The other day, I was walking along a local stream where people often fish. As I strolled along, the discarded bait boxes, beer cans, broken camp chairs and general litter got me thinking about survival. Is litter a strange thing to inspire me? Maybe not.
Survival and preparedness require one very important trait: The ability to look at the possible consequences of your actions and the actions of others. The ability to look toward the future and think: what if? The fishermen on the shore of that stream don’t understand this.
The section of stream bank accessed by so many locals is on private property. Sooner or later, the landowner will tire of the mess and close access to the area. All that the fishermen have to do to prevent this is give some thoughts to the consequences of what they do there. Sadly, they will likely not do this, and they will be barred from the land.
As a species, we also seem to be unable to think about the consequences of our actions. The last few years are full of examples, from financial meltdowns to blown out oil wells. That inability to foresee the likely end of actions seems to hold true for the majority of individuals as well. Very few people think beyond instant gratification.
The fact that you’re reading this blog indicates that you are one of those few people. There are always a few atypical individuals that can think beyond the next meal, the next day or the next month. Those are the people that survive tornadoes, do not need to be rescued from floodwaters, and do have the spare capacity to help the less fortunate and less prepared.
I could wish that more people in our society are like that, but it just isn’t the case. The general rule seems to be live for today, get what you can and to hell with the other guy. It is a worrisome trend that portends serious consequences.
As a society, we seem to be unable to turn aside from courses that seem destined to bring about, if not catastrophe, then very hard times indeed. Reliance on diminishing oil supplies, lack of concern for climate change, and a general reliance on an ever more fragile economy seem to concern the average person no more than a rain shower on the other side of the world.
So. Are we doomed? It’s hard to say. As much as this article is about seeing the future, no one can. It’s really about possible futures and being prepared to prosper, whatever that future brings. So keep being that one in a thousand that has some food and water set by, or an alternate heat source, or skills that others have lost.
Survival and preparedness require one very important trait: The ability to look at the possible consequences of your actions and the actions of others. The ability to look toward the future and think: what if? The fishermen on the shore of that stream don’t understand this.
The section of stream bank accessed by so many locals is on private property. Sooner or later, the landowner will tire of the mess and close access to the area. All that the fishermen have to do to prevent this is give some thoughts to the consequences of what they do there. Sadly, they will likely not do this, and they will be barred from the land.
As a species, we also seem to be unable to think about the consequences of our actions. The last few years are full of examples, from financial meltdowns to blown out oil wells. That inability to foresee the likely end of actions seems to hold true for the majority of individuals as well. Very few people think beyond instant gratification.
The fact that you’re reading this blog indicates that you are one of those few people. There are always a few atypical individuals that can think beyond the next meal, the next day or the next month. Those are the people that survive tornadoes, do not need to be rescued from floodwaters, and do have the spare capacity to help the less fortunate and less prepared.
I could wish that more people in our society are like that, but it just isn’t the case. The general rule seems to be live for today, get what you can and to hell with the other guy. It is a worrisome trend that portends serious consequences.
As a society, we seem to be unable to turn aside from courses that seem destined to bring about, if not catastrophe, then very hard times indeed. Reliance on diminishing oil supplies, lack of concern for climate change, and a general reliance on an ever more fragile economy seem to concern the average person no more than a rain shower on the other side of the world.
So. Are we doomed? It’s hard to say. As much as this article is about seeing the future, no one can. It’s really about possible futures and being prepared to prosper, whatever that future brings. So keep being that one in a thousand that has some food and water set by, or an alternate heat source, or skills that others have lost.
Originally posted May 28,2010 @MPN
Keep being the odd one out.
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