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.
Are You sure she was unaware or did she just not care what level of destruction she caused? This question is not ment to invalidate your points on being aware of your seroundings,as I agree people are all to often oblvious to what is going on around them.
ReplyDeleteSame point that was raised by Marc actually. Some people are apparently very conscious of their "state of unawareness". Like you stated as well, they are totally doing it on purpose and pretending not to see.
ReplyDeleteBut all the same I am using her as an extreme example because way too many people demonstrate absolutely no kind of awareness whatsoever. Sometimes you need to go to extreme examples to sink a point in.
Plus... people like that REALLY tick me off. It felt good to get it off my chest. ;-)
Oh, I Know, I was hasitant to bring it up for fear of detracting from your message of the importance of being aware of your surroundings. Its just that when I see or hear of people doing this I wonder is it becouse of the "Me Generation" of I'm special and everyone just better get out of my way.
ReplyDeleteSorry if this was distracting from your mesage/point you where making. People like that Really tick me off to, but maybe for different reasons.
:-)
Never hesitate. If it is important enough to you, it's important enough to share. I love to hear other people's opinions. Great way to grow. And if my thoughts can't hold up to a bit of constructive criticism, they aren't worth much and should be revised. ;-)
ReplyDeleteAfter a lengthy discussion with Marc, my response is going to be my next post because it has evolves into an entire teaching point. So your point is not distracting at all, you are just ahead of the times ;-)
Stay tuned.
And yes... people like that REALLY really me tick me off. I am not ashamed to admit it, I am racist. I can't handle this race of selfish entitled bullying morons. Sue me ;-)