Alright, I confess. I’m a closet conspiracy theorist. Don’t hold it against me. But in the wake of this ridiculous election cycle, rising tensions in the Middle East, the apparent effects of climate change, and talk among high-ranking government officials about UFO's and extraterrestrials — who could blame me? Let’s be honest, we’re intentionally kept in the dark. And that can be a little unsettling for those of us reading between the lines. Pull back the curtain just a little, and reality is a pretty flimsy construct.
This week, I had the opportunity to take a hike in Aspen, Colorado with a childhood friend who’s become a respected thought-leader and influential architect of national public policy, specifically focused on racial economic inequality in America. It’s not everyday I get the chance to talk conspiracy theory with a Washington insider, but I was a little shocked at his reaction to my “what if’s.”
Rapid fire, I shot off the big ones: Was the American government behind 9/11? Did the Federal Reserve have Kennedy assassinated? Are extraterrestrials pulling the strings down here on planet Earth? Is the Trump campaign just a ruse to help Hillary get elected? Is Monsanto part of an elaborate plan to reduce the population?
His response completely caught me off guard. (And I’m paraphrasing.) “Maybe. And so what?” Quite abruptly, he said this: “The government lies and keeps secrets. Get over it.” And it kind of knocked the wind out of me. I mean, seriously. What was I going to do? Expose the United States government for a hundred years of deception? He reassured me that at the end of the day, I need to pay my mortgage, raise my daughter, and contribute to my community. Assume nothing is at it seems, and move on.
The only thing that really matters is what’s in front of me and what I have influence over. And that’s the good news. My sphere of influence is minuscule, which means I’ve got a real shot at making a big difference over what’s right in front of me. My wife taught me this better than anyone else. Her focus is crystal clear: our daughter; the small organic garden in our backyard; her little massage therapy practice; making insanely delicious meals everyday; and loving on the people in her life. She does a little yoga, a little meditation, and takes a walk. She’s stopped listening to the evening news because that noise is just a distraction from what matters most to her. In spite of whatever horseshit goes on at CNN, or whether or not the sky is falling, her life seems real to her.
As a professional organizer, I help people simplify so they can focus on what matters most: who we love, what we do, how, and why we live. When life here on planet Earth gets weird, sometimes it’s nice to maintain the illusion of control. But I’ve learned to stay positive and try to reconcile what is ideal with what is practical. Benjamin Disraeli famously stated, “I am prepared for the worst, but hope for the best.” In that light, I do what I can to preserve a little buffer between what I can control — and what I can’t. That’s become the focus of my professional practice.
Want to simplify your life in preparation for an uncertain future? Downsize now. Need less. Get nimble. Form family alliances among the members of your community. I’m not encouraging doomsday inflammatory hysteria. I’m not advocating an arsenal to protect your kitchen pantry. I’m saying, start discreet conversations with those you love and trust. Begin the dialogue about what is available to you today. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) now recommends a minimum of two weeks supply of food, water, first aid, and practical supplies for everyone in your household. Watching relief response times for recent disasters, I recommend a month or two — or more.
This isn’t about panic, it’s about planning. It’s about taking personal responsibility for yourself and your family in a proactive way to help mitigate an uncertain future. Preparing contingencies for when the lights go out and the tap shuts off doesn’t make us fanatics; it makes us accountable, responsible, and sensible. Pay attention to local and global trends beyond what’s being reported on the evening news. Get some help, acquire some knowledge, learn some skills, and hold onto your hats. Whether we think so or not, the next few decades could get bumpy. But it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t enjoy the ride.
Recommended Resources:
When All Hell Breaks Loose: Stuff You Need to Survive When Disaster Strikes. Cody Lundin. © 2007 Gibbs Smith Publisher.
The Doom and Bloom Survival Medicine Handbook: Keep Your Loved Ones Healthy in Every Disaster, from Wildfires to Complete Societal Collapse. Joseph Alton, M.D. and Amy Alton, A.R.N.P. © 2012 Doom and Bloom™, LLC.
Download my complimentary Quick-Start Guide to help simplify your stuff and organize your life at www.ClutterFreeRevolution.com.