“This is a guest post by By MsgtHug and entry in our non-fiction writing contest – where you could win $100 cash. (This contest ended on June 5 2011 ) the winner will be announced later this week”
Ask yourself, why am I busy storing, planning and preparing while most of my neighbors and friends continue with their casual, routine lifestyles? The answer can be explained with one simple word: AWARENESS.
Does that mean we are living under constant fear, awaiting the next SHTF event? Because of our increased awareness we have a greater understanding, and the knowledge to be able to respond properly to these events. The more you know about a potentially fearful encounter, the more aware you become; the more likely you will survive. If we live under fear we often make irrational and spontaneous choices. In awareness mode we can make choices based on knowledge, and clear, calm thinking.
My first significant encounter with awareness was what now seems to be many years ago. I was testing for employment with a large police department. A black and white photograph was projected onto a screen for a matter of seconds for the entire group to observe. The photo remained in place for a matter of ten to fifteen seconds, then removed. A questionnaire was given to each of us about the photo. It included questions such as:
How many people in the photo?
How many were wearing caps?
How many books were on the shelf in the photo?
What time did the clock indicate?
Were the windows open or closed?
You get the point. It was all about awareness and seeing the big picture. I got the job and spent the next thirty years developing awareness of what was around me.
What do you look for? Perhaps the most important is where are the people? Think about leaving your local WalMart. Most people walk out the door, pushing their cart and start looking toward the parking lot trying to remember where they parked. What about the people? Do you look to your left or right, near the building to see what is there? Is anyone there, or perhaps even a group of people? The people you do see, what are they doing? Are they looking into cars? Are they watching you or the other shoppers? Are they walking or standing in one place? Are they talking to anyone? How are they dressed? Do you hear anything that could be important? Do you hear anyone walking behind you?
Is any of this information important to you? It may not be, but what if you were also aware the local newspaper has reported several purse snatchings in this area. The more related information obtained the more awareness increases.
It is very important for you to develop strong survivalist awareness. However, it will be just as important for you to not stand out in your efforts. Think about it this way. People who run while others are walking stand out. People who walk while others are running stand out. People trying to “look around” too quickly look nervous and stand out.
Think about watching someone who turns their head and looks to their left then turns their head and looks to the right. Awareness would make you think “lookout”. You can be just as effective by using your peripheral vision. Practice using your full field of vision, not just focusing what is directly in front of you.
You can take it one step further by looking at something other than what you are facing. For example, you can turn your face toward a particular object but use your eyes to look to your target which may be off to the right or left. Sunglasses are a great help here. Just remember you must fit in to your surroundings or you will be an awareness victim.
Your own property is a great place to start practicing your awareness. Notice the position of the sun during particular times of the day. Where do you feel it’s heat on your body? Where is the sun in the sky during the morning and during the afternoon? What about noon? Is it straight overhead as most believe? Check it out.
Would this information help you navigate in an emergency? Are there fresh animal tracks around the garden? Has anything been disturbed during the night? Is any of your gas gauges below what they should be? If you practice awareness you can quickly and accurately answer these questions.
Whether you plan to bug out or are forced to leave your location choice to retreat to the great outdoors, your survival awareness may even be more critical. Are you familiar with the local potentially harmful animals and plants in your area? Do you have a compass and know how to use it? Can you navigate unknown terrain? Can you navigate through the area without drawing attention? Do you know about camouflage and concealment? Do you know how to travel in a straight line to prevent going in circles?
I believe the first step in survival is being aware of the possible threats. By becoming aware of those dangers you are more likely to avoid potential risks. Start with simple issues such as what you are wearing. Next work on you immediate surroundings. Finally, reach out for an awareness of your environment.
It is extremely important for each of us to have survival awareness. We need to see the big picture and not have tunnel vision. It is easy to miss something you are not looking for. Therefore, we must acknowledge and accept what is going on around us. Doing so is imperative for your survival.
{ 33 comments }
Great posting! This gives all of something to work on.
For a long time my grown kids would get mad at me when I said be careful. I had to explain to them it was not them I was worried about it was the idiots out there that I wanted them to be careful of.
Now I have enlarged their thinking, it is, BE CAREFUL, BE SAFE AND WATCH YOUR BACK.
But as most things go I have said this so long that now it has become a salutation. I will have to up my warnings.
I personally am not aware of my surroundings, but I do realize the faults of where I live. Where people could hide, over run the place and break in. I know of who lives on the two corners of my house, and across the street but any further forget it. Any further than that is useless because when someone breaks in they are all strangers.
As far as the sun goes, it comes up in the east and sits in the west and due to the season’s (no one believes me) rises and sits more to the north and south (add some of those ss-ssw’s and such to the rising and setting)corners of the house. As far as high noon goes, it’s to cold in winter to go out and see if it is directly overhead or not and in the summer forget it, it’s to dang hot.
As far as Wally World goes everyone looks suspicious. On one cold morning a worker was out in the carts, I noticed it was a he, he was turned around zipping up his medium weight sweat shirty type jacket, it was blue, he had on dark pants, did not see his face. I wondered why he hadn’t zipped his jacket before he went outside as it was breezy and cold. And why he turned around to zip it up. That was over a month ago.
I am also wary now when some one (clerk) at Wally World or grocery says something about what I have purchased. Here lately I have gone camping, had BBQ’s at the park and a family reunion without leaving the house. And alas and alack, my family are just down right pigs.
I don’t care if the object of my observation’s see’s me seeing them. And if it spoils their plans do I give a fig. If they are after me they are not getting much and it will p___ me off so much even my feeble attempt at recompense they will notice. But I guess being COY could have some benefits.
Well all in all I agree with you. Stop, Watch, and Listen.
Many years ago I worked nights as a security guard for a 24/7 retailer. After learning-by-the-book I began to observe the traits, behavior and body language of people. It wasn’t very busy that late at night, but after about a year I had gotten very good at reading people. The manager and I would even make bets about the people who entered the store. By the time the automatic doors had closed behind them I could predict with amazing accuracy which aisle a customer would visit first and what items they would want. In one example I predicted a person would visit the shoe aisle, switch her old pair for a new pair, and try to walk out without paying for them. The manager was absolutely stunned to see her do exactly as I predicted and he didn’t make too many bets with me after that incident. His confidence in my predictions were so strong that he would often call police ahead of a crime actually being committed just to have them on-site when an arrest was made.
If I could read people this well then clearly most anyone could do the same. Having that kind of knowledge can help us purposely change our own behavior at will so we aren’t as predictable to others who are observing us.
It’s not a science as people can change their behavior on a whim for any number of reasons, but it is really amazing what we can learn from just observing things around us. Don’t forget to pay attention to shadows and reflections (e.g. glass, water, metal) as they can help us see things which are not in our direct line of sight.
Thanks for a really good reminder to be vigilent at all times.
The article just screams super market to me because that is where I have to be the most aware. There is more crap goes on there than just about anywhere else I go. I sit in the truck a lot waiting for DH and it is so easy to spot people up to no good. But even so, I got caught unaware the other day in a Dentist’s waiting room by myself. A guy with no teeth came in and walked up to the counter. I just assumed he belonged there because of the lack of teeth. I was all alone out there and he turned around and started in on a Schitzo rant to me. It was very obvious from the get go he was off his meds. He started screaming you don’t care about it . I stopped him right there and said “You got that right, I don’t know you from Adam. Get out of my face” I then went thru the door and got the Dentist. Of course he was gone by then.
A good lesson to me to never relax period when I am out.
i thwarted a break in progress at my house one night. i pulled into my carport and got out and smelled cigarette smoke. i dont know anyone tyhat smokes and i live to far from any other house to smell cigarettes from any where. i unlocked my door and stepped in and grtabbed my pistol from its hiding space inside my grandfather clock along with the flashlight i keep there. i found the guy hiding behind my shed with my gas can and a crow bar he had gotten from my unlocked workshop. held him for cops. even when i dont realize im doing it im constantly takeing inventory of my surroundings. the army taught me that.
Great post. Coming from a LEO family I just do those things without thinking. MOST people do not. Very well said.
Great post and one that I try to use. My brother is a Chief of Police and has schooled the women of our family on awareness of your surroundings. If you are self assured as you walk to your car and are watching what others are doing, you become less of a target for would-be attackers. If you are oblivious of what others around you are doing, the “bad guys” pick up on this and begin to circle like wolves. Thanks for the reminder to continue to watch. I read today what is going on in Chicago with the bands of teens who are attacking, beating and robbing people in that city. This is a very timely post.
I took a Rape Agression Defense a few years ago and was amazed at how unobservant I was to my surroundings. Great post.
Again,again, and now once again, everyone is told to engage in situational awareness. Look, listen, smell, sense, my wife and daughter drive me crazy when I see them charge out the grocery store pushing a cart without the slightest pause. Or,,when someone knocks on the door selling something, 0r asking about the lawn, and they just pull it wide open. I’ve told them a hundred times to look, listen, and make sure of who was standing on the other side of that reinforced barricaded steel door. It could be a giant with his pants down holding a hard on. How many of us actually check the mirrors when in traffic, or make sure all the car doors are locked, or have a handgun ready nearby. THIS ARTICLE ONCE AGAIN ECHOES THE THEME OF SITUATIONAL AWARENESS, FOLLOW THESE SUGGESTIONS OR BE CULLED FROM THE HERD. Great post, thanks,…
Excellent information. Situational awareness is so important to survival. Knowing your surroundings and what people are doing will keep you alive. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
GREAT post! If it’s just me and the kids, I am often hyper-vigilant. A long time ago I read a book titled something like “Be Alert, Be Aware, Have a Plan.” It basically discussed the importance of being aware of your surroundings. Great book. I may need to reread it. In today’s society, it’s easy to get lax about it all.
Also use sound in the wild. Insects that go silent all of a sudden, or birds suddenly flying off can indicate something disturbed them. I notice when climbing into my blind in the woods, its stays quiet for a bit, then slowly builds up as they forget what got their attention.
If cattle are in the area, they spot movement quickly and when you see them all looking in one direction, something caused them to do that. Some animals will suddenly stampede in panic if surprised at close range – you can hear the beat of hoofs on the earth, see the dirt fly in the air.
Time of day also requires extra care. My Grandmother used to tell me ‘Nothing good goes on after midnight’, referring to drunk drivers and people who were up to no good often stayed up late, partying into night. She has a point – many accidents from drunk driving happen in dark o thirty hours.
Good post.
j.r., My mom would tell me” nobody had any business being out that late”, referring, of course, to what your Grandmother said.
Having grown up in the country I never worried too much about other people being around but if there was it was (and now more than ever)cause for alerting the adults. Now that I’m the adult(?)…one must not only be aware of the livestock and wildlife but the two- legged critters especially.
The mockingbirds and the scrub blue jays both have a call they make when something is wrong. Usually it is a hawk or a cat
but they don’t miss anything that goes on. I always am aware of the bird sounds and the local dogs.
I just felt like adding, lots of good and fun things happen after midnight. It’s not all bad.
Also, there’s been a number of times when I’ve been surprised and the birds didn’t go quiet or squawk, the cows didn’t pay no mind and all around the animals didn’t act like a warning device. I wouldn’t depend on that too much. Just sayin’.
You did a wonderful job explaining how to become truly aware of one’s surroundings. I know that anyone who practices it will experience a greater heightened awareness and appreciate having the ability to do so. Having lived in a city I learned many things that taught me to be aware and keep it that way, no matter where I go or with whom I may deal. Time and again, I see people in their cars, stores and other places where they are complacent to their surroundings. For those who are sedentary, the elderly that have decent vision and not too many physical disabilities and teen drivers would benefit from the teaching and daily practice as it would increase their reaction time.
I taught all five kids to be aware and to not look like victims or easy marks the whole time they were growing up and now, they are all closer to 30 then 20 and now, I’m teaching self defense and awareness to my DiL who I love dearly. Poor girl was never taught even so much as how to break out of a hold where all the guy has is her wrists. She knows what to do now and she is walking and looking around a lot more confidently now. Always be aware, Always eye those around you. Don’t become a victim and NEVER ever let someone take you to another location.. for they will kill you there. Better a stab wound or possible gunshot then … well.. I’m sure we can all imagine.
Good, useful essay. Thanks for writing it, MsgtHug. Although I think of myself as being more aware of my surroundings than most, I know I need to improve.
This is a very good post. Thanks for this important message.
This discipline is especially important in the city. When I was younger, I spent a number of years in NYC and it was common knowledge amongst those who lived there that it was imperative to be aware of your surroundings at all times.
Excellent article. Most people operate purely out of habit…. instinctive behaviors where they do things by rote memeorization. To be a ‘prepper’, one should cultivate their obervational skills. They may be the difference between success and failure in a SHTF scenario. It’s said, “Life is in the details”…. maybe we should add, “Survival is in the details” as well. Really good post!
Excellent post.
Nice post, keep your head up & eyes open @ all times…
Good essay. Something we hear all the time, but the ideas are all too often not practiced by many folks. Mp3 players, cell phones, texting, and all of the other distractions in life too often get in the way of simply paying attention.
We teach an NRA class called “Refuse to be a victim” as well as some advanced tactics personal protection handgun related classes, and all of these classes stress awareness, as four states:
• Unaware
• Aware
• Alert
• Alarm
We should all strive to only be in the unaware state when we are sleeping, and even then we should have a mechanism that is aware on our behalf, be it an alarm system, smoke detector, or a dog. Minimize the unaware state and really pay attention to your surroundings, and life will be not only safer, but probably more rewarding, as you notice those fun little things that others all too often miss.
Excellent post. Due to a difficult childhood, I have a condition the medics call ‘hyper-vigilance’. It’s like situational awareness on steroids. It’s considered a disease, but it’s saved my life more than once.
Awareness is a skill well worth developing.
I would add, when something doesn’t “feel right”, even if you can’t quite put your finger on it… act on your feelings, worst case – you feel a bit foolish. Best case – it may save your life.
Couldn’t agree more. Our gut instincts are definitely worth paying attention to.
How many of you have seen “Men in black” or “The fifth element”? In the film men in black they flash a picture on the screen and Will Smith is the only one to identify and shoot the “logical” suspect, a little girl. In the fifth element Bruce Willis sticks his head around a corner, takes a quick glance and pulls his head back and announces “5 on the left 2 on the right”. We trained to get that “flash immage” and worked on recall detail quite often. You can do it yourself. Just pull out some pictures out of a magazine or the news paper, look at them for a second or 2 and then try to recall everything you saw, then review the picture and study it, see wat you may have missed. Increase the ammount of detail you note, decrease the ammount of time you get to review it . It is really a good game for kids and without telling them what you are teaching them the pick it up and have amazing attention to detail as well as having fun. Kids love to compete.
Maybe thats why it worked so well with the younger soldiers.
Very good post. Out of habit, as I exit a store I scan the immediate vicinity and parking lot — left to right. I can determine quite a bit with that “casual” look around. This habit came in very handy 2 months ago when I left a store in a nearby town. On my right, leaning against the wall was a young guy in a James Dean lean-against-the-wall position. As I walked off the sidewalk to the street, my peripheral vision detected him– he was walking towards my path to my vehicle. No other people were in the parking lot but a young gal was sitting in her car next to my truck (she was on her cell phone, oblivious to everything). I took several more steps and realized his actions were deliberate and would intersect with my path so I did an abrupt 180 and headed back to the store. No eye contact to the guy as I turned and confused him, I simply focused on the store. I walked into the store and the woman was puzzled that I came back. I told her of my suspicions and we both watched him. His gate had slowed considerably and he was walking without purpose but continued on. He went to the end of the parking lot and crossed the boulevard where there was no crosswalk. I stayed several minutes longer and saw him head towards the shopping center across the boulevard where there was only one operating store (a Staples). Was he after me (rather, my money)? Was it coincidence? I will never know but believe he was up to no good.
My motto is dare to be aware: the only trust to give out is that which is earned.
Great information! You can NEVER be too careful. I taught both my boys to have eyes in the back of their heads. Too much stuff happens now in broad daylight, out in the open and too many people will say “I didn’t see anything”, just so they don’t have to get involved. You have to stay vigilant at all times. Very good advice.
I’ve always been somewhat aware of my surroundings. I don’t know if it just comes natural or if I picked it up from my dad or others I was around as a child. My friends used to marvel at the fact that I would notice whose car tracks were visable in the dirt driveway or could tell who was the last one to leave the house because of the record album on the stereo.
About 20 years back I was in Atlanta attending a week long school. My business partner and I were down there together and one night decided to see what “underground Atlanta” was all about (doacn’t waste your time). As we were leaving, we were walking across the vacant short end of the L that makes up the Underground Atlanta area, heading back toward a door that leads to a parking garage. My friend was busy telling me some war story or something he had seen on TV and was paying no attention to anything around him. As we were cutting diagonally across the floor when I notice two nefarious looking fellows coming out of the parking garage. They were looking directly at us. We were two middle aged, slightly overweight fellows and Wayne walks with a limp. We probably looked like easy targets. As they walked directly toward us I changed directions slightly. Wayne was talking, looking my way and following my lead and didn’t even notice the men or my slight change in path. The two fellows immediately changed their path. I changed mine slightly again. Still Wayne didn’t notice but the two fellows did and they again changed so that they were headed straight at us. That told me what I wanted to know. At that point I reached into my pocket and got a firm grip on my pocket knife and began to stare straight at the two fellows as they approached, trying to be as imposing as possible. I’m 6’1 and at the time probably weighed about 280. Imposing is something I do fairly well. The fellows then changed their path slightly and passed by us about 20 feet off to the side. I’m 80%+ convinced they intended to rob us or try to hit us up for some money or something. After we got past them and in the clear I told Wayne, “those fellows were about to mug us”. He didn’t believe me. He was totally unaware of it.
What bothers me is that now, in my early 60′s and with some aches, pains and worries I have realized that I no longer notice things as closely. Yes I still notice strange tire tracks in my driveway and I still read folks appearance and actions fairly well but there are times now when I just don’t pay attention like I should.
This article serves as a great reminder.
I am very aware of what is going on around me. I watch the people and always look for danger.
I always keep my purse zipped so no one can snatch my wallet out and if I put it in the shopping cart I do not let it out of my sight. I also strap my purse down in the cart with the child restraint so that if someone tried to grab & run they won’t get it. When I unload my groceries I unlock the car, put my purse in it and lock it back.
The show “The Mentalist” can teach us some awareness techniques, if you care to watch that sort of things. In the ads, the main character says, “people think I’m psychic, there are no psychics, just people who pay attention!” That is how I operate and I often surprise people with my observations about them or their activity.
One thing I want to add that I didn’t notice anyone mentioning in the quick scan I did of the comments, was to be extra vigilant at stop lights in your car, especially downtown, in large parking lots and in questionable neighborhoods. Make sure your windows are up and the doors are locked. Actively watch the people walking across and down the street. And don’t nudge right up on the bumper of the car in front of you, leave yourself space to move your car, in case you have to move quickly.
Once in awhile, I still catch myself not being vigilant enough in the store and it makes me want to kick my own butt! The bad guys are out there and it’s our job to make sure they fail at “their job”. :)
Just inside my front door is a hutch. On the hutch is a $20 bill. (Sometimes it’s a $10 or a $5 but today it’s a $20.) I conciously look at it when I enter and can see it even before I’m through the door. If it’s gone I will back out and go to a nieghbor’s house. The only way that money would be gone is if someone had entered my house while I was gone.
I don’t always practice good situational awareness. I do when I’m in the city because I grew up in a big city and dealt with gangs and crime. But now I live in a small town in a great nieghborhood and it’s easy to let your mind wander to more pleasant thoughts. So I have set up specific things I look for. Not important things necessarily but things that build a habit. This way when I drive home and I’m thinking about the traffic or something else my habit says to look for my gate being closed and my second car looking undisturbed. Generally everything is fine but it now preconditions me up to be aware and looking around.
These two “tricks” help me to stay alert in a mundane safe environment where nothing ever happens. It is so easy to feel overly safe.
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