Security and Safety
(So Mom won’t worry)
I’m assuming you already know the most basic stuff: don’t drive drunk, be cautious with strangers, and use a condom. These are the sorts of things that your folks may have been preaching about for years. Maybe you listened, maybe not. But now that you are on you own, you make your own mistakes and–here’s the big one–you pay for them! So it’s time to take all those warnings seriously.
Only you know if they apply to you, but if they do, here are two guidelines for handling your security and safety, along with just about everything else you will have to deal with for the REST OF YOUR LIFE!!
Commonsense
Personal Responsibility
Commonsense means taking a look at something and saying, “Is it practical? Considering what’s at risk, is it safe? Is it smart? Is anyone beside myself at risk? Is it truly worth it?”
Personal responsibility means just that. You are making your own choices and if you screw up, even accidentally, you are responsible for making things right.
You’ve heard it before so what’s different now? Now you want people to take you seriously and to respect you as an adult. O.M.O. LIFE TIP: if you want people to respect you as an adult, you will need to use commonsense and show personal responsibility. Enough said.
SECURING THE PERIMETER
What perimeter? The one around your body, your purse, your backpack, you car, your home, your everything!
This is a good time to review a previously stated O.M.O. LIFE TIP: it’s a sad but true fact that not everyone can be trusted.
Let’s start with your body and work our way out. Use commonsense (there’s that word!) in public places. Be aware of the people around you. Keep your belongings nearby and in sight. Don’t drink your drink if it’s been sitting unattended. O.M.O. SURVIVAL TIP: Think twice about ingesting ANYTHING given to you by someone you don’t TOTALLY TRUST.
If it’s dark out, stay in well lit areas. If you have to walk to your car in a deserted area or at night, get someone to walk with you. This is good advice for both men and women. Don’t take off with total strangers without at least letting someone know where you’re going. Better yet, don’t take off with total strangers.
When you walk to your car (or anywhere!), be aware of who is around you. Is someone following you? Have your key ready before you get to the car. Before you get to the car, look around it. Is there any sign of someone hanging around waiting for you? Anyone under it? It happens! Do you just have a bad feeling?
If any of this stuff happens, or you feel uneasy for any reason, go back inside and wait for a friend or call for help. If you are truly concerned, call the police. Don’t worry what people will think; the police will think you are smart to be cautious, and people who care about you will be very happy you are safe. That’s all that counts.
Once you do get in your car, leave. If you need to make a call on your cell, or look something up in your checkbook, or dig for your favorite CD, do at your next stop. Don’t just sit there. If someone is watching or following you, you don’t want to give them a chance to catch up to you.
Remember, too, to stay focused on the road when you’re driving. Sure, everyone changes channels on the radio, or takes a sip from their bottle of water while they drive. You can do those things, and still watch the road. But if you need to dig a stick of gum out of your purse, find a CD in the case or dial someone on your cell phone, wait until you’re at a stop light, or better yet, pull over into a parking lot, or off to the side of the road (if it’s safe). O.M.O. Life Tip: don’t mess around with stuff (or friends) while you’re driving. The results can be very painful, expensive and even deadly.
Use commonsense at home too. Lock the doors when you leave, lock up when you are home too. Don’t leave windows wide open. Crack them enough to let air in and put a stick or rod in the track so that the window can only open so far. Do the same with sliding glass doors. Put up shades or curtains, to give you privacy. Make sure the windows and doors will lock when shut. Install chain locks and deadbolts. These are not unreasonable things to ask of a landlord, but do ask first. O.M.O. Survival Tip: always ask the landlord before installing anything.
Leave porch lights on at night–all night. Not only will you be able to see the lock when you come up to the door, you’ll see the area around the door, and neighbors can see you. Get to know your neighbors. Good neighbors look out for each other, know each other’s habits and notice when something is wrong.
Put some of your inside lights on timers if you often come home after dark. Leave the timers on even when you are gone. A house with the lights on looks occupied and that keeps trouble away. Leave the stereo or TV on too, if you are really concerned about someone trying to break in while you are away.
Of course, leaving many lights on all day can really raise the electric bill. But one or two lights, on timers, going on and off at different times can give the impression that someone’s home. You’ll have to decide if your security demands a little extra expense.
Does it seem like this is all a lot of worrying over something that will never happen? Hopefully. But bad things do happen, and smart people learn to be cautious. Does this mean you have to spend all your time watching out and worrying about what’s around the next corner? No way. When you’re in the habit of using commonsense you will do it naturally, and won’t really notice. It will be like a sixth sense that you’re only aware of when you need it.
This reminds me of one more thing. Sometimes, for no reason you can figure out, you will get a bad feeling about a place or a person or something. Maybe its intuition or that sixth sense, or maybe it’s something you ate. You might not really know, but your subconscious is always busy paying attention to lots of little details that you are not, and sometimes it’s picking up on important warning signs you are missing.
What should you do when you get that bad feeling? You might want to change your plans, or maybe simply be a bit more cautious and aware of your surroundings. It’s only commonsense to pay attention.
Let me put this another way. O.M.O. Survival Tip: if a person, a place or something is giving you a bad feeling, pay attention and be cautious. It’s only commonsense!
Robin Nolet is a mom, and a Colorado Realtor who writes about life, real estate, and much more! You can find her regular blogs at: http://denver.yourhub.com/~ParkerPerson
