Y2K and Character

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It's occured to me that determination, grit and stamina are at least as important to surviving anything greater than a 6 as food, shelter and security preparation. Anyone have some ideas on how to prepare emotionally?

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), February 11, 1999

Answers

Emotionally Coping with Y2K BBS

-- Runway Cat (Runway_Cat@hotmail.com), February 11, 1999.

Hi Tricia. This isn't meant to be funny. Think like it's going to be 1900, or 1800, or 1700. Man has survived, in comfort lately. How much of that comfort will be there in 2000 is the only problem. <:)=

-- Sysman (y2kboard@yahoo.com), February 11, 1999.

Tricia,

I think that determination, grit and stamina are perhaps more important that food, shelter and security. If you lack the desire to survive then you stand have all of your preps taken away anyway.

The will to survive no matter what occurs a difficult concept for most of us. We just don't run into the need to think that way often enough. Perhaps, some of us have never had to think that way.

I listened to a Viet Nam Vet speak who talked about being on recon missions. On occassion he and his platoon would be hit in an ambush and more than once he saw the man next to him fall from the first shot fired. He said that the first feeling he felt wasn't remorse but absolutely joy. Why? It wasn't him. He wanted to survive.

My deepest fear about the coming years isn't that I can survive but that I will not be able to convince my loved ones that they can survive as well. If you can't mentally prepare for the challenge then your chances for doing so are in question.

If you have the will to survive then you'll find food, shelter and other necessities somehow.

Mike =========================================================

-- Michael Taylor (mtdesign3@aol.com), February 11, 1999.


I think you need to believe in something. I believe in capitalism. In libertarianism. I don't know if my belief is strong enough that I'd die for it, but I do know that I would be prepared to put my life on the line repeatedly for libertarian capitalism.

You need to believe in the future. To have goals. Y2k is just going to be a hurdle for me, for my career. I don't consider it an end. I consider it an unpleasant event that is going to happen, that I intend to survive -or, since I can't avoid it, to use it to my advantage somehow.

Remember, the Chinese ideogram for "Crisis" is the same as "Dangerous Opportunity".

--Leo

-- Leo (lchampion@ozemail.com.au), February 11, 1999.


"If you can't mentally prepare for the challenge then your chances for doing so are in question."

Has anyone seen the movie "The Edge"? There were two main themes (for me): one related to how people who find themselves lost in the wilderness, or in any other unfamiliar survival situation, don't die of starvation, or exposure.... they die of shame... shame of not being prepared for the situation....shame of not knowing what to do... much like the guys who committed suicide after the stock market crash of the 'great depression' ... shame of not seeing what was coming; of not being on top of events. The other, was about being human, rather than instinctive in response to fear.

Right now, up front, I think it would be good for everyone to realize they haven't got a clue what form the coming changes will take. Realize you haven't got the foggiest notion what will really happen to you personally in your locale...and that all of your preparations could be overkill or could be totally inadequate. You have done the best you could to fathom the shadows of the future...you have been actively preparing for what you could see, and for what you could imagine....

So, right now, forgive yourself for any and all oversights... and pledge that you will not die of shame...neither will you die without grace... that you will be generous, caring and human in all of your relations with other human beings and rise above the purely animal instinct for survival and whether you live or die at least learn the art of being truly human. But never give up, never give up, never give up.

-- Shelia (shelia@active-stream.com), February 11, 1999.



How to prepare? Prayer.

-- Spidey (in@jam.com), February 11, 1999.

Tricia -- I think the fact that you asked the question is evidence of your understanding and ability. Please share your answer with us when you get the time...

-- PNG (png@gol.com), February 11, 1999.

How to mentally prepare for something happening that has never been defined, that can't be imagined because no one knows what will happen. I wonder if it's possible to mentally prepare for the unknown in any meaningful way. Is that a human capacity?

I'm preparing in the only way I know how, physically. With material goods that might come in handy. I'm trying to make my family aware of the possibilities, so they won't be caught completely off guard. I am sending my teenage son to wilderness training camp this summer. I am trying, feebly, to get my 50 yr old out of shape body in better condition. What else can I do?

-- meeko (meeeko@hotmail.com), February 11, 1999.


you need a sound mind and a sound body. also spiritual motivation, whatever that means to you. a good balance of all these things at once, which i admit is a struggle for me because i tend to focus on one thing at a time to the detriment of the others.

-- jocelyne slough (jonslough@tln.net), February 11, 1999.

Here's an excellent start.

-- Hardliner (searcher@internet.com), February 11, 1999.


Has anyone seen the movie "The Edge"?

I found the movie very entertaining but also vaguely disturbing. The disturbing part is that after surviving the worst that nature had to throw against them, including a surrealistically vindictive bear, the two main characters turn on each other. I hope that this is not a true portrayal of how most Americans will react when the crisis hits.

I found it very instructive to read the article about the 2 New York City blackouts that someone posted the link to a week or so ago. During the first blackout in the 60s, there was no increase in crime and New Yorkers generally discovered a real sense of community in pulling together in whatever situation they found themselves in. The second blackout though, a decade or so later, was marked by looting and violence. Although the article didn't suggest it, I have to wonder whether a general decline in moral standards during the decade between the two blackouts wasn't responsible for the different reactions. If so, what does that say about what to expect when we hit The Great Blackout of 2000?



-- Tom Knepper (thomas_knepper@intuit.com), February 11, 1999.

Thanks one and all for the thoughtful responses.

I started this thread because I was feeling end-of-the-rope-ish, myself. What Shelia wrote resonated strongly; do what you can and forgive yourself your oversights.

I am faced with the dilemma of a spouse who believes that we're looking at a 3 (sometimes up to a 5), whereas I think that a 5 is very optimistic. So we are staying in our current house, which is anything but good for heating without natural gas and electricity, and is in a suburb of a city of about 700,000. I do what I can to prepare, and my food prep is coming along fairly well. But I do get overwhelmed occasionally. So, how to overcome?

First, community/friendship. I'm not looking forward to the net being down!! However, I do have a sister who gets it and whose support is beyond price (thanks, Lois), and a friend who gets it, although we don't talk Y2K a whole lot. And even those whom I love who don't get it are supportive of me emotionally.

Secondly, preparation. The guilt at not having done something right is better dealt with if you know that you've done what you can. I don't know how to prepare emotionally, except to realize that despair is frequently the killer, not the situation. Churchill's speach "Never, never, never, never, never, never give up" is the answer to alot of problems. I think practicing this in every day life is the only way to hone this part of your character.

Thirdly, but arguably most important, spiritual. Again, practice is the key, here. Too many people of all faiths give lip service to their beliefs, but expect God to give real service to them when TSHTF. And frequently, He does; He does things His own way and in His own time, not often the way that makes sense to me.

So, really no big answers here, and thanks for your input :-)

-- Tricia the Canuck (jayles@telusplanet.net), February 11, 1999.


Tricia,

Choose to be resourceful, as in full of resources. Be able to DO things you find fun and intriguing, that others may need help with. Barter for what you may need.

Try to remain expansive, in all things and thoughts, rather than contracting. Or restrictive.

Be prepared physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Then be flexible.

Diane

-- Diane J. Squire (sacredspaces@yahoo.com), February 15, 1999.


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