Motivations

[k15n1]

Lately I've been thinking about how our personal motivation is often a distraction from the work of preparing for the future.

One thing I've noticed about the prep/survival community is that everyone like their own motivation. Often people introduce themselves with really specific reasons for starting to prepare for the future. Some of the reasons are bunk but it doesn't matter because that's what gets them off the couch!

I think, for the most part, motivations should be kept to ones self. (Not a secret, just not on your sleeve.) You may be motivated by fears of a dirty bomb and I may be inspired by drought and someone else by disease outbreak. Despite those huge differences, my preparations are similar to yours. The motivation is less important than results.

Talking others into your personal motivation doesn't seem to work, from what I've seen here and in other groups. The evangelism of personal fears and convictions are so deeply part of our experience that it's hard to convey it to anyone other than our children, and even that's a crap shoot. But often I see people change their preparation efforts based on what they learn from the prep/survival community.

There's relatively few people who are paying the premium for this insurance plan. The prep/survival community is small enough without further subdividing it.

My point here is that we should do the work of preparation and let each person have their own opinion about what's going to cause the end of the world-as-we-know-it.

 

[Britesea]

I used to say that pretty much everyone was a "prepper" even if they didn't know it, because they had a spare tire in the trunk of their car (why? you only need 4 to drive the thing, right?); but I've found out that a lot of the new cars don't even come with that funky donut tire anymore-- if you are lucky, you get a can of that tire repair spray.

I don't think that it's fear that motivates a person to put things by; it's actually a supreme act of optimism- that you'll still be around to enjoy that item when the time comes. In the same way, I think planting a seed in the ground is one of the most profound acts of faith there is; you are entering into a covenant with God.

 

[baymule]

I have never considered myself to be a hard nosed prepper, maybe I should reconsider that. Whatever the motivation someone has, if it gets them to thinking about what to do should bad times hit, then it is a good thing.

My motivation used to be hurricanes. We moved. It is with empathy I watch people preparing right now for Hurricane Matthew bearing down on Florida and the southern east coast states. I can say from experience that a pan of brownies and box of cheap wine makes for great comfort food.

There are new members joining every week. If a post about preparing for a natural disaster, financial or political disaster or just a crap-shoot SHTF situation gets their attention and gets them to making preparations, we, as a community, then we have helped that person.

I have personally benefitted from the knowledge found on this forum. If it were not from the opinions and postings of other people, then I would not know some of the things I now know. Keep it to myself? Nah, I'm too much of a blabber fingers.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

Personally - we have lived through the hurricanes, we have lived through the job lay offs, we have lived through the devastating injuries and our own personal apocalypse's. Being prepared, having a stockpile, a garden, fresh eggs and knowing how to do as much as you can with as little as you have becomes a personal challenge. Overcoming those challenges leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment. Having skills you can use in those situations takes some of the fear away.

After Hurricane Rita when there was no bread on the shelves - there was plenty of flour and yeast. Make your own... When there was no electricity or water...fire up the generator and pump your own IF you run out of the water you had saved up... So much of this is simply common sense and the scary part is that so many people have so little of it (common sense)! They truly believe that the store shelves will always be stocked and the ATM's will always have cash and the gas pumps will always dispense gasoline. Will they? I HOPE so. But if they don't, at least some of us will know how to deal with those consequences.

 

[Mini Horses]

When I was young I loved to sit in the cellars at both grandparents....it was peaceful and very pretty. Now I realize how it was also comforting that there was plenty of the things I loved to eat. At the time, for the grandparents, it was just a way of life to grow when the season allowed, hunt when the season allowed and preserve it all for future use. A way of life and a way of actual survival. I loved the cellar & collecting eggs. My grandma made vinegar, saved seed, canned, may lye & soap, washed clothes by hand, ironed with an iron that heated on the stove, cooked with wood and all of these things we now "want to learn".

I love animals and what they can do and provide. I appreciate their personalities and the love they return. Gardens are a treasure, when I have time for one, lol. Canning is pleasant and fulfilling. I WANT to do these things! For me it is fulfilling my dream of operating a farm, providing for myself, and it is both comforting and empowering to know that I CAN do these things as an economic and survival issue.

It is not fear based. There is no fear and I can live in town and shop stores, if I want. So long as I can breathe I want to be able to provide for myself & my animals with as much of the healthy, chemical free food that I can provide. I'm frugal but spend as I want; I'm healthy food oriented but, sometimes stop at McDs.........that's life! It's how I want to live, it's a choice. Others ways of doing are interesting, how they manage their farm is interesting and knowing I can SSS a bear that makes the mistake of chasing me is pure confidence!

It's attitude. It's intuition. It's knowledge. It's caring. It's confidence. It's pleasure, all rolled up into life.

 

[sumi]

This is a good discussion! I think it's great to be prepared. For whatever. The economy collapsing, unexpected expenses that messes up the budget, natural disasters, whatever your reasons are. It's good to be prepared and organised. I often say "Rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it." Having been in the "don't have it" boat a time or two, I like having the security of having extra things around and having access to stored things, if needed. If you have children and/or livestock depending on you, even more so.

 

[frustratedearthmother]

That's a good point. I think we all have/had different reasons to feel the need. But, prep is prep and being able to share ideas with a fairly like minded community is a positive!

 

[NH Homesteader]

I wouldn't call myself a prepper either. I have no problem with people discussing their motivations, whether I agree or not. My personal motivations often are a little too political to mention here so I zip it! But I find it interesting to read about other peoples' reasons for doing what they do. I have gained perspective through reading such posts, in fact. The economy and money are not my main interest or worry, but reading the posts by @baymule on those subjects has given me things to consider I never would have thought of.

If I read something I don't agree with... Well then I take from it what applies to me and leave the rest.

 

[k15n1]

Years ago, it seemed like there were more clashes of ideology. I remember one savage debate about inflation... the whole thing seems crazy to me now. So much energy wasted on a non-issue. Everyone involved sustained damage, socially, but no motivations were changed.

I guess I posted not to tell you want to do but to share my new perspective. Sort of the opposite, actually. Now that I'm thinking about it differently, I'm less bothered by motivations that I don't find compelling.

I've noticed that the most-cited reason for not preparing is a lack of fear. So maybe it's good to have a little fear, even if if's fear of an extremely unlikely obscure implausible scenario.

 

[Beekissed]

Same here! God gave me land and expects stewardship of me, so it's a good redemption of the land to grow things on it rather than just mow it and look at it. Just so happens I LOVE to grow things and farm, so being a steward of the land comes natural to me and it brings me closer to the Lord in many ways that are so very precious to me.

I love the feeling of being able to grow my own food and I always have...it's nothing short of miraculous to me to plant a tiny seed and get a goodly amount of food back from it. Then to be able to store and preserve the excess is another joy...being able to taste the efforts of summer when it's snowing outside is another level of fulfillment.

As for raising the animals, there's a whole different level of joy that comes from that...just observing them and their ways is exciting, but to get the chance to care for them, helping them to fulfill their purpose here on Earth, and to honor God's creativity and artistry of design in that manner is a privilege.

It's also a great redemption of the time that the Lord has given me, while keeping my body active and my mind engaged. It's how God has chosen to provide healthy food for us and also give me something to do that I enjoy so very much...it's a win/win solution that only God could come up with, so that brings me joy as well. Just knowing that He loves me that much is really huge for me.

So the short answer is~because I can!