it would be useful to have something there that can help you. I'd suggest having a prepaid charged phone just in case, the kind that just sits around till you decide to you use it. The great thing about a phone is even if there's no money or minutes on it, it can still dial 911. For your home, flashlights, extra batteries, and keeping your cellphone near you are always important.
-Do your best to stay in shape. I know that may just seem like a good healthy lifestyle tip but in reality someone in better shape is more agile, can runaway faster, think quicker, hide in smaller spaces, and most of the time stay safer.
-Use code names. If someone happens to have your phone wired you want to make sure you can communicate when you need to safely. Instead of saying something like "There's something going on, I think I'm in danger, meet me in the mall parking lot." You can say "Bartholomew's principle called again, she needs to see us at the school right away." Whatever it is you want to use, make sure the person who needs to know what it means, knows what it means.
-Have really good friends. Really good friends tend to care about you a lot and will most of the time know when something is wrong. If you never miss out on gameboard night and you're not there and your phone is going right to voicemail .. they'll be sure to check things out.
-Be a good person. Don't do bad stuff like kill people, steal from anyone, lie to people, or just about anything that might possibly cause a troubled consciousness and you're less likely to be the target of anything that might put you or your family in danger. Which just leaves the possibility of world or area disasters.
-Stay calm. No matter what goes down always remember that you're going to be fine. Don't forget that you're not Chuck Norris and your life isn't a movie. You probably can't swiftly remove the gun from the opposing forces' hand. Don't freak out. Follow your plan as best you can and if something goes wrong be as resourceful as you can be and do your best to get back to your plan.
-Think positive. Once you have a good plan that you can feel good about don't worry to much about things. The more you focus on good things in life the more good things will come.

I know that most likely if someone reads this they're going to view me as a pessimistic sort of person, but I promise that I'm not. In fact the majority of the time I'm really very happy and I always find the good in situations. I just think it's really important for people to come down to earth sometimes and see that there are different sides to their realities. And it never hurts to be prepared.

Peace, Love & Pancakes
-Lib