Archive for December, 2011

Bucket List

// December 7th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

Prompted by http://thedaddyyodude.blogspot.com/2011/12/kicking-bucket-list-in-2012.htm

A fella I follow on Twitter posted the above link.  I wanted to reply in kind with an article.

I’ll call this a bucket list, but loosely.  I don’t intend on kicking the bucket for a long time, so this is more of a “Nudge the bucket list”.  Granted, his point is valid, we have little time on this planet.

Here goes.  It’s fairly mundane, but it is a list of what I thought about first, and not filtered into some kind of a pander to people’s likes thing.  It’s simply me and my mind.

  1. Fly an airplane.
  2. Dive over 100 feet under the ocean, preferably around a reef.
  3. Finish one of my numerous books, all of which I have started.
  4. Publish an article that saves a life (hard to quantify).
  5. Bring about change on a large scale, preferably regarding education and how damaged the system is.
  6. Travel in space.
  7. Find a gemstone in the planet, and make it into a family heirloom to pass to my son.
  8. Write a children‘s book.
  9. Visit the previous site of the Berlin Wall.
  10. Create a piece of art, a painting, of a dragon, that is beautiful.

I don’t think I’ll be able to do any of these things in the next year, but maybe.

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Ready to not be ready

// December 5th, 2011 // No Comments » // Science, Self Defense, Thoughts, Violence

 lot

Is a state of awareness regarding how unprepared you are for a situation valid?  If I’m as ready as I can possibly be to accept and react to as many possible scenarios that may come about, is that considered prepared?

Let me clarify that rambling of mine.  If you are a possible victim, as we all are, wouldn’t it be prudent for you to plan your reactions regarding different situations and the choices they may present?  If you are aware of simple things like the following:

  1. Hesitation isn’t always bad, especially in potentially controllable situations.  Don’t go into a quiet parking lot by yourself at night unless you’re staying acutely aware of what and who is around you.  Better yet, tag along with someone you know or trust (or even a security guard).  We have that little nagging voice in us for a reason.  There’s no reason to feel guilty or ashamed to ask for a walking buddy.  That voice is survival speaking up, listen to it.
  2. Pay attention to people.  I know you like to be in your little bubble with your little world view, thinking that if something bad happens, it won’t happen to you.  That’s just not necessarily the case.  I’ve seen videos (during this seminar) that show victims of crimes and their behavior beforehand, in some cases, is supremely introverted.
  3. Stay away from people and out of situations that breed these threats.  Teen/college age students are especially guilty of this one.  Steer clear of drugs, gangs, and even parties if they start to trigger #1.
  4. Educate yourself.  In most of what I’ve outlined, I’m leaning toward conflict or violence.  However, like last year when I became a father, I didn’t know what I was getting into.  However, I educated myself and became as prepared as I could possibly become pre-fatherhood.  I know first hand that it helped a lot.
  5. Know that you can’t avoid every situation.

Preparing for the opportunities where you do actually get to react will help nullify panic and adrenal dumps.  Even considering potential situations, whatever they may be, could give you the fraction of a moment that equals success.

I don’t enjoy hearing people say “but I don’t want to think of that, that’s not a happy thought”.  With understanding comes contentedness.  Rest assured:

“Consider the possibilities, because they’re always considering you.”

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