From the comfort of our family rooms or dens we imagine and roll-play our survival scenarios. We imagine ourselves surviving, as we should, for the number of days and nights that it takes to either find our way out or be found. It's fun to imagine these survival scenarios. After all, we don't conclude our mind-practice with our own demise. We win. We survive. We survive without annoyance, without suffrage, without pain, without discomfort. We just have a good time with all our tools and techniques . . . and we survive.

In a real life situation, however, we will be subjected to all that nature or our urban environment can dish out. Easy after hour one, not too bad after day one, but what about after week one? Hopefully none of us will have to experience the answer. Some will, however, and it is that experience for which we also need to be prepared.

Survival is not without hardship. Much more than a couple of days, even with adequate food, water and shelter, we'll be thinking a shower sounds pretty good. Our hands may become rough or raw. Our teeth will need brushing. Socks and underwear will begin to get, well, uncomfortable. If only I had my chapstick, my good scarf, just one more bandaid, some extra TP. The insects are driving me crazy. I need to move around more so all my joints don't lock up. I need to conserve energy. I stink. I truly do hate the rain. It's only 105!?! My feet are killing me. Etc, etc, etc.

I know, if my time comes, I won't have everything I need to make me perfectly comfortable, our it wouldn't be my time. I only hope I am strong enough to endure the hardships, whatever they may be, until I am re-united with loved ones. I sometimes think about those who have been "stranded" for many days and wonder how they dealt with the discomforts they must have endured. Perhaps someday I'll find out. I hope I'm ready.