Happy New Year!
I pray that your 2010 will be filled with blessings, health, peace and prosperity.
Unfortunately, I fear that the new year will also bring new political and financial challenges unlike anything we - our country and even the world - have ever experienced. I am sure the powers that be will continue to push off the inevitable as long as possible, meaning that 2011, 2012 and beyond will surely be, as the alleged Chinese curse says, interesting times. This also means that as each new year passes, the price we end up paying will be greater and greater. Hang in there.
I also would not be surprised to see at least one significant terrorist attack on US soil. The stock market should be a bit of a roller coaster, but there should be plenty of bargains available and great speculative plays to be made. The financial world is changing, regardless of what the pundits and so-called experts might say. History is not on our side. We’ll see how things play out in 2010, but don’t wait until frugality, saving, and a minimalist lifestyle become the popular thing to do. By the time the sheeple catch on, it will be too late to make much of a difference.
What to do? Financially, be as responsible as possible, making wise, safe investments with 70%-90% of your portfolio while seeking out some great speculative plays with 10% or more. Don’t think that the dollar is a safe investment. Read a good contrarian investment newsletter like the stuff from Casey that I have on the side of the blog, or a similar resource.
Politically, look for ways to vote with your money, time and resources. Don’t pat yourself on the back for checking a box on a ballot. Choose a few good organizations to support. There are plenty out there and I might post something soon making a few recommendations. Of course, I would encourage you to support just about anything Ron Paul endorses and other liberty-focused groups. Consider letting go of overly-firm party affiliations and consider issues one at a time. Think about the ways you have been thinking about things. As noted on a previous post, think about moving your money to a local institution and supporting your local economy. Buy local when you can. Volunteer. You get the picture.
Socially, consider making one of those charities you support one that responsibly cares for children around the world. Whether you sponsor a child or financially support people who do, think about the impact you can have on widows, orphans, the homeless and the lost. It may not seem like much, but it will be the world to the child or mother or father who is helped.
Health and wellness-wise, here it is: exercise 15-30 minutes a day. Eat 5-6 small meals with a balanced measure of goof fats, protein and carbs regularly. Drink A LOT of water (keep a 28-32 ounce container on you at all times). Consider a couple of good supplements (fish oil or similar, a good multivitamin, vitamin D3, and some Kyolic Garlic would be a good start. I also LOVE my Silver Solution). Find support, motivation and encouragement somewhere, whether in a book, a group, or a friend or all of the above. Set some life goals and get on with them. Choose a new hobby and get on with it. Get plenty of good sleep.
Preparedness-wise, GET PREPARED! Check out SurvivalBlog.com and other resources. Start by making a kit for power outages, then go from there. Ideally, you need to have a kit in your car(s), a bug-out-bag for each adult member of your family and possibly for some youth, the largest store of food and water you can muster (this is a long term endeavor - start NOW), and a good convenience store in your house. The possibilities are endless, as are the potential disasters. don’t let yourself become obsessed, but get close. Your location will have an effect on your preparedness. Whether you are in the heart of downtown, or in the country you will have different priorities. What are the potential dangers in your area? Are you close to a tactical strike target? Floods? Mudslides? Earthquakes? The list goes on and on. In addition to keeping an eye on Survival Blog, consider a resource like Making the Best of the Basics by James Talmage Stevens. It is one of those all-in-one resources that can get you moving in the right direction quickly. There are plenty of other good books and web sites out there, but don’t become one of those people who spends more time reading about preparedness than becoming prepared. Read one or two books, follow one or two web sites, then get going.
Spiritually, seek God. If you are a mature Christian, continue your walk, continue reforming under the guidance of the Holy Spirit. If you are an atheist, an agnostic, or of some other belief system, feel free to write and ask me anything you like. Challenge me, ridicule me (but if you do I will probably post it), and do what you will. I hope to put together an apologetics web site in the coming year that will make it easy to contact me. Apologetics is a passion of mine that I have spent too little time faithfully pursuing. I will keep you posted as things develop.
Oh ya, work hard on developing a prayer habit.
Spend more time with your family. If you have children, cherish every single moment you have with them, and realize they are a treasure beyond measure that you are responsible for. Love them. Think of new ways to love your spouse, and challenge yourself to know them more each day. Let go of self, and change yourself for the better. Let go of pride and old ways, and see yourself as others, and as God might see you. It is never too early or too late to change, and to grow. And for all of these people and for all of these situations, pray fervently and often, offering them all to God while asking Him to use you in every circumstance and relationship.
Put God first.
Also, pray that I can do these things too.
Happy New Year!
