Fears

Day 35. Fears.

Let's go ahead and admit it: we all have fears. Some worse than others. Some people fear pain, death, loss of loved ones. Others fear spiders, the number 13, snakes and black cats.

With all the talk of economic collapse and OMG EBOLA!!! no wonder people seem more fearful in recent days. The few people I know that thought the goverment would always tell the truth and take care of us all should probably be panicking pretty hard by now. Those of us who have always known that to be a lie have alredy begun preparations to take care of ourselves.

Oil prices are in the tank, which is a good think. Cheap oil hurts Russia, which helps us. It keeps them weaker when they can't try and control the European market. The Bear was never dead, the Bear was just hybernating. And you can't make peace with a Bear, you can only hope to kill him before he kills you. Anyone who thinks otherwise is a fool. As prices stay low, and American oil production increases, it will only help stabilize our economy. Now if we can get the government to get off our backs and let the drilling and transportation of our own crude expand. As well as fracking. Cheap energy is good for everyone.

The banking system is pretty much screwed. Mason jars in the backyard doesn't look like a bad option at this point. The stress tests the Federal Reserve runs only proves what we know: the banks don't have the money to cover deposits. So one day, when TSHTF and everyone wants their cash, you better hope to be first in line. Unless you think that pen on a chain is a good trade for your saving account.

Disease prevention: it's up to you. Just like always. Any false security you have that anyone else gives a flip if you live or die should have gone up in smokoe years ago. The Federal government can't buy a clue about what to do, they are making up protocols as they go along. At this point we'd be better off just avoiding crowds and washing our hands a lot. But what do I know, I've never even had the flu.

I can't help you with the spiders, 13, or black cats. But I do say THE ONLY GOOD SNAKE IS A DEAD SNAKE, if that helps with them.

My only real take on fear comes from Frank Herbert. The Bene Gesserit litany is good advice, if only to help focus your thoughts and keep you calm.

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

Lesson Thirty Five: Do you let fear control your actions? Do you find yourself surrendering to fear and letting the unknown make your decisions? Think about how you can control the things around you, and not let the panic drive you to make poor choices.

695 to go...