Teach a man to fish...

   I can tell you, I was at one point made sick listening to the saying "If you teach a man to fish.....". It was being used as an excuse to let someone go hungry while they fulfilled program requirements to fish for assistance from government services and service organizations. It was a quote used to force someone out into the world where they weren't ready to go yet. Emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually scarred, one might need to be fed while they learn to fish and nurtured into courage. If a person's needs aren't met, any goals they achieve to please others will end up in failure. The results won't last. They will end up right back where they started.
  If, however, you patiently meet their needs, their life can become a joyful creative process with results that are everlasting. They will never go back to where they started because they won't want or need to be there. When all pressure is off, people become free. They begin to explore and see potential in things. They begin to WANT to create something lasting. When nurtured, people don't feel lost or a need to go out searching. If one does not have a sense of security within them and in their home, they definately aren't going to be stable and effective out in the world.
    When the world is full of limitations, people get discourged and bored. They drown themselves in addictions like roleplaying, drinking, sports, sex, drugs and rock and roll. And that is the problem with an abundance of laws, restrictions and taxes. They suffocate creativity and the creative genius. They enforce limitation. How far would Lewis and Clarke have gotten if the laws and practices of our society were placed on them? wear your helmets, boys! Don't eat it if it's natural because you might get ecoli. Stop and work from 9-5 because you have to pay for insurance on that canoe! Sorry, no passengers without seatbelts. Saq would have had to stay home with that baby with no infant carseat, ya know. Did you register your intentions? Did you get permission from every landlord before leaving? Did you file a flight plan? lol
      I have been interested in self-sufficiency for a long while. I've done research on homesteading and things like that. I came to the conclusion that such independence makes effortless tasks we take for granted work. Living in a tent I learned you work hard enough at cutting wood, you might have a couple days off from doing it and have enough to keep that fire going for cooking during the day. but it meant cutting enough for the day you're working on as well as the one you want a break from cutting. And of course those days off can then be put to use building something you need, like a small cabin to spend the winter in. Then there is gathering water, doing laundry by hand, etc.
   But rather than being discouraged at that, it was refreshing. I worked at my own pace, set my own priorities, and kept my own schedule. I was not working for someone else and keeping only part of the profit. I was not being used. The only pressure was what I placed on the urgency of an activity. And I learned things can fall apart on you, but you'll still be alright. The only reason I am not living in the woods is I don't know how to feed myself or make my own clothing out there. God has had me journeying so I haven't been in any circumstances to get good at foraging and leather-making, things like that. And killing an animal is a challenge I have yet to meet. Not even fish, lol. I have only done catch and release.
  I did meet the living in a tent challenge twice, though. And I am quite impressed because the first time I didn't take my two daughters with me. I figured it would be impossible for me to learn to do with children. Then, I did it with two toddlers. By myself. Wow. It just hit me how amazing that is. How many women could live in a tent with two children in diapers and no man helping?! Gossip ran wild about how I must have been a military chick or kick-butt survivalist when I did it alone. I was neither, just interested in primitive living and no one to care if I made it or not. Then I felt insecure and afraid that I might be being irresponsible or crazy. but now I see, I made an impression. I made a big impression. always wondered why I drew so much attention doing things I figured were simple for everyone else. Now I see "simple" was courageous and "she's crazy" meant "I am impressed but won't admit it". Hmmmmm, interesting. I am a wildchild.
   So, I have made my emotionally, psychological, and spiritual journey. The tail end of it is happening now. time for me to begin to focus on the social and physical creation I will be. What was I intended to be to society? How will social interaction go? What contribution will I make to community? How will resources be made available? Will I be taught to persue self-sufficiency, become able to feed and clothe myself? Or will I be led to work within the community at some little job? All questions to be answered soon, I suppose. I keep throwing out that line, God will bless it with a fish when I get it right, I guess.