Mark Stoller and his wife, Andra, moved to Falcon with their family in 2007. Both are U.S. Air Force veterans and enjoy life with their daughters, extended family and adopted rescue dogs in Latigo. Mark is fortunate to have his wife and daughters as his muse for topics, people to meet and places to investigate.
All Around Prepared
By Mark Stoller
Happy December! We have had the third snow of the season and the theme of being prepared comes to mind.
Snow and cold temperatures have affected travel throughout the state and we can only expect more. The American Automobile Association recommends you have specific items in your vehicle to stay warm, hydrated and nourished in the face of unexpected road closures or waiting for roadside assistance. Those items include a first aid kit, spare medications, flashlight, batteries/charger, hat, gloves, warm socks, boots, blanket, water, granola bars/trail mix, bag of sand or cat litter, foldable snow shovel, ice scraper, jumper cables, tool kit and duct tape.
Preparedness applies to our homes as well. Our friends, who live in western North Carolina, have been sending regular updates since Hurricane Helena came through and completely washed away towns in their area. Many residents are living in tents and even with the help of significant humanitarian organizations, remain in dire straits. I’ve never had to live 24/7 in just a tent during freezing temperatures, but I can presume the inability to get warm and stay warm is miserable.
One last thought is being emotionally prepared for this holiday season. Be certain you or someone you know isn’t spending the holidays alone.
Also, while we’re all together, it’s good to set solid boundaries on participation in activities and topics of conversations.
From Psychology Today, “In a world of strong opinions and differing perspectives, a little humility and an open mind can turn conflict into building bridges instead of walls. You can involve affirming the other person’s perspective while adding your own, using phrases like, “It’s interesting that you say that because I see it differently; or I hadn’t thought of it like that!”
If the above technique doesn’t work and civil conversation isn’t possible, it’s acceptable to walk away from tenuous situations.
I wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and look forward to having a more constant presence with you through the next year!
