nature, country, life
Adventure

What makes you feel alive?

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As I have mentioned previously 1776PatriotUSA.com is more than just current events, preparedness and all things SHTF. As individuals with limited existence on this planet and preppers who wish to stick around as long as possible wouldn’t it be great to truly enjoy life? I mean – life is full of up and downs but how many of us travel through life with blinders on and not seeing that which will really make us feel alive?

At 46 I would never proclaim to have all the answers however I will share a bit of wisdom I have managed to acquire along the way.

Here we go…..

GET OUTSIDE. For many of us today’s modern world filled with every gadget imaginable and where most any bit of information is at your fingertips it is easy to miss the beautiful environment around us. Most anywhere in this country a lake, pond, hiking trail, vineyard, apple orchard, or state park is within miles. Sometimes getting outside and enjoying nature will create a state of relaxation unlike most anything else. It’s also all in high-definition without the expensive electronics.

EXERCISE. Get out there and get the heart pumping and the sweat pouring. People that live sedentary lifestyles often miss out that feeling of being alive. They rarely feel their heart pumping blood through their veins and the high from surging adrenaline.

WATCH A SCARY MOVIE. Seriously. Pop some popcorn, shut the lights out and turn on Paranormal Activities. If you get into the movie you WILL feel alive. Just do me a favor – keep the 1911 filled with 185 grain jacketed hollow points in the safe. You don’t want to have to explain why there are bullet holes in your TV.

TAKE A COLD SHOWER. Want to feel alive? Jump in the shower with the water ice cold. Brrrrrrr……

GET A DOG. I was a cat guy for way too long. Cat’s are cool but dogs are best friends. Yeah – get a dog – or twelve.

HELP A STRANGER. I had a situation that made me feel extremely emotional – and very much alive. I didn’t set out to do this but it just kind of happened. I was in a Cracker Barrel with a few friends of mine. I noticed a large multi-family table with a young bald girl(cancer treatments) sitting there with her mother. This was right next to Carowinds – a giant theme park. I figured they had brought the girl there trying to get HER to feel ALIVE. I felt horrible. What did I have to stress about compared to this family who was facing the loss of their daughter? How about this young girl who likely wondered how much time she had left?

I went and saw the manager and told him I wanted to pay the families bill. He asked of it was OK to tell them and I said no. I wasn’t doing it for recognition. I went back to my seat with my friends. A few minutes later the manager went over and I could tell he was telling the mother their bill was taken care of. She started crying.

I felt horrible at the time but also very much alive. I still think of that little girl every so often.

DO WHAT YOU TRULY ENJOY. This may sound like an easy one but far too often we make excuses why we do not do the things we want to. Sometimes money is the cause but then $6 bucks a pop are blown at Starbucks on coffee. Sometimes it is a fear of embarrassment that stops you from doing what you truly enjoy. Unfortunately it may be an unsupportive spouse as well. Hey – if you want to go ballroom dancing or do stand up comedy at the local club the only one stopping you is you.

These are but a few suggestions and just like we all have favorite foods and cars what makes us feel alive is very unique to each of us. Do I practice what I preach? Not nearly enough.

So – what makes me feel alive? Here are a few:

  • firearm training
  • off roading on an ATV
  • fishing
  • hunting
  • sparring
  • working out
  • jamming to country music while driving down the road
  • going to the movies
  • showing y kids just how brilliant I am

Ok, how about you? What makes you feel alive?

JR

 

 

Preperation is Power

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13 Comments

  1. Alertjay says:

    Attend a Bible believing, teaching, preaching, church to awaken the soul and really feel ALIVE. I’m talking about singing, worshiping hand clapping and good, sincere fellowship with other like faith believers. A real lift!

    Reply
  3. goingray58 says:

    I have to respect you putting that much of yourself out there for everyone here to read . You’re right of course, and we all learn later if we survive, that life isn’t about stuff or things.. Possessions can anchor you and tie you down to the point that you don’t feel free to be yourself, or the self you want to be because of all the commitments. Maybe the other thing is caring to much what other people think of you. We can also learn late that chasing a career or relationships by being someone you are not, to get what you think you want, can lead you to be very unhappy in the long run. It can leave you lost and or alone even in a filled room and busy life. As you said JR, your life is a canvas and you have the only brush and colors to repaint it however you see fit. About 2 years ago I went back to my roots and ironically it’s how I got here .. sort of. I like the things you mention… and I have found some others .. losing weight and getting fit .. doing bag and martial arts work.. increased my energy and ability to maintain a much higher level of endurance.. I FEEL better .. and more able .. alive etc.. and that got me back out into the out-back and ,, heat especially meant less to me .. I didn’t have to worry about trying new things and whether I would be down for a week with meds hurting.. unless I fell or something .. not just from the work .. Confidence and what I think of me is WAY more important than anyone else.. The extra energy allowed me to do some volunteer work.. doing something for someone for no reason other than it’s a good or right thing does feel good. A little adrenaline is a good thing too … an actual risk can make you feel REALLY alive… of course you do need to survive it to feel it .. so I am a little careful there… Everyone .. take a chance and try something new .. add some colors to the palette. if you don’t like it .. drop it and try something else. For me I am trying to live my life like I haven’t met my best friend yet and I haven’t found the thing I want to do most in life.. If I did .. how would I find it.. I do admit that when I am happ-ish.. I don’t look as hard.. when I am grumpy-ish I look for something to try .. Good write up.. Made me think! now I need aspirin 🙂

    Reply
  5. jpaulie2008 says:

    What makes me feel alive? Trekking down a trail the first time,kayaking across a lake in the am haze,climbing that mountain because it was there,the taste of the fruit and vegetables I grew,watching the sunset with my better half,knowing god put me here for a reason, and taking that firearm I just built to the range and finding out it works well. And finally knowing that when all is said and done,I have a good life.

    Reply
  7. JBernDrApt says:

    So many of the same things that you enjoy also make me feel alive, Studying the Bible, hunting, fishing, walking and jogging, target practice, reading a good adventure/prepper book, gardening . . . most anything except being indoors, watching TV. Good article Rourke – thank you. Keep Looking UP

    Reply
  8. Lightning says:

    JR-GREAT article.Thanks for paying for that familys meal !!!If we all do something for someone else( or animals or the earth etc.) as often as we can we are making the world a better place..Seeing a smile. Feeling a hug-
    I feel deeply alive when I watch the sun set,the full moon and stars-the seasons change- a little baby/child or baby animal growing and learning and being curious and innocent- praying- drinking nice cold clean water- feeling the wind-reading other preppers posts -holding my husbands hand-spending time with our grand children-
    being in touch with the awesome-ness of the Lords creation. Lightning

    Reply
  9. Brenda says:

    Every decade or so, different things make us feel alive. Remember your first date? Hormones raging and we felt like we could conquer the world! Boot camp graduation; I felt like Zena the warrior! My first child.
    So many things or events have made me feel alive.
    Now, I thank the good Lord every morning for being alive another day!

    Reply
    1. SingleMom says:

      A bad marriage followed by a worse divorce, interspersed with financial problems, near-homelessness, and the deaths of all the relatives I looked up to led me to making a “deal” with God. Whenever I was asked my religious beliefs, I’d say pointblank that “We have an agreement to ignore each other.” Obviously, I was never ignored; I just wasn’t getting the responses I wanted. It took quite a few years before I could face the fact that while God does perform miracles, usually he relies on humans’ free will, and it was a few bad humans who caused our problems. It was God who provided the light at the end of the tunnel. Yes, I had debilitating legal expenses, but none of them came out of my pocket. Yes, we lived in one dingy room for the longest time, but it was waterproof, cozy, and had central heat. I don’t particularly like the last couple jobs I’ve had, but I’ve only been unemployed for about 5 months of more than 30 years. Life is about perspective. No one gets a free ride, so you have to take the bad along with the good and learn how to focus on the little things: Spring flowers, singing birds, healthy children, and rainbows. I’ve learned to be grateful for what I have, not least of which is that I woke up this morning!

      Reply

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