Preparedness Principles – Part 1, by Old Bobbert

In this two-part essay, I will relate some Profoundly Productive Proper Preparedness Principles:  “Protection From Failure.“ Part 1 is general, while Part 2 is quite specific and has lots of links.

Disclaimer:  The contents of this article are offered only as educational information freely available to the general public. There is no intent to promote or enable any type of illegal, immoral, insurgent, destructive, dangerous activities, communications, or conduct. I find it distasteful that living in these times that I feel obliged to post such a disclaimer.

Introduction

“Principles.”  It’s not just another dull word. No, it is an important word.

Let’s begin with the known historical aspects concerning principles. First, the very concept that you and I should be prepared for difficulty and emergency is a long-proven principle. Secondly, preparedness itself is a principled activity. Thirdly, A prepper is necessarily a principled person. And as a contrary point, hoarding has nothing to do with preparedness and violates many principles. And that ends the theoretical lessons for today.

As young people, we were usually taught that we needed sound principles by some older person who then smiled and offered an edible treat. It was usually a caring person who wanted to help us to mature into a very perfect loving caring brilliant duplication of one of our grandparents.

It may have been a parent, a teacher, or a pastor who usually had no idea that we did not then know what the word meant – or when it might be important – or when we might need a principle – or why we might need to have one – or who could we get one from. None of these questions were ever truly explained – or demonstrated – or made available to us in advance of an event or decision point in our futures.

Q: So how do I know about what did not happen in most of our lives so many years ( experiences ) ago?

A: I am simply saying to you that this is my story about me.

Q: So why am I offering this information to you at this time? A time when you might feel that it’s too late to learn new rules – new concepts – new ways of governing – a new way to move on with our lives in a totally new world of surviving a collapse of the financial system(s). An ugly new world of the absence of easy transfer of goods and information, of the deadly silence of the sudden loss of the universal ease of communications, and especially the cold absence of civility and generosity to others. We are moving into a new world, a new life, a new experience. It will be a cruel new world where we will need proven principles to enable us to overcome the evils that will surround us and the unprincipled people who will not value us as being worthy of our very lives.

A:  That is a long question with a short answer. The answer is very simple and proven by both history and our everyday experiences. Preppers need to know, believe, practice, and promote the following “Prime Rule of Survival” – It is my foremost principle on which I pattern my life:

“If we do not take care of each other, then no one will be taken care of.”

We have started to cover the why of my efforts help others, Now we can move on to the meat of this essay. Can you tell that I love words? And use words? And teach words? I have learned that words, when carefully selected and then transmitted in a useable manner, can often enable others to be empowered to improve the lives of family, friends, and strangers. Words can occasionally convert an enemy into an ally. Possibly even a new and trustworthy friend. Now is the time to address the vital aspects of the basic concept of “Principles”. We will look at these particulars in a simplistic form:

I’ll describe What – When – Where – Who – Why – and finally we will touch on How”’. Your how will usually be very specific and very limited to your individual timing and circumstances. If you will have covered the “W’s” successfully your “H” should be a success formula that will stand with you in your future efforts to survive the new world and to enable others to then support your efforts, which should always be a secondary goal:

WHAT: I searched for definitions of “Principle” and I easily found ten. I have chosen my priciples and I suggest that you should do the same for yourself. Principle / def: from The Century Dictionary:

  • To establish or fix in certain principles; impress with any tenet or belief, whether good or ill: used chiefly in the past participle.
  • A truth which is evident and general; a truth comprehending many subordinate truths; a law on which others are founded, or from which others are derived: as, the principles of morality, of equity, of government, etc. In mathematical physics a principle commonly means a very widely useful theorem.
  • That which is professed or accepted as a law of action or a rule of conduct; one of the fundamental doctrines or tenets of a system: as, the principles of the Stoics or of the Epicureans; hence, a right rule of conduct; in general, equity; uprightness: as, a man of

Simply put, my principles are my rules for me in the determination of how I will conduct my life, and to help me to define my personal ”Do’s & Don’ts”.

WHEN: Well in advance of stressful decisions !! And (as often as possible) written in my / your daily personal log. And taught to Family , Team, Group, Tribe, others. And more specifically – EVERY TIME.

WHERE: Everywhere – anywhere – Principles precede decisions and decisions precede actions and principled decisive actions prevent and limit personal regrets and unnecessary pains, injury, deaths.

WHO: You. Our personal set of adopted principles are exclusively ours, We can never force them onto / into anyone else. That action is simply never possible, never. And this is a really good place for a strong rule of leadership that all of us can follow, especially when we are trying to impart our principles to others. Let’s illustrate the rule in an example where you are trying to get me to personally adopt your principles. I will be watching you, and listening to you, and thinking about your principles.

Based on what I see, and what I hear, I may respond to your sincere and caring efforts with the following conclusion-   “I can’t hear what you are saying because what you are doing is so much louder.”

Explanation: When you are not showing by your personal example to others that it is truly your personal principle, they will only see it as your rule for them and not for yourself.

WHY: Because principles can save your life. Because our everyday lives are always much better, more successful, more rewarding, more uplifting, when we choose to govern ourselves by choosing to personally adopt proven studied principles. Note the boldness of the word always”, note that the positioning and simplicity of even a single word can be important..

Because principles, by their very nature, can never fail. Whenever and where ever principles are honored, loved, respected, and treasured as the measure of our true humanity, moral principles will be the primary source of our freedoms.

Because principles abandoned have caused the societal collapse. Without the foundation of moral principles our future will be no more than a continuation of endless mob rule, ignorance, greed, broken families, the relentless and growing loss of freedoms, and the ruination of the productive community concept of family.

Because principles are more than rules as we use the word rule. Principles are the enablement of the better parts of the fabric of the human family through a sincere concern for others and a commitment to enablement rather than entitlement. Principles are never a religious denominational possession. No group, No peoples, No nation, No leader, can ever personally own or possess a principle.

Because principles are the bedrock moral laws of nature, they can not be changed or modified in any way. Principles are more than just right or wrong, good or bad.

Because principles were – are now – and will always be – truths, immutable, inalienable, simple, and eternal. We might want to say that they are gifts from the Almighty.

Principles are the personal-family-group basic security process in the very near future of tragic circumstances and deadly situations. Principles could easily soon become your single important route to sound and secure protection against total failure. And that is my single most important reason for this article – Your personal protection from failure.

And that is also the single most important reason for you to read / print / save / copy / share this article – Your personal protection from failure. I offer this proven concept in part because I care enough about our human family to share with you these long-proven tools of preparedness knowledge and hopefully stronger security for you, your family / your group / your friends. I strongly suggest that you first save it to PC memory, then read the article carefully and print it for further study, and forward the link to others.

HOW: Yes there is a how for everyone, and my particular how is very simple and often difficult for me to accept. The specifics of my “how” are my continuing quest for examples of successful lives that I can study, emulate, and then make them a part of my “advance decision process” concerning #1. how I will conduct my life, and #2. how I will treat others, and especially #3. concerning the example I am to my family and to others.

It is my considered opinion that this generic principle creation formula will fit into every life, every culture, every family, every individual who makes a commitment decision to make principles a part of their daily life.

I read the biographiies of successful warriors and leaders from present and recent past wars and confrontations. I do not agree with most of Admiral McRaven’s politics, and yet I still value his 10 rules greatly. I try daily to do a small task early in my day. I have both of his books and they have taught me a lot that I have added to my bag of principles.

I have a full shelf of well-read biographiies of prominent past leaders. I talk to experienced folks who are well versed in the areas of importance in my life, and then I often use their counsel to pattern my responses to the varying circumstances of life. I often rely of the “proven to me” power of prayer for answers to difficult procedural questions. I have determined, in advance, the point at which I will stop the use of foul language in my presence. That means that I turn off some very interesting tv dramas immediately at the 2nd “f “ word, even when I am the only watcher.

I have committed myself to the practice of regularly using the phrases “please & thank you” as often as possible, and to smile into the telephone when I say hello, every time.

For me, these are principles of moderate behavior designed to have others feel at ease with a willingness to listen to my thoughts.I am very experienced and considered an expert at dealing with legal documents and government forms. I work diligently to never take advantage of someone who is less skilled than myself.

Everyone’s “how” is a work of art, a work of study, a work of diligent discernment of ethical standards of behavior. It is a lifelong effort of self-improvement. It is a process of endeavoring always to being honest with ourselves concerning our successes and our failures.

Your specific “how” will be created more easily when you decide to listen to that inner voice we all have so as to know when to start listening and when to stop talking. Your “how” will be best created as the product of family and friends quietly being your teachers as to ethics and limits. You will be fully capable of determining your chosen principles simply by allowing yourself to be taught through study, observation, experience, devotion to duty, plus seeking guidance and empowerment through our personal choices of our “Belief Systems”.

Again, principles can not be bought or borrowed. My experience has taught me that principles can be seen as a gift generated by a sincere desire plus a daily commitment to be a better person. As we mature and gain experience we will have many opportunities to develop our individual personal principles. Mine have grown through the years and I have listed just a few below as examples of what I have found to be helpful to me. And I hope to be a help for you:

Bobbert’s PRINCIPLE #1 – If we do not take care of each other, no one will be taken care of.

Yes, we are obligated to do what we can, when we can, within our personal circumstances, to help others to become better able to help themselves. Additionally, and as may be very necessary, to help the less capable folks to live a better life through our efforts to provide enablement assistance to them. It is a vital and foundational part of the proven principle that we must always take care of ourselves first so that we will be able to care for others.

But, you ask, why should I, or you, care about a person unknown to you, a far distant reader of a preparedness blog’s offerings? My response is both simple and profound. Because I feel strongly that I must do what and all that I can, because I can.

This article, concerning and promoting the absolute necessity of principles, is an example of how I am personally working daily to continue to try to provide enabling help for others. We have all seen the disgusting chaos caused by the absence of principles throughout the current processes of business, education, and government in every level and hateful persuasion. This article is my effort at correction. This is my 28th SurvivalBlog article. Some of this essay repeats what I’ve written before.

Because I have long been that very same far distant “other person” to someone else, a prepper from the impersonal internet world, some unknown person I do not know and may never meet in person. An unknown someone who has helped me with their sharable knowledge that was then, and may be again, exactly what I needed and may need again, or that I, or you, could possibly need right now. So who am I? Through the mechanism of this fabulous blog I am the grateful recipient of freely shared prepper knowledge & boundless enablement. I’m a better prepper.

Because of some SurvIvalBlog posts, I was inspired to buy 400 medical face masks for $40, in mid-December of 2019. That was a month before the first news of the Wuhan Flu was announced. We later gave half to our area church community. We followed Prepper Principle #1.

I am an 80-year-old catastrophically disabled veteran with COPD, asthma, heart problems, hypoxia brain damage, type 2 diabetes, an inoperable Aortic Aneurism, PTSD, 24/7 medical oxygen, and chronic sleep apnea. I am no longer allowed to drive and must suffer the pangs of perpetually dependent passenger status. But, and it is very important to me that you know and believe, that being disabled is never the same as being unable. Our stairway to success is built on the many steps of failures. I never quit.

I am currently in Year 20 of a five-year life expectancy from just the COPD. I am surrounded and enabled by friends and neighbors who regularly provide the very much needed support and encouragement upon which my daily life is so very dependent. My success in life, and especially in the areas of preparedness, is forever grounded in allowing others to help me, and especially in my following Bobbert’s Principle #1 every day. If I can do these things in my circumstances, just think of what you can do in your personal life circumstances.

I am also the proud father of four very highly principled adult children, three of whom are also prepper grandparents. We regularly send 64GB prepper data / video flash drives to family members / friends in other parts of the country. My fabulous wife of 54 + years is the joy of my life, and my best friend / best counselor / best advisor / eternal companion. We are able to be strong supporters / teachers to our family members spread over seven states. Most importantly, We prep together. It’s a family principle.

Bobbert’s Principle #2 – Doing it the easy way pays minimum wage

Denzel Washington is famous for teaching us to “FAIL BIG“.  Denzel Washington has an earned reputation for living his principles. For example, he does not do film love scenes because his children would not accept a love scene with another woman.

Bobbert’s Principle #3 – Enabling others to succeed is a success 

Through the years as an active American Legion Officer and Boys State Advocate,   I was mentor to high school juniors who would be participating in the following summer session, I taught them that to be successful at Boys State they would first need to do all they could to be the best they could in their very competitive groupings; secondly to surround themselves with their very talented competitors, and work diligently to enable their competitors to perform well. I taught them that if they were to work earnestly to enable others, regardless of who won the specific competitions, that the others would then recognize them as the leaders for the following year. I did that work two years running, and both years one of our local rural boys was peer-elected to be the Utah Boys State Governor the next year.

Bobbert’s Principle #4: If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed”

William McRaven, 4-star US Navy Admiral, Retired, In a 2014 Commencement Speech, taught us a profound life’s principle. In his talk and in his book he related the following:

“I’ve been a Navy SEAL for 36 years, but it all began when I left UT for basic SEAL training in Coronado, California.   Basic SEAL training is six months, of long torturous runs in the soft sand, midnight swims in the cold water, obstacle courses, unending calisthenics, days without sleep and always being cold, wet and miserable. Every morning in SEAL training, my instructors who were at the time were all Vietnam veterans, would show up in my barracks room and the first thing they do is inspect my bed. If I did it right, the corners would be square, the covers would be pulled tight, the pillow centered just under the headboard and the extra blanket folded neatly at the foot of the rack.

It was a simple task, mundane at best, but every morning we were required to make our bed to perfection. It seemed a little ridiculous at the time, particularly in light of the fact that we were aspiring to be real warriors, tough battle-hardened SEALs. But the wisdom of this simple act has been proven to me many times over. If you made your bed every morning, you will have accomplished the first task of the day. It will give you a small sense of pride and it will encourage you to do another task and another and another. And by the end of the day, that one task completed will have turned into many tasks completed. Making your bed will also reinforce the fact that the little things in life matter. If you can’t do the little things right, you’ll never be able to do the big things right. And if by chance you have a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made, that you made. And a made bed gives you encouragement that tomorrow will be better. So if you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”

Watch the video: ADM McRaven 2014. Read his book. It’s great.  Again, I disagree with his politics, but I concur with his principles.

(To be concluded tomorrow, in Part 2.)