Tag Archives: survival

The Future We Make

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Last week we took a trip to Salt Lake City to see Kiddo graduate from college! It was a beautiful day and a heartfelt ceremony. We are very proud of him and hope for a great future. It marks the end of one chapter and the beginning of a new one for him. He is sad to be done with college and not getting a job right away, but he is happy to be coming home. The move was grueling in the heat, and the 9-hour drive across Wyoming was not pleasant. But in the end, he and his friend (our inherited child for now) moved into the basement, and the essentials from the boxes are slowly being unpacked. The rest, alas, rests in the sunroom for now. David gave up his basement office for the second kiddo and moved to the workout room. (The workout room is now in the sunroom!) It’s nice having two others at dinner, and they seem to like my cooking. (I draw the line on laundry, though! They’re on their own!)

Once their rooms meet their expectations, they’ll go back to pursuing job opportunities and starting their careers. They may start by working at a grocery store or in retail for a while, but they are motivated to succeed. I believe in this new generation. In my heart, I know they will succeed and do great things, despite all the hullabaloo of the ridiculous idiot who is in the highest office in the land. (Yes, you all have to admit it!)

Twenty-Five years ago, a horrifying event happened, and even though we still mourn the loss, we persevere. Through good times and bad, good people stand up to oppression and madness and help each other. My family will always be an extended one, and I’ll help those in need whenever I can, giving what I have without asking for anything in return. When we keep helping each other, our lives are enriched and give meaning to the world around us. The future we make defines us.

So, today we revere those who tried to do the right thing to help those who needed rescuing. Today, we continue to hope that this will never happen again on our soil. Today, we can rejoice for those who survived and went on to do great things in the world. Today, we must stand together against oppression and fight for all others’ rights. I love you all and hope that life brings you happiness and love for one another.

New Age Meets Modern-Day Preppers – The World is Changing

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New Age: People seeking to cultivate a more peaceful way of living and an elevated conscious experience. These folks also believe in a New Age of heightened spiritual consciousness, international peace, and an end to racism, poverty, sickness, hunger, and war.

When I was young and finally on my own, I embraced the “New Age” Movement. I focused on how I would improve myself in other ways than just believing in something outside and intangible. I admit I bought into the hype of products for a while. My love of rocks had me purchasing so many crystals that my house is full of them. It also took me to so many classes taught by the various self-proclaimed shamans and gurus. I loved the messages and tried to live my life a little better than my co-workers and friends. I wanted to try and pass on the message of the New Age theology to others in hopes of creating a better world in which we live. I liked the idea of inclusivity and acceptance of all personal perspectives on the divine being equally valid.

I recently read an article in the November Costco Magazine about a guy who is trying to do the same things I am doing, speaking to others with “A Thankful Heart.” The article featured writer/motivational speaker David George Brooke. Although I practice the positive self-talk and journal most days, I want to work on the more “doing” side of things.

Recently, it has been the “I got mine, and to hell with you!” mentality, and I despair of that Prepper/Survivor mentality. Sure, we are all preppers in a way when we bulk buy at the local Costco, and we want our family to survive any catastrophe. But it is also a good thing to give half of your purchases to those in need. That is where the New Age teachings come into play. Something good can come out of every disaster.

If you are interested in my perspective on the “Worst Case Scenario,” see the post with this title from February 2, 2021: https://drutieben.com/2021/02/02/worst-case-scenario/

WORST CASE SCENARIO

It is a pandemic rant about what could happen in the future. It was a little long, and a little negative, but I was going through what everyone else was – experiencing trauma. While I am still working on the grand conclusion of the Caitlin Ferguson Mysteries, Book III (hopefully published this year!) this blog still rings true of what we are experiencing right now (well, not the lock-in, but you know what I mean).

So be prepared, but with caution. Do not buy into the media hype about what you need to survive. Wake up! Get involved with your community and help those in need. I will constantly be repeating this in future blog posts. Be kind to yourself as well as other people. Tell others how grateful you are to have them in your life. And let me know what you have been doing of late to better yourself and others. Thanks!