The Trailer Park Homesteader: Mental

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Is Modern American Genocide Possible?

So you think your friendly neighborhood and national government officials really have you and your families best interest at heart?

Think again friend.

It’s Time to Wake Up!

Fortunately many people are waking up to the fact that there is evil at work. This is not just some half-cocked conspiracy theory either. While it is true that throughout different administrations secrets are bound to exist, the current administration takes the cake! (insert sarcasm here)

We’re not going to beat a dead horse here, but you all know of the various controversial topics; birth records, Benghazi, Fast & Furious gun scandal, aiding the Muslim brotherhood, and the attempt to limit and/or unarm American citizens. The list goes on and on, and these are but a few of the examples. One aspect of all of this that is particularly disturbing is that for far too long, many people have turned a blind eye and allowed it to happen without much resistance. But Why?

At the Mercy of “The Man”?

There has been talk for some time now about a communist agenda at work, a modern dictatorship emerging. Often times people envision a new hitler at the helm, carting off the ‘undesirables’ to far away concentration camps. Is this a crazy conspiracy theory too? Perhaps, but then what of the reportedly “800 Fema Prison Camps” being set up in the U.S. already? Some may argue that these camps are a preventative measure brought about by 2009’s House Resolution 645. The purpose of this resolution is said to house civilians after a disaster; a humanitarian effort by our government. For all intents and purposes that could be plausible, right? After all the government has our best interest in mind…don’t they?

Lessons From the Past

Worldwide major genocide has happened in the past, such as: the Holocaust, Holodomor and Soviet Famine of 1932-1933, Tudor Genocide of Ireland, Hazara Genocide, Nigerian Civil War, Cambodian Genocide, Rwandan Genocide, and the Darfur Genocide. It would be foolish to assume that the United States could be immune to this type of devastation as well. Even in our own past there has been genocide on our soil. Think: American Indian Holocaust. Years and years of torture and murder resulting in millions and millions of dead.

Yes, it has happened here and yes it still could.

What it Boils Down Too

Whether or not any of these above ‘conspiracy theories’ are truth or just conspiracy, we’ll leave that up to you to decide. However, it is important to give at least some thought to the possibility of such. How would your family respond to an unexpected and abnormal mandatory ‘relocation’? Would you give in and go along out of fear or: 1. possibly escape, or 2. get caught and suffer death? Scary thoughts and either way, definitely life altering. By now a few of you who have read down this far may be thinking, “This is America, this would never happen!” and honestly we pray that you’re right!

But…there’s no such thing as never.

What is it and Why is it Important?

A persona is “the aspect of someone’s character that is presented to or perceived by others”. It is the part of yourself you represent to the world. Everyone has their own persona that they show to others, however many of them are not genuine.

Some people legitimately believe that when the stuff does hit the fan, they are going to transform into some super-human renegade who is a master marksman with ninja-like skills. Admit it, we’ve all seen these types of people. And what is also disturbing is that some of these same people have persuaded others to trust that they will! This can be a dangerous mistake and one that could ultimately costs the lives of those around them if they are unprepared.

The grim reality is that some of those people will not be as brave, brazen, or prepared as they boast to be. The average person who has not been through traumatic situations or seen military action, has no experience in combat or the taking of another human life. To be clear, that in itself is not a negative thing by any means. The point is in a desperate and dangerous world after a major shtf situation, much more is needed than a delusional persona.

So What Should One Do?

That’s an easy question to answer: learn, learn, learn! Knowledge is the number one prep, one can acquire. This knowledge not only includes a multitude of survival skills, but communication and social skills as well. Learning to communicate will help to lead and influence others. Notice it says lead, not control. In a shtf situation the stress levels will be at an all time high, and emotions will be even higher. A family will need a leader, a voice of reason and direction. Good social skills are also important to learn to interact with others comfortably and effectively. These will help to teach a person how to react nonviolently in conflict, and how to use and read nonverbal methods of communication. While it is true that instances of conflict will happen, it is also important to know when it is best to try diffusing a situation.

“When force is necessary, it must be applied boldly, decisively, and completely. But one must know the limitations of force; one must know when to blend force with a maneuver, the blow with an agreement.” Leon Trotsky

5 Tips of Good Communication:

1. The Ability to Actively Listen

2. Adapting to Differing Opinions (Open-mindedness)

3. Taking Responsibility For Your Own Message

4. Clearly & Concisely Conversing With Others

5. Willing to Collaborate and Ask For Clarification if Needed

5 Ways to Have Better Social Skills:

1. Maintain Eye Contact

2. Show Confidence (Body Language - Strong Posture)

3. Show Interest (Ask Questions)

4. Concentrate on the Task or Conversation

5. Echo (Summarize & Repeat if Needing Clarification to Address Concerns)

How Can You Use Both Sets of These Tips in a Shtf Situation?

Building Alliances

Bartering With Others

Group Leadership

Defense & Offense Scenario's

Problem Solving

Author Information:

Sharon Pannell is a self proclaimed "Prepsteader", both prepper and homesteader. She authors the blog The Trailer Park Homesteader where she teaches others about the importance of disaster preparedness and self-sufficiency. Sharon believes everyday the stuff can hit the fan, it is not one big epic event necessarily and it only takes one set back to create a hardship; so big or small prepare for it all ! Along with her blog, Sharon can also be found managing her other social media sites including her Facebook Page The Trailer Park Homesteader, TTPH Pinterest Page, and TTPH Twitter Page.

Are YOU Wired to Have a Survival Mindset?

They say that survival is 90% mental. Would you agree with that? Or are you one of those that believe your stockpiles and arsenals alone will ensure your survival? Sorry to burst your bubble friends, but gadgets and tools alone will not save you!

It All Begins With The Mind.

The mind truly is a beautiful and mysterious feature of you. It has the capacity to absorb, learn, analyze, reason and store literally millions of pieces of information. How wonderfully made it is! So how does this brain of yours contribute to your survival?

How it All Works

Within a moment of any event the brain instantly begins to analyze the situation. This is the body's natural ‘fight or flight’ instinct. Our nervous system responds in a way that it sounds an alarm. How our body reacts to this alarm depends on a few factors. The first of these factors is our own “biologically inherited aggressive tendencies”. The second factor is our “prior conditioning and learning”. Last, it depends on our own “attention to all aspects of the situation that facilitate or inhibit aggression” (Berkowitz, 1993).

Sorting This Out

Let’s break this down a bit into a simpler explanation. The first part means that your reaction will depend on your own aggressive behaviors and characteristics. These are those that you inherited, not so much developed. The second is an important part, and one that is promising when it comes to your reaction in survival situations. It is all about the skills you have learned. If you have thoroughly practiced these skills, they have became ingrained in you. So much so that they are almost second nature. The third factor speaks of your own ability to analyze and react to the situation with aggressiveness, if the situation calls for it. Your mind sees the problem and reacts as needed.

The Specifics

Okay, but how does all this actually tie into survival? Well, for that answer let’s take a look at the following diagram for answers:

As you can see there are two stages of thought. The first being driven by impulse and the other a higher-order cognitive intervention. When a disaster strikes the first emotion people will feel is one of impulse, to either run from the danger or confront it directly. After this initial impulse stage the person will begin to focus and plan their response.

Conditioning Vs. Instinct

We’ve all read about people that have done amazing acts of heroism in terrifying situations. These are accomplished generally through either prior conditioning or natural instinct. One example is of firemen who battle through infernos to rescue a person trapped inside. In this situation it is their conditioning and training that wins out over their natural instinct to run. Another example is of a parent, who alone lifts a vehicle off their child who is trapped beneath. Obviously, this is accomplished out of pure instinct and not through conditioning or training. It is natural. It is primal.

Part Two to This Discussion Titled: The Survival Persona

Berkowitz, L. (1993) Aggression: Its causes, consequences, and control. New York: McGraw-Hill.

Author Information:

Waiting on the Apocalypse?

Let's Get Real....

Photo: DearJane

So, I have to share one thing that happened that really made me feel frustrated.

I went to the store and began chatting with the cashier. I have known her for years from just basic interaction and she's always been really nice. She asked me what I was up too and I began to tell her about being on the +Prepper Chicks show and talking about preparedness. Well, they have a new guy there and he began to make comments, mostly just friendly chat. So she turned to him and said "yeah she one of those end of the worlders".......??? That's what people think? .."End of the Worlders"!!!

I said "No, I just feel that you need to be prepared for anything"..and walked out with conflicting emotions.

First, I'd be lying if I didn't say I was a little embarrassed by her comment. Secondly, though perhaps she meant no harm by it, it did make me mad.

So...Am I an "End of the Worlder"...??

Contrary to what her and my 16 year old thinks, No I am Not!

Preparedness isn't always about the dang apocalypse or a zombie uprising for heaven sakes!

There are many things to prepare for:

Job-loss, Illness, Injury, Financial Hardships, Natural Disasters, and yes, even Man-Made Disasters.

The other day speaking with Lori on the radio show we discussed a bit about why preppers get a bad rap. Even the terms 'prepping' and 'preppers' seem to turn people off.

But... Why?

I once explained to my 16 year old that even Christians are preppers if you think about it. They make changes and prepare themselves now for their hope in the eternal life.

But, did that register? ..I doubt it.

She, in particular is all about getting a bunker and preparing for a zombie invasion but when you break it down and explain that that's not the type of thing were preparing for, she tunes out. (I probably shouldn't have suggested her watch the remake of Red Dawn..lol) As, she say's "it's just not her thing' or 'were not getting invaded'. And I get it, I do. At 16 if my parents came to me and told me they are going to begin prepping, I would have been confused too.

But listen up people....not all preppers are nuts, so for love of all that is holy stop putting them all in one basket!

One thing I also wanted to bring up is that everyday the shit can hit the fan. It is not one big epic event necessarily. It only takes one set back, a job loss for instance can mean shtf for many people. Especially, things like a severe or life-threatening illness or treatments can be a shtf moment for others.

'Come on, you mean that you don't believe an epic shtf thing will happen'?

...yes I do believe that it is possible, just look at the state of our nation. However I feel that preparedness is also about the minor shtf moments along the way too.

So, listen little cashier lady who wanted to try and make me a laughing stock:

I AM a Prepper, from Minor to Major and I Will be Ready!

...Will You?

Sincerely,

Your friendly neighborhood prepper.

Are You Failing to Prepare?

Something I just have to wonder, is why are more people not into preparedness? Sure there are reportedly millions of “preppers” out there, but what about the regular folks out there? More often then not, I find that people just aren’t concerned about prepping. Is it the term “prepping” that turns people off? Or are they just too involved in the age we live in to ever think something bad could happen that affects them personally?

I know that you can not truly prepare for everything, as I’ve said before there are just too many everything’s out there. However, I stand by my belief that is of the utmost importance. I began my homesteader Facebook page with the intention of sharing information about homesteading and related matters. I feel that preparedness, a.k.a prepping, is very relatable with homesteading. Homesteading offers many valuable skills that teach people how to make their own…well almost everything. This translates into prepping because once you know how to use these skills if the preverbal poop did hit the fan, you would know how to not only survive but thrive as well !

I would be lying if I said that the lack of interest and urgency by some doesn’t bother me. Personally, I feel compelled to get prepare to the best of my ability. Do I fear a coming apocalypse… No thanks, I am good with my maker Winking smile

. But quite honestly I do think that an economical collapse of sorts is a serious possibility. So, maybe your reading this thinking…so what? Well, that could lead to a serious breakdown of society, hence civil unrest. I’m not even going to describe the types of things that could happen during that time, but preparing is not only necessary but heck is also biblically taught... and Yes, I went there !

Here are 5 examples:

Proverbs 27:12 “A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions. The simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences.”

Proverbs 21:20 “In the house of the wise are stores of choice food and oil, but a foolish man devours all he has.”

Luke 21:36 “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man.”

1 Timothy 5:8 “If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.”

Proverbs 6:6 –11 “6:6 Take a lesson from the ants, you lazybones. Learn from their ways and become wise! 6:7 Though they have no prince or governor or ruler to make them work, 6:8 they labor hard all summer, gathering food for the winter. 6:9 But you, lazybones, how long will you sleep? When will you wake up? 6:10 A little extra sleep, a little more slumber, a little folding of the hands to rest—6:11 then poverty will pounce on you like a bandit; scarcity will attack you like an armed robber.”

Please do not misunderstand:

(I do have faith and believe that God can protect us, but I also understand that He requires us to do things for ourselves as well.)

So, back to my original question:

Are You Failing to Prepare?

Spreading the Wrong Message About Prepping…

Many people in the prepping community have been talking about the latest episode of Doomsday Preppers that featured one "prepper" that was merely preparing to TAKE other people's preps with lethal force. This not only is disgusting but makes him a thief in the making, NOT a prepper. A lot of comments I have read are from real preppers who are upset that Nat Geo even had this idiot on the show. I agree that it reflects badly on the prepping community, and makes preppers look even more bat sh@# crazy! BUT, it also is a REAL potential threat. Unfortunately, that scumbag is not alone. I know that in times of need people will do whatever it takes to feed and protect their families, however "prepping" with the intention to steal and harm people is NOT what real prepping is about! EVERYONE please be aware of this threat, preppers will not be the only targets.

Part 2: Why to Prep?

Short-term Vs. Long-term

One thing I would like to say is there is difference between short-term & long-term prepping.

Short-term is mainly about surviving a week or two, to "get-by".

Long-term prepping is obviously, preparing yourself and your family for the long-haul. This entails long-term water and food storage, water purification skills, renewable energy choices, seed saving, survival gardening, hunting, snaring game, foraging if needed, first aid skills, personal security, shelter building if needed, etc.

First, Think About The Options:

Short-term or Long-term Preparing/Prepping, Which is Right For You and Your Situation?

I encourage everyone to ask questions, make comments, and join in on the discussions. If you have any questions that you prefer to ask privately feel free to send a message to:

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/TheTrailerParkHomesteader

or email us: TheTrailerParkHomesteader@yahoo.com

Part 2 of 2

Why to Prep?

Why is it Important to Prep Anyways?

listen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_AALnCTgCcE

Well, the answer to this is very simple....stuff happens! If your new to this, you may already have some predisposed notions on what prepping is. First let me tell you what preppers are not.

1. Commonsense Preppers are not crazy or a particularly paranoid group of people. (Despite what you may have heard.. or seen on that doomsday preppers show...although some of them.. whew.... are a bit ...over zealous...is that the right word??....lol)

2. They are not members of an occult and are not hoarders.

3. They do not wear aluminum foil hats and no... they are not awaiting alien invasions... typically...lol

Preppers are simply people who strive to be prepared for disasters, whether they are natural or man-made.

Something to keep in mind is that no one can be 100% prepared for everything...there are just too many "everything's" out there.

But in the event of a disaster (pick your own scenario), YOU can take steps to make sure you and your family are safe.

I challenge you to give critical thought to this topic, because you and your family may one day be affected by a disaster.

If you had 15 minutes to evacuate, would you be ready? Perhaps you live in an area that experiences ice storms that commonly cause power outages, are you prepared to get by a week if need be? Taking little steps now, could mean survival then.

Part 1 of 2