You are having it rough but ...

Some people have it even worse. Sure, the Ice, snow and cold are a pain to get around in but what if you were stuck in a wheelchair or used a walker or crutches ... what then?

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massach.../?p1=News_links

Survival is often couched in terms of independence, and what you can do for yourself. A noble enough concept. But focusing on yourself gets old and can lead to self pity and depression. Look around, find people who have it worse than you do, and help them. You will feel better about your situation, more connected to the community, and less in need to living in a bunker.

The statistics are clear that pretty much everyone will spend some time in their life disabled. It isn't just the old. Young and healthy people break their legs, shatter their spines, and suffer from the effects of MS. We are a fragile species that live in a hazardous and random world.

Looking out for others fosters a community spirit that increases the odds someone looks after you. At the very least if you help others you have no need to feel embarrassed about asking for help. You will have paid your dues. Besides, helping people feels good.

Get out there and help someone.

If your family and neighbors are doing well and don't need any help, you may wonder how you can help your wider community. If you're in the US, please consider joining your local Community Emergency Response Team. The training is free (even if you don't want to join the team, the training is worthwhile) and I've found being on my local team just for the last seven months to be very rewarding.

Check out http://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/ for more information.

+1. Good for the community and good for the soul.

I was heavily involved in volunteer search and rescue from 1970 until 1985 (less intensive involvement before and after that time). I realized the real paradox of SAR - ostensibly you are helping others, but you are getting back more from the involvement than you ever can give. A lot of the satisfaction was the experience of true and committed teamwork - not the hokey "team building" exercises beloved by corporate entities, but the real thing, with real consequences.

All in all, I could make a good case for stating that my SAR work was the best thing I have ever done.

Thanks for the reminder, Art. I should really look up the local CERT - it will be useful when the next Big One comes.

Excellent post Art, thanks.



In light of this, if I may add, disability survival 101 is learn how to graciously ask for and accept help. Helping other people is great, but when you're the one in need would you be too proud to accept it--or, furthermore, to ask for it? What about insisting on or begging for help if it is a matter of grave bodily importance? Humiliating? Yes. Survival skill? You bet.

Of course, ideally you'd know how to be so charming that everyone wants to help you anyway. It preserves more of your dignity and makes the process smoother on everyone involved.

My teory is that lending a hand out to others while still fit and able will make the process of accepting help when I need it a lot easier...


Asking for and accepting help is a life skill not only for the disabled. I can think of many situations where proud, self-sufficient me really should have bitten the bullet and asked for even just _*a little*_ assistance.