STATE OF AWARENESS

I was at the grocery store the other day getting the supplies for a proper Thanksgiving feast. Going through the aisles gathering all the items on the list, I came across a lady who apparently was extremely intent on her shopping trip. So intent was she that she “drove” 3 people out of their intended course and straight into canned goods, and yet she noticed nothing. She was looking for something, going forward, pulling back, moving forward again, then speeding in another direction, meanwhile leaving a trail of angry people waiting to get through or side stepping to avoid getting run over. I followed her for a while out of pure curiosity and astonishment. She was completely clueless of what she was doing. Talk about NOT being aware of your surroundings. I could have easily stolen her purse, picked her pockets clean, or attack her without her even noticing before it was too late to do any damage control. I don’t think she would have noticed being stabbed until she reached her car!!!

OK, I totally understand being very focused and intent on getting a job done. But she was in a public place, surrounded by people she did not know!!! Being this blatantly unaware of the world around her is not something she could/would have been able to turn on and off. This complete disregard of your surrounding is a habit. A habit is something you fall back onto without thinking or when you are tired or when you are pre-occupied.

If you are going to be in a public place you need to raise your level of awareness and keep it raised the entire time. If you get used to being in what you think of as “safe places” and not pay attention, this is what you will revert to when you go to any public locations. A familiar place does not necessarily equate a safe place. And what makes you think that the grocery store is a safe place anyway? Just because nothing has ever happened to you before does not mean that you will not get your purse/wallet stolen? Do you know how easy you are making it for people to help themselves to your belongings? Why not just put a welcome mat or just hand them your money? The number one place women are abducted from or attacked is grocery store parking lots.

You need to make a habit of raising your level of awareness wherever you go. I am not talking about being paranoid and afraid of everything around you but about knowing who and what’s around you. Predators are professionals, they WILL notice when you pay attention. They are looking for a much more clueless victim, one they can take by surprise.

Make it a game if you need to in the beginning. Play spy. Pretend you are on a mission and take mental notes. See what’s out of place, out of the ordinary. Just a quick glance up and down is all you need to let a professional know that you are on to him. Check for hands, the possible bulge of a hidden weapon, for unusual behavior. Do this for 21 days and it will become a habit.

Take your safety into your own hands and teach your children to do the same.

Here is a real story of grocery store parking lot.

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=5975923

But again, like I previously said, don’t be paranoid, be alert.