28 Aug Prepared: 35 Small Ways to be just a little more prepared in life for anything it throws your way
Posted at 15:17h
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Pastor Art Snow • August 26, 2022
Prepared: 35 Small Ways to be just a little more prepared in life for anything it throws your way
When is the last time life threw you a curve ball, you know something came up from left field and left you flat-footed, unprepared, and frustrated? Well hopefully after reading this blog, the last time will be the last time. Ok here goes….
- When your gas tank reads a quarter of a tank, fill it. Too many times I put off getting gas just to get caught in a bad storm or construction on the highway and worried that I might feel the engine quit at any minute.
- Always keep a blanket in the trunk of your car, if your car breaks down in the middle of winter you will be happy you thought of this.
- Keep all of your important papers (passport, birth certificate, marriage license, deeds, car titles, insurance papers, bank documents, your will, etc) either in a safe in your home, a fire proof box or a safety deposit box. I like having them in our safe so I can retrieve them in just minutes.
- Keep a notebook, either paper or digital, of random thoughts that come to your mind. No matter how young you are no ones memory is fail-safe.
- When traveling by plane always keep things that you absolutely need with you at all times (passport, money, documents, medicine etc) in all my years of travel my luggage has only been lost a couple of times, but it usually didn’t contain anything I could not replace easily.
- Always keep a spare house key in your wallet or purse (or some people entrust it to a relative or friend) you never want to have to spend the night on your front lawn.
- Keep a book either physical or digital handy for those unexpected long lines at the bank, post office apple store. This will keep you from mindlessly scrolling through your social media, and keep your mind sharp at the same time.
- When having guest in from out of town have a list of your favorite restaurants and entertainment spots ready for them to choose from, this will save those long conversations about where they would like to eat if you are not preparing a meal in your home.
- Keep pictures of your loved ones handy on your phone so when someone asks about your family the photos are at your fingertips.
- Keep a pen in your pocket or purse an often needed item but seldom carried by most people.
- Keep random stories or jokes in the notes on your phone, you never know when you will be asked to give a speech, share at an event or entertain someone from your work place.
- When traveling in a strange city, always know where the closest pharmacy or Wal-mart is, just in case you forgot your medicine, your socks, or those potato chips you left sitting on the counter.
- Keep a photo of your car license plates in your phone so the next time the hotel asks you for your plate number you don’t have to run out in the rain and get it.
- Keep an umbrella in every vehicle you own and make sure you put it back after every use, so it won’t be in the house when you are stuck in your car in a downpour.
- Keep all your passwords in a safe location either physically or digitally, I know you think you will remember them all, but you won’t.
- Keep your pantry stocked with necessary items in case you get snowed in or can not leave your house for several days. Those beans and spaghettiO’s taste mighty good when the roads are impassable.
- Keep a to-go bag in your bedroom. God forbid if there is a fire or emergency and you have to get out of your house quickly, you have those important items at the ready.
- Never be caught without wrapping paper, tape, or a gift bag in your home. Gift giving is so much fun especially when you are prepared.
- Ladies when wearing heels, always keep a comfortable pair of shoes handy for those moments when you can take them off for a few minutes.
- Men, always keep a handkerchief in your pocket for your ladies tears, or your children’s bloody nose. They will thank your for it.
- When walking alone, always have an escape plan in your mind, hopefully you will never need it but if you do it could save your life.
- Keep a small box of children’s items (toys, coloring book and crayons, play-dough etc) for those occasional times when people with kids stop by, it will keep them from playing with your expensive figurines on the coffee table.
- Buy a generator and store it away for those times when the storm or other disaster shuts down the power grid down. You will be so thankful you did if and when the time comes.
- Keep a writing pad and reliable pen in your house for those times you just need to make a note.I know most people use their phone for this, but if you are on your phone and need to jot down a phone number or information the pad will work.
- Keep cash on you at all times for those occasions when cards just will not work or when that homeless man needs a few bucks for lunch.
- Keep a pocket knife in your pocket or purse for those time you need to open a box or cut those 45 zip ties that hold new items in place, or maybe skin a rabbit, they are just so handy.
- Keep Dunkin Donuts gift cards in your car for hopeless people especially in the winter it will get them someplace warm to fill their belly and hopefully their soul.
- Memorize your Social Security number. You would be surprised at how many do not know theirs.
- Keep prayed up, God will bring you many opportunities during a day to share His love and message, but it is hard to do this if your spiritual tank is on empty.
- Make a grocery “shared note” on your phone for your family to add items that are needed from the store, you may have to delete all those cookies and ice cream notes though.
- Make a will, life is uncertain. Having walked many families through an unexpected death I can tell you a will allows them to grieve without the struggling that comes trying to guess what the final wishes were of their loved one.
- Have a plan for self-defense, in case someone were to break into your home. No one wants to think about this but there are 2.5 million burglaries in the US every year.
- Learn to swim. I know many people who do not know how to swim but still go to the beach or to the hotel pool. You can find lessons at your local Y.
- Have an account apart from your savings account for those unexpected emergencies (busted tire, refrigerator break down, medical situation, etc)
- Know more than one route to your destination. Construction, accidents, downed poles, you name it, anything can bar your way for that one most used road to your favorite restaurant, so find a couple of alternative routes.
Pastor Art Snow | August 26, 2022
Edited and Adapted for Web Use by: Eric Muñoz Jr.