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How to change (your corner of) the world effectively
We now live in a global human society, where a butterfly flaps in the East, and a tornado starts in the West. And some tornadoes make a lot of damage really quickly, with devastating consequences.
(from here)
So what can you do to keep living a “normal” life amidst a storm that is raging near you, and – as history has showed us – will eventually come for you?
There is a simple answer: manage your expectations!
(from here)
Yes, I know it seems too simplistic, so I hope you’ll keep on reading based on the subtitle of this article, so it can all make sense. 😉
FACTS
Most people in the West are reliant on being told by the government and by media what and what not to do, on working to make money to buy things to enjoy when they retire, and on getting Government help when they can’t manage by themselves. This dependency is rewarded with access to “Luxuries” – TV, internet, and many other entertainment sources – to keep the moral high and dissent low, which Sid Meyer’s Civilization’s players will recognize as Elvis.
And everything is thrown at you in rapid-fire mode: new goals, objectives, trends, products, and services are offered to you all the time from all sides. Hence you have no time to take to think and discover your own opinion on things, or even to figure out what is old news, fake news or important matters to defend.
“If you don’t stand for something, you will fall for anything.” Alexander Hamilton (from here)
A fast paced, screen centered rat-race translates into a sense of competition: we go about being fed the idea that we can make it on our own, that we don’t need other people as long as we have outer signs of richness and the feeling of success.
(from here)
This scarcity mentality undermines community creation in all spheres our lives: worst communication within the household, distancing from family, lack of cooperation with fellow citizens, minimal to no interaction with neighbors and in extremis with people in general.
(from here)
PREPARING
If you look up how to prepare for a storm, there are many National and International resources, many individuals and communities (mostly online) that share a lot of tips and information.
One thing all preppers will agree on is this: to truly be prepared, you need to practice using the tools and methods you might will need later.
Even us multipotentialites, people with many interests, passions and transferable skills, are limited to the 24 hours each day has, to the need to sleep and eat, and to life in general. So, trust me when I say you can not possibly keep your current way of life alone amidst or even after a storm.
Human beings are not meant to live (sanely) in complete isolation – even if a volleyball is around, that’s not enough -, let alone be able to provide for water, light, food, comfort, security, medicine and everything else included in the standard of life most westerners are used to.
Ideally, your community should provide all you need, so the wealth stays in the community and it keeps growing and thriving, and every member should be an integral part of the web of producers and service providers.
(from here)
Obviously this means knowing the community, knowing who produces/offers what, and having a relationship with them, even if only a “Good Morning. Nice weather we’re having.” kind of thing.
“Why?”,you may ask.
Simple: because you love what you know.
YOU LOVE WHAT YOU KNOW
If you want people to help you, establishing a relationship is mandatory, otherwise they may refuse or need a lot more convincing to come to your aid.
When someone is not known, the “Danger Stranger” training kicks in, which is not a good thing when people are doing their best to survive, because any animal reacts aggressively when scared, and humans are animals!
So, in order to avoid that and increase your chances of surviving and even thriving amidst the storm, be a known member of your community. Go forth and interact!
START WITH YOURSELF
“If you want to change the world, start with yourself.” Mahatma Gandhi (from here)
Start from your viewpoint: what would you need in your community to survive during and after a storm?
Make a list of all items and services, and then see if someone provides that locally. If not, ask around if your neighbors would like to have that in the community, and if more people agree, figure out who can help you achieve it, and start the movement forward.
If something already exists, but is in danger of disappearing (bankruptcy, lack of funding, etc.), see who is interested in keeping it around, and brainstorm ways to make it work.
Ask what you want, and pay attention to what other people are asking for. Reciprocity needs a request, so ask!
GET INVOLVED IN YOUR COMMUNITY
As we saw with the California fires last month, people in need are themselves helping others in need in their community. Humans showing humanity towards humans and other species alike.
Get to know what your community needs, and see if you can provide it.
Reach out to NGO’s, religious groups, activity centers and other communal places where people get organized, and see what you can do to help within that structure, creating a network while helping and being helped in a safe and organized setting.
CHANGE (YOUR CORNER) OF THE WORLD
Every time you help someone, you are changing their lives for the better, and that makes society better too.
It’s the “Pay It Forward” principle of “Generalized Reciprocity”: by helping someone, they will help someone out of gratitude too, and so on, with positive ripples spreading far and wide.
It does not take much to make a difference, so make it as big as you can. Sometimes all we need is someone to tell us softly we have something in our teeth, someone to hold an umbrella over us when it’s raining, or a simple “Thank you.” when we do our job right.
“With one kind gesture you can change a life. One person at a time you can change the world. One day at a time we can change everything.” Steve Maraboli (from here)
So go forth and help when and where you can, and remember to ask for help when you need it.
