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Letter Re: What Is It That Will Really Help You Survive TEOTWAWKI?

Hugh,

I wanted to let folks know how deep this goes.

The writer is very prescient [1] in identifying the threat(s). In March, I lost my job. I had worked at this corporation for 19 years, but did not survive the political culture. In early November, I lost the love of my life to a devastating disease.

While I have large stockpiles of beans, bullets, and band-aids – enough to provide for my own family plus many others for a long time – these were two things that I didn’t see coming, and was totally unprepared for.

I’m struggling to deal with the unexpected and life-altering losses. Mentally and spiritually I was blindsided. I’m recovering, but it’s very difficult, and these events exposed a hollowness in my heart that I didn’t even know existed. While I had prepared for every natural and political threat (or so I thought), I wasn’t spiritually or mentally prepared for these events.

Depression? Yes. Survivor’s guilt? Yes. Being overwhelmed with the rush of financial and legal details that have to be dealt with? Oh yeah.

So the author’s advice about preparing yourself mentally and spiritually is spot on. I’m trying to move on with my life, while ensuring that our children are provided for and as a family we transition to the next chapter of our lives successfully. Hopefully, things will work out well. – J.P.

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Comments Disabled To "Letter Re: What Is It That Will Really Help You Survive TEOTWAWKI?"

#1 Comment By JimJanet Moyer Sr On January 28, 2018 @ 2:21 pm

We have empathy for you, we lost our son at the age 42, just four days before he would have turned 43. Life is difficult at times. Don’t blame God sometimes it a blessing, be patient and stay with the Lord Jesus Christ , you’ll make it through. This was last August 2017. Sometimes its extremely hard, you just want to give up but you can’t and will not. Our prayers goes out to you. Jim

#2 Comment By Rose On January 28, 2018 @ 2:41 pm

To me, the loss of a spouse is probably the worst thing to rebound from during hard times. I have thought about it and wondered if I would have what it takes to make it through. I think the loss of a job during “good times” (before it hits) may also be very hard to figure out. The will to fight is one of the biggest tools to survival, I think, and sometimes it’s hard to muster.

#3 Comment By Joe On January 28, 2018 @ 3:21 pm

About the job loss – I was in the tech industry (software sales) and was in and out of a number of jobs, not always by choice – the first thing I had to do when I was let go was to remind myself that almost always I wasn’t even a face or a name – I was a number, or a location, and the business just didn’t need a body at the location where I worked – like they said in the Godfather – “It’s was business”, not personal – and then I got looking for work and made it a full time job.

On the loss of a loved one, read “When Bad Things Happen to Good People”, by Rabbi Harold Kushner – the book changed my life.

#4 Comment By Robert, NC On January 28, 2018 @ 3:34 pm

I’m sorry to hear of your loss. No words I could say would comfort, but you have my sympathy.

About your reference to not surviving the political culture. This is something we all have to be careful of. The company I work for is one of the big banks. Over the last year or two, the internal website started posting lightly veiled “news” wrapped in political correctness. They allow comments. I see some post comments close to what I think, and I feel sorry for them. It’s just a matter of time.

If others run into the same thing, I recommend never expressing your political views in the work place. No matter how skillfully civil I could be, I recognize that it’s corporate suicide to post my opinions there. Even a comment about not posting political views can be hazardous to your career. Their agenda is one of “comply or die”. Personally I think that Political Correctness really should be renamed to Political Obedience.

So just bite your tongue, and vote.

#5 Comment By Once a Marine… On January 28, 2018 @ 6:14 pm

You are in a hurting place. I pray for you as you recover. As much as you may want the process to be linear, be mindful that healing is like a river. It finds its own way. May God’s blessing guide you on this path.

#6 Comment By mike On January 28, 2018 @ 6:51 pm

Prays to you brother. It happen to lots of people not that it make it easy for you, my condolences. I was in a similar situation in my late 50’s yes the (depression guilt and many other emotional factors come into play,) All we worked for could just vanish, and no apparent way out recovery easily, for worldly goods anyway.
Heck I was starting to think about partial retirement, when it happened to me. Your story It brings back many not so good memories. But I think it made me stronger.

Only advice I can give is Church, pray, friend, family, (and you may have to ask for help) seek out help. You need help, worldly add spiritually, many people may not realize that you need help unless you ask for it.
So it did me good to ask for help if they could many would give it to you in spritil or material.
People may just hink you are in a bad spot for a few months, and do not realize you are suffering. And the suffering is very real to you.
Start to circulate keep positive busy, it is hard to many time. Depression is very hard tand it can mess with you. Sleep less night stink. All you losses make it hard, Push forward, go to job fairs put in applications all over. Seek spiritual help.
Many state off help with employment services and can get you going in the right direction. You have to keep moving forward, (don’t give up please.)
I had to change job fields, do to an industrial accident also at the same time.. When it rain it pours as they say.
I was to the point where I expect to loose my house and truly be on the streets there is help out there if you look and ask,
for it, swallow the pride, I almost gave up and let it all go it just seemed imposable to recover, just to much pressure.
I kept most of my preps and went to food banks, free eats may not be what you want to eat but if you are hungry it works.
But slowly my efforts paid off.

Finally after many very long years of working part time retail, warehouse, and many low wage job. I landed a job that is Ok and pay ok. I still am recovering at an age of 65. But I am almost back 95% Ask and seek out help, and keep moving forward.

You are in my prayers, don’t give up I know it is hard and drags you down, push forward push. And trust and pray to the Lord he will hear you it may take some time I bet the Lord is busy. Again sorry about you misfortune.
I have lived it. Keep pushing look for people who may help you.
I hope this give you a little hope or inspiration, keep the faith brother.

Best Regards
Mike

#7 Comment By Troy On January 28, 2018 @ 7:48 pm

We are definitely living in rough times. While must of us have stockpiles of food, water, battery’s i think its important that we all prepare for when the lights do shut off and don’t come back on.
This is a PDF and video guide to teach us how to create a Home solar energy system. This i think is very much worth all of our time. I have personally messed around with solar energy but this really takes the cake. [2]

I hope everyone has a great day, keep prepping and be prepared. It could be any day that we are blind sighted with a catastrophic event. God bless. Stay strong everyone!!

#8 Comment By Fieldmarshelattilahun On January 29, 2018 @ 12:30 am

Jim :
Sir, my God Bless you and the rest of your family in all of your time weather they be good or bad or sad.
God Bless.
Fieldmarshelattilahun

#9 Comment By ElkmanJack On January 29, 2018 @ 2:34 am

Jim,
Know hard times come and go. Keep in touch with friends and family, ask for prayers always and help around the house when you need it.
I am just now getting past 4 yeas of pancreatitis. Almost met my maker twice. Once the surgeries were complete it took 5 months to get off pain meds. That would not of happened without the prayers of my family and friends. Not once did I want to take pills to feel high, only to take the pain away and reduce the withdrawal symptoms. That is miraculous!
Hang in there and your example of things that screw up preparing are taken to heart by many. Prayers for you.

#10 Comment By The Recovering Feminist On January 29, 2018 @ 2:58 am

Praying for you today.

#11 Comment By TominOregon On January 29, 2018 @ 6:01 am

Going through something similar while caring for my 93 year old mother.
Trying to make good choices while maintaining my health.
It’s not easy.
Keep up the good work. 7 months later, I’m stable. Maintaining.
As above, stay in touch with friends. They can be of great help.

#12 Comment By Anonymous On January 29, 2018 @ 10:46 am

Similar situation,lost my wife of 27 years,job of 20 years,and house foreclosed on in a 4 month period.It took a year of a caring doctor trying different anti-depressants to find the right one for me.It helped lift the cloak of darkness,so I could deal with things.It was not a cure,more like a temporary splint to help start healing.
I know its not popular on this site,but there can be a time and place when this treatment is apporpiate,in conjuction with all the other suggestions.

#13 Comment By Kw On January 30, 2018 @ 8:44 pm

Sorry for your troubles. I too have gone through losses and it is true that it goes like a river with ebb and flows. Someone helped me when my little girl died. They printed off the computer 8 steps to grieving. I posted it on my fridge. Part is denial, anger, depression, then you can come to acceptance at the end. It was healthy to see all the steps and watch myself go down the list. I didn’t get fustrated is I had a low day, I just said, that’s where I am today. I met a man who had lost his wife of many years. He secretly told me he still talks to her everyday. Everyone else was wanting him to move on and find someone new. I told him he can talk to her as long as he wants and he didn’t need to find someone new. That seemed to be of a great help to him. Blessings to you. Btw it did help me to do something creative with dealing with grief. It was an outlet.