In my much younger years I was hired to house sit for an affluent family that was going on vacation. The house was posh and obviously full of expensive possessions. One night just past midnight suspicious noises woke me up. The room I was sleeping in was just above the kitchen door. I tiptoed to a window without turning on a light. Yep a guy was working on picking the lock.
I knew if he got in and saw me things would get ugly. Especially if he was armed. But I had thought up a strategy ahead of time based on what people do in the middle of the night. I walked down the hall, turned on the bathroom light, and a few minutes later flushed the toilet. He took off like a bat out of hell.
Dannah Eve, author of Street Smarts, would have approved that strategy. If I summed up the gist of her advice it would be: shit happens (and not just to other people!); know how to protect yourself. She very much doesn't want us to skip through life blithely thinking nothing like that could ever happen to me. But she also doesn't want us paralyzed by fear. Consider her book to be a toolkit for going through life in the sweet in between space.
Eve has several of what I call overarching principles. One very important one is trust your instincts. If a person, place, or situation creeps you out follow your gut. Don't play nice and stick around. Lie if you have to. Break social conventions if that's called for. Just get the Hell out. And don't go off alone with someone if you're seeing red flags, even if your friends think he's a really nice guy.
Another is to be constantly aware of your surroundings, even if they're veryfamiliar ones. On campus or off I'm constantly seeing people walking around with their eyes glued to their phones. So not a good idea.
Another is lie to survive. Despite what society teaches us, telling the truth is not always a good idea. If a potential molester backs off in fear of your nonexistent husband--good.
In the body of the book Eve applies the principles to the kinds of situations we may very well find ourselves in: driving a motor vehicle, dating, going out with the girls, at work, living alone, traveling alone, being a college student, and using electronics. The volume is peppered with real life safety stories Her advice is comprehensive and actionable. I bet most of us could gain a lot from reading the book.
In her conclusion Eve tells readers: "My hope is that after reading this book, you feel empowered with knowledge. I want you to lean into the power of awareness, tap into your intuition, and refuse to shrink back. I want you to carry this confidence forward, knowing that with each step, you're living a life that's bold, aware, and unmistakably strong."
Amen to that!
I personally believe Street Smarts belongs in every home where there are people. Keep it in a handy place to reference it whenever you need to. It's also a valuable acquisition for college and public libraries.
On a purrrsonal note, this week I had two of my annual medical check ups. Yesterday I saw my neurologist (if you survive a stroke you get one of those) and my new primary care provider. After two years of trying I got in with a practice suited to my needs. I am very happy with my new PCP and the practice as a whole.
If you ever get stuck with a medical practitioner that you aren't satisfied with, if it's feasible, try to discuss the reasons you aren't happy. If that doesn't work find a new one. Don't just stay put in a bad situation. It's your health, your body, your agency. This is harder with specialists if you live in a state like mine where there are so damn few of them.
Oh yeah, I'm in radient health. I've got my blood pressure under control due to my adhering to the diet from Hell, commitment to exercise, and all the other due diligence stuff. YAY ME!!!
Jules Hathaway
Sent from my Galaxy
