My dad had a saying...PROPER PLANNING PREVENTS PISS POOR PROGRESS.
He'd always remind me of the 6P's when I wasn't prepared for something or some situation. When I first think about the 6P's, I think about being prepared physically for whatever may come your way. Dad was always telling me to look around and pay attention to my surroundings. He'd say, "Don't be a target!". If you're a gun person you understand that, if not I'm sorry. Dad always seemed to be prepared for the unplanned. I admired that about him and now I hope to be more like him. However, as I've grown up I realized that the 6P's can take on a whole other meaning. To be prepared mentally for what may or may not come your way is a huge part of the 6P's. It took me a long time to grasp the 6P's but I'm slowing catching on. He always said it was better to act than to react to situations. That takes some thought to understand but it's so very true.
Physically prepared has numerous meanings. My dad always seemed to have whatever tool or stuff he needed in a pinch. Now that I think back, I don't know if he really had the tools or stuff or if he just thought outside the box and made things work. Dad was definitely an outside the box thinker. I love that about him and think I'm a little like him. He was always telling me to think kid, think! And I'd say, "I am dad, but I still don't get it.". That's when he'd stop everything, and I mean everything, and explain it to me until I got it. Sometimes that was a few minutes and sometimes a lot longer. If it happened to take a lot longer, then he'd keep talking and explaining over several days and then jokingly remind me over the years. Dad never seemed to forget anything, sometimes that was a good thing but most times in didn't go in my favor! Sometimes I just wanted to give up trying to understand. Dad wouldn't hear of giving up or even trying. He'd say you either do or don't but don't just try, trying is for the weak! I think of his encouragement over the years and I'm just in awe. I hope I'm that encouraging to my kiddos and my family. After all my dad had plenty of reasons not to be positive and encouraging, but none of that mattered because he just kept "keep on keeping on". Someday I'll write about some of the reasons he had to not be so positive and encouraging but just not now.
Mentally being prepared is a must for survival according to Clovis. He'd tell me how wars were won with mental preparedness over physical strength. This always made me think of David and Goliath. Anyway, dad told me thinking things through was way harder than doing things. Now as I'm close to my 35th birthday I realize just how right he was. Dad also taught me that being mentally prepared was something that no one or time could take away from you. And it's really something that has no cost either. I can think of many many ways to be mentally prepared that my dad taught me but the ones that stick out in my mind the most are the ones about protecting myself. I took a knife class my dad organized and put on one weekend after I graduated high school. I learned more in that weekend than I ever thought. I carry a knife to this day and feel naked without it. Yes I wear it everywhere, if you see me I've got it on me. I carry a knife like my dad carried his gun...EVERYWHERE! You wouldn't believe how handy a knife is for everyday use, let alone in self defense. Luckily I've never had to use it for self defense yet and I hope I never do, but so thankful I know how to use it. I kinda think I've never had to use it because I'm mentally prepared when I'm out and about places and around crowds or people. You'd be amazed how many people are walking targets for the bad guy. I always want to go up to those people and say, wake up! You are making it too easy for the bad guys to take advantage of you. Surprisingly I don't, I keep my mouth shut and just keep paying attention to my surroundings.
So the 6P's have many meanings and I'm still learning the value of them. I'm so thankful that dad didn't give up on me and kept on until I saw the light. I realize when I think back about how much time he gave me and all the others things I'm sure he wanted to do and didn't because he wanted to make sure that I understood the importance of being prepared for whatever comes my way. I'd ask him why do I have to learn this stuff and his response is because I'm not always going to be here kid and you've got to take care of things yourself. Once I started having my babies, he stressed the importance of teaching them to be self reliant. He'd tell me that I need to teach them to be independent thinkers and not to be upset when their independent thinking didn't fall in line with mine because that just meant that I'd done my job and done it well. So he was right, he's not always going to be here to guide and protect me but he's given me the best gift ever....his love, time, and guidance. For that I'm forever grateful!
Trinity
No comments:
Post a Comment