Are you an Ant or a Grasshopper?

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Selfishness – Unfortunately human beings are fairly selfish by nature.  We tend to be greedy and pleasure driven.  “Why would I sacrifice any of my hard earned money today on preparedness when I could buy a new car?”  This trait can easily be illustrated by the classic Aesop’s Fable, “The Grasshopper and the Ant.”

The ant works all spring, summer, and fall to prepare for the coming winter, while the grasshopper spends his time lazing about in the sun, chiding the ant for his work and enjoying every minute of it thinking the good weather will last forever.  This trait is perhaps the most difficult to overcome as most people will have the  “I won’t sacrifice today’s pleasure for only the possibility of future return.”  This often results in the absolute denial of the possibility of a coming disaster.

Selfishness for most is a lifestyle and a state of mind that has been engrained into people and this makes it an extremely difficult barrier to cross.  This is a lifestyle change that forces you to focus your attention on someone other than yourself.  One key thing to remember is that  if you are selfish you will end up alone, and after a crisis being alone is just as bad or worse than being unprepared.

6 Comments

1. 

   Pam

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   I find Survivallife.com very interesting and informative. You give practical advice we should all think about. Thank you, Pam

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     Joe

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     Thank you so much for the comment Pam!
     I hope to hear more from you! Please let me know if there is anything that I can do for you and if you have anything specific that you would like for me to touch on please let me know

     Joe

     Reply
2. 

   Craig

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   And when that “event” does occur and we are left with only the skills we have trained and mastered and supplies we have stored, we will see a second crisis arise. It will be a plague of GRASSHOPPERS!

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3. 

   Rick

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   In my preparedness planning, I also consider those who will have not taken the time to prepare. My mind set is, that even if I can help others out with a single meal, I will have kept them from being victims to the ensuing chaos, or from having to go to the authorities for their daily bread. Granted, I will not be able to help everyone, because my supplies will also be limited, but I will gain someone who I can barter with in that time for assistance in daily living senarios. Heck another pair of eyes will always come in handy, or another pair of hands.
   Those who show no intrest in working together for their own well being will be sent packing, or if need be worse.
   This is why I advocate forming community in your preparedness planning.

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     Joe

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     Hey Rick,
     Thanks for the response! I completely agree with creating a community of people. I am a huge advocate of bartering skills as they will be the only means of an economy in a long term survival situation and while you may be able to survive alone for a while, no one can ever thrive alone.

     Reply
4. 

   Barb Tucker

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   Please make it easier to print your articles. They have a lot of good information. Thanks

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