The other day, while surfing the net, there was an article discussion the impact of addictions on people during a bad day. The article focused on drug addictions and the evils of smoking. From the writer's perspective these seemed to be the only two issue someone could have which would affect them negatively during an emergency. There was an emphasis placed on how people who smoke are doomed in emergencies, even more so than say a heroin addict from the way the article was written......... (here is my disclaimer; I smoke)
I was at work when I read the article and started looking around at the people. Got my mind thinking about how the people around me might respond or how what they do now might effect their decisions during an emergency. Smoking seemed to be the least of the issues I could see around me.
During an emergency people's habits, personalities have a way of being amplified. In some cases they might just shut down but for the most part however they interact with the world on a regular day is amplified. People tend to stick to what they know. This is especially true if the situation has a low level of law enforcement involvement. When people think they can get away with something the "real them" tends to come out.
The easiest example of this is during civil disturbance situations. People will claim they are "standing up to the man" or taking part in some other noble cause. As soon as a storefront window is broken they seem to lose focus on the original cause they were there for.
Being overtaken by greed or being in envy of what others have could cause you to be in a position where you are injured trying to steal or maybe even assaulted by other people. Not to mention you run the risk of having the police show up to your door after order has been restored and the video has been reviewed!
We are using the seven deadly sins here just a framework to hang your thoughts on. You personally might have a different list of concepts you work with in your life, cool. from this list the worst of these concepts, for us here, seems to be SLOTH.....
Not doing anything. Not putting a little something away. Not taking the time to learn something. Not bothering to talk to your family about what to do. Seems this one might a big cause of some of the others. If you do not plan and your neighbor did.........
We all have something we do which might not be the best idea for us in the long or short term. Some of us gamble every weekend. Some of us put things off till later. Some of us are envious of others. Some of us eat to much. Some of us get to little exercise. None of us go through life without having some bad habit....... If you do go through life without committing a sin...... lying is a sin!!!!!
Broaden your thoughts when you are planning or thinking about emergencies. Sure your Uncle Fred might smoke a pack a day but he has skills, tools and supplies. You drink a bottle of wine a night, drop two sleeping pills and can barely get the garbage out on garbage day. Who is going to be a liability to who?
Do what you can now to put yourself and your family in a position where you do not have to suffer from any of these issues. Understand what a need and a want is. Have your families needs covered. If you or a family member have a bad habit or addiction see what you can do to change the issue. Do not be so narrow minded as to think addictions and habits which will affect you are limited to smoking, drinking or drugs. Greed, envy and lust will most likely be an issue before Uncle Fred starts freaking out because he doesn't have a smoke! Plus Uncle Fred probably has a pack or two stashed somewhere.................
As Always,
Stay Safe.
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