Prepping To Die

Why Are We Preparing?

At my time and beingness in life, I have little inclination to candy-coat so others feel better. I will not lie with a smile just so someone is comfortable. What I say is from observation and the truth of matters, not from judgment. Making others feel better in appeasement will not save them or ourselves.

During a so-called prepper’s meeting, I came to an epiphany from a question asked and the responses, or lack thereof. The question was, Why are we preparing? Sadly, no one responded; changing the subject instead. The question, “Why do we prepare?” was asked in regards to preparing for difficult, if not impossible times, and for something more than ourselves. I realized that the idea and even the actions of preparing make us feel better as long as we stay within our comfort zones. But feeling better about ourselves accomplishes little more than hiding under a blanket because there is a murderer in our bedroom. Most likely, hidden under our blankets, we’re going to die. I also realized that everything we prepare for must be based on a long-lasting purpose, not just for ourselves but for others.

Preparing for the long-term future of self and others requires stepping from our comfortable beds and being and doing what is uncomfortable. Starvation, defending our community, and world war will be uncomfortable, as will be dying from our unwillingness to work together. Today, some confidently chanted, “I will not change.” So they won’t. For the rest of us, We either adapt, improvise and overcome or remain comfortable in our self-righteousness. Change will happen, willingly or not. We can either learn to dance together with that change or justify why we are content sitting in our chairs.

What is unfolding is a fundamental change - a change in our lifestyles, financially, and a changing in how we have lived and who we have been. Preparing is not preparing for one or a few comfortable aspects of our lives, and not just for a day or year, but for what we do not want to fathom. Bravado, past accolades, and unwillingness will not save us, nor will a diet so we fit into our swimsuits.

From watching body language and faces made, I saw from some, judgment and ire, but from others, bewilderment, frustration and dismay to the point of leaving. It was obvious; we were as divided as what we say we are preparing for.

What happened was good, if only in understanding that survival for the moment, just to die comfortably because we “prepared” is not preparing at all. It also was good knowing who is taking this seriously, and who is on the same page and who is not. Others and I are not preparing just to live another day, but to give others a chance to live a life they have yet to live. When we do not prepare with and for others as a community, there is little hope in being anything but the dogs of hell eating the dogs of hell.

If we are to survive, then, unfortunately, or maybe, fortunately, we will have to embrace the division and work with those on the same page. I’m preparing for life, not just mine, and not just to die another day. Like tiny seedlings, those willing to grow will grow, and those not willing, well, they will die. I am going to spend my time, effort, and intention tending to those willing to be the change we need, those wanting to live a lifetime yet lived.