Regrettably, almost every generation prior to 50 years ago would be the truthful response to that inquiry. Previously, a lifestyle transformed progressively into something to ridicule as individuals ceased considering the significance of being ready for difficult circumstances and instead became consumed by a fictitious realm of technological nonsense, overly aware culture, and the misguided belief that the government will offer assistance in times of crisis.
People who continuously ignore the realities of our world often face a hefty price when disasters and crises abruptly jolt them awake.
Despite having more access to information than ever before in recorded history, people are less prepared nowadays, as lost are the once common knowledge skills. Without the aid of YouTube or the internet, a vast majority of Americans struggle to figure out basic tasks such as plunging a toilet without seeking video guidance.
In recent decades, there has been an unparalleled rise in technology and educational opportunities worldwide. However, regrettably, the number of individuals who have chosen to disengage with this technology and become dependent on others has also increased.
The skills that used to be an integral part of our culture, aiding us in survival, have been largely disregarded and substituted by a generation of reliant individuals who are incapable of performing basic tasks such as managing finances, preparing meals, or fixing a punctured tire. Despite having greater access to information than ever before, valuable abilities passed down by our ancestors have been displaced by trivial abilities like sending text messages, engaging in online dating, and seeking validation through the accumulation of Facebook likes.
The valuable abilities employed by previous generations to construct new societies, provide for their loved ones, and earn a livelihood have been substituted with unproductive information, self-indulgence, and reliance on the government for nearly all matters.
If individuals fail to return to the fundamental principles and acquire necessary survival skills, there is a genuine risk of forfeiting our capacity to endure and prosper.
Forgotten Skills that everyone should know!
Cooking Skills: The ability to cook a meal from scratch.
Learning how to cook using basic ingredients rather than relying on canned ones is an essential skill for self-reliance. If you are committed to preparedness, especially if you are just starting with emergency food storage, it is crucial not to disregard the importance of learning to cook from scratch.
Hunting, Trapping, Fishing and Growing Your Own Food
The realization of our dependence on a fragile system becomes evident when we are unable to locate food during a disaster. In fact, since the so-called pandemic, it appears that food shortages and inflation are persistent issues. Hence, acquiring these fundamental skills has never been more crucial.
It is necessary for all of us to include protein in our diet, which means we will eventually require meat. The idea of hunting and trapping appeals to everyone, as it seems like something we are capable of doing. However, those who have tried hunting know that it requires more than simply heading out to a remote location and waiting. While anyone can take their rifle and go hunting, the challenge lies in successfully returning with a catch.
The effort required for ranching is occasionally disregarded, but it entails more than simply possessing a few cows. It involves providing them with food, water, and year-round care. Ranchers have the potential to be highly valuable members of a post-collapse community due to their possession of land and the resources required for livestock maintenance.
Healthcare Skills: The ability to care for yourself and your family without a doctor.
In recent times, individuals appear to visit the doctor for even the most minor issues that arise. Regrettably, the COVID deception has severely damaged our healthcare system, as a wave of hypochondriacs flood into and leave the emergency room, insisting on being tested whenever they experience even the slightest cold symptoms.
If you have a stuffed up nose, it’s recommended to visit a doctor. In case you stubbed your toe, it would be advisable to go to the emergency room. When experiencing a headache, it’s appropriate to consider taking some potent painkillers.
Our society has reached a point where it heavily relies on doctors, strong medications, and visits to the nearby pharmacy. However, in previous generations, the majority of individuals possessed the knowledge to self-care and recover without immediately seeking medical assistance or excessively relying on medications that frequently lead to additional side effects surpassing the actual ailment.
Mental Skills: The ability to control your emotions.
Currently, there are more than 70 million individuals in America who are using a minimum of one medication that affects their mental state in order to manage their emotions. Although a fraction of these issues are genuinely significant, the majority of these so-called issues arise from a pattern of reliance and a preference for simple solutions within society.
Prepping is often misunderstood and seen as a peculiar fascination carried out by eccentric individuals wearing tin-foil hats, awaiting the apocalypse in their underground bunkers. This stereotype has been perpetuated by the mainstream media, but it couldn’t be further from reality. In reality, prepping was simply a way of life for previous generations, although it wasn’t referred to as such back then.
Past generations comprehended the importance of making preparations, saving, and being prepared for challenging circumstances.
Gardening, Foraging, Farming
When the shelves at Walmart are empty and your home only has some canned vegetables and spaghetti noodles left, what actions will you take? Are you capable of physically enduring these tasks every day?
In order to successfully garden or farm, it is essential to understand that it entails more than simply putting a seed in soil and providing water. Additionally, possessing the ability to identify edible wild plants is a valuable skill. Acquiring knowledge about the fundamentals of gardening and foraging can provide a slight advantage in case it becomes necessary in the future.
Woodworking
In order to create furniture, fencing, tools, and various other items, woodworking skills become necessary. In the present, when everything is manufactured using particle board in factories, the art and skill of woodworking have truly been forgotten.
Primitive and Wilderness Skills
When it comes to prepping, we integrate various skills from diverse hobbies and professions, such as medical, military, and wilderness survival skills.
Although the majority of us do not intend to venture into the wild and fend for ourselves, several of these bushcraft skills can prove beneficial in various disaster situations.
Carpentry and Construction
Having carpentry and construction skills is highly beneficial because although we have a basic understanding of how our homes are constructed, the underlying framework that supports the walls is concealed by drywall. If you lack knowledge in building a solid foundation, your family may have no choice but to sleep outdoors.
Blacksmiths and Toolmaking
If there is a collapse, the factories producing pliers, screwdrivers, and chisels will cease operations. Having a blacksmith in your community would be beneficial as they can not only fix existing tools but also create new ones.
In terms of usefulness, blacksmiths will be highly valuable in the tasks of weapon making and weapon repairing. If you were to engage in a battle armed with a wooden sword crafted by a woodworker, your chances of success would not be favorable. However, by being capable of repairing an old shotgun or producing ammunition, your odds of success may improve slightly.
LOST SKILLS OF THE PAST
By acquiring a few of these skills, not only will you be able to rely on yourself in any survival scenario, but you will also contribute significantly to a post-collapse community by offering a range of valuable expertise. Additionally, certain skills may enhance your physical readiness to cope with the challenges of a life void of Walmart and smartphones.
If we continue to rely solely on one system, a single EMP or cyber attack could destroy the interconnected technology we depend on for an extended period, be it months or even years. While I hold the belief that technology will always be a crucial aspect of our future, my concern lies in whether we will take this as an opportunity to learn from our mistakes or if we will simply reconstruct a similar vulnerable system with minor changes.