Attitude IS everything...

I have been sadly remiss in my duties as the BIG YAP of the SK Prepper's Network, and for this I apologize. Between taking a day job, planting trees, and generally running around like a madwoman and accomplishing nothing, it's been an interesting summer.

In the course of my usual uproar I do think about what to touch on next. I've thought about canning and preserving food, and will at some point get to the finer bits. I am NO expert by any stretch, but the learning curve is always the most fun. I do need to finish the post about Wok Grokking and bread baking, and since that experiment DID work with the whole wheat bread, I will try it again just to duplicate the experiment and document the process. It will be getting cold here soon, and I'm going to have to winterize and close up the RV/summer cabin soon so I'll get to the Wok next post.

For this round, I've actually been inspired to write about attitude. This particular inspiration was given to me by a customer at the store where I work. I tend to be a mite talkative with customers and like to keep a light chat going while checking out their groceries. One customer in particular giggled at me yesterday and asked me "how do you do it?" I stopped and said "do what?" She gave me a quizzical look (like what??) and said "maintain your attitude". At the time, for a cute off-the-cuff response I struck a Napoleonic pose and spouted "CAFFIENE!!" We all had a good chuckle and the conversation continued on the topic of coffees and how much we liked the different types.

In retrospect (something I'm really good at - hindsight equalling 20/20 and so forth) this lady's comment got me thinking about attitude and it's effects.

I have a Facebook buddy whose usual line is "Rational, Positive, Creative" and to my mind THAT is probably the most powerful way to start any day. There are a million lines floating around about attitude...ATTITUDE is everything, solid-gold ATTITUDE, positive ATTITUDE, and so on.

I'm not entirely certain where my positive attitude came from. I suppose it's just something that's been developed over a number of years and many heartbreaks that have been survived. I credit my children for much of it. As kids tend to do, they push parents to the brink of sanity in one way or another, but for the most part they keep me young. That has quite a bit to do with it. Good food, good humor, good company all make for a good life in general.

But when push comes to shove, how to you stay positive in the face of adversity. And really, isn't that what we're prepping for? Adversity?

Being prepared is one thing, being able to maintain your wits about you is another subject entirely. When you have to grab your Bugout Kit and make tracks, are YOU prepared emotionally to face whatever is about to turn your world upside down? If the answer to this question isn't a resounding YES!!! then I suspect one may want to work on their attitude.

Overall, attitude is really 90% of staying on top of things. There are so many different types of personalities that we could go on for days about how best to support those in times of need. There will be folks around you in an SHTF situation that are simply the "lie down and die" types - woe is me, Scarlett O'Hara Whatever Shall I Do types, and beyond a healthy shove in the right direction, there isn't much that can correct that type of thinking from the outside. Attitude and the strength to maintain it, comes from the inside. Period. If you're a reader, then I suggest you pick up a copy of James Redfield's "The Celestine Prophecy". For many, this may seem like a bit of a religious airy-fairy type of book, however, it gives GREAT insight into the different personalities and how best to cope with them. Once I figure out how to properly post links, I will do so. And with any luck, I'm not stepping on copyright toes in the process of my blogging...

Another good read to wrap your head around is "The Secret" by Rhonda Byrne. Ms. Byrne has created a phenomenon with her exposing the how to and why of the Laws of Attraction.

Even if you do have a hard time reading these books from a LOGICAL standpoint, they will still impart some valuable information on attitudes and how they affect not only you, but those around you. If you're not much for sitting down with a good book, both books have now been made into movies. You will have to find the links, since I'm really bad at posting those...I'm sure you'll figure it out.

The point here: Attitudes are infectious.

As Preppers', I like to think we're already pretty RATIONAL. Not the types that are given to fits of fancy and panic.

If all you absorb from the books or movies is 10% of the information on how to maintain positive and creative attitudes, you will be leaps and bounds ahead of the next person. Don't forget, in times of crisis, people are drawn to positivity. Someone that can shine with positive light and creative ideas on how best to cope with any given situation are the ones that will be able to HELP the next person step up to the plate and help someone else.

There's that maintaining relationships topic again...interesting how we always manage to come back to this in one way or another.

Be Rational, Be Positive, Be Creative!
Till next time
Tabby