Real World Wednesday

Feeling Safe in Your Community

In a recent column in the San Francisco Chronicle, Mark Morford talks about coming home from a long weekend and finding that a shooting has just taken place in his neighborhood in San Francisco.

The column turns to talking about fear, and Morford says it all when he says:

And here's the great divine kicker: The more you worry about it, the more you abide in fear and anxiety, the more likely such trauma and drama will happen to you. It's the Great Inverse Law of Energy: What you fear most will be drawn to you like a magnet. And the universe goes: Ha.

So, how can we not live in fear?

What are some ways you can overcome paranoia and fear, short of moving to an expensive neighborhood (where, let's face it, you'd still be afraid that the wrong element would get in an steal your jewelry, costume or otherwise)?

First, and this isn't anywhere in the advice I found online. Get over yourself, but not to the point where you feel invincible.

In order to not let fear get the best of you, you have to accept that having a healthy dose of it in your life will allow you to keep that life. Walking down dark, lonely streets on your own, after midnight. Probably not the best idea. Yes, you should be afraid. And you should call a cab, have a friend pick you up or just not be out on the street by yourself after midnight.

But there are other things you can do:

Check out the Home Safety Council website for tips on how to deal with a myriad of problems that can happen inside the home.

Remember these self-defense tips I found online:
1)Stay aware of your surroundings
2)Stay with people, go to people
3)Keep a barrier between you and the bad guy
4)Attract attention (if attacked/assaulted)
5)Control his hips and hands
6)Use your strongest weapons against your weakest targets

And on a more positive note, maybe instead of being afraid you can get it together to do something to change the community.

Participate in a Neighborhood Watch.
Volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club.

Or, as many of you already do, choose a career that will influence the future of your community. Teach. Work at a college or university. Get involved with politics. Rather than being afraid, get involved, and to quote the most quoted, "Be the change you want to see in the world" (Mahatma Ghandi).