When we think about prepping, images of stockpiled food, alternative energy sources, water filtration systems, and survival gear usually come to mind. These elements are vital for self-reliance and resilience in challenging times, and they form the backbone of material preparedness. Yet there are other equally essential, often-overlooked dimensions to preparedness, things that might not come up as frequently but are invaluable for long-term success.

In prepping circles, the conversations are rich in talk about physical and material assets, but there are hidden aspects, like mindset, personal character, and community bonds, that strengthen an individual and create a lasting foundation for true resilience. Here are the often-unspoken, but invaluable, elements that can make all the difference in facing an uncertain future.

1. Personal Development: The Foundation of All Preparedness

Stockpiling resources only goes so far without a strong personal foundation. A prepper’s mindset often includes adaptability, problem-solving, and a deep commitment to learning. Developing these skills requires intentional growth in areas like self-discipline, critical thinking, and stress management. By expanding these strengths, you’re preparing yourself to adapt to new or unexpected situations, not just sticking to rigid plans.

Skills like cooking, first aid, or learning how to work with your hands are often emphasized, but underlying these is the ability to learn and grow as needed. Personal development is an unspoken but essential part of becoming truly self-sufficient.

2. Mindset and Character: Building Inner Resilience

A survivalist’s mindset is more than just a belief in being prepared; it’s about the willingness to persevere through discomfort, loss, and setbacks. When challenges arise, mindset and character provide the fortitude to keep going. This includes developing patience, emotional regulation, and the ability to stay calm under pressure.

Character and integrity come into play when resources are limited and decisions get difficult. If a crisis tests the moral boundaries of a community or family, those with a foundation of integrity can navigate challenges without compromising their values or making decisions they’d later regret.

3. Perseverance: Embracing the Long Game

One of the greatest assets in preparedness is perseverance. Often, those new to prepping go through cycles of enthusiasm followed by discouragement if they hit financial or logistical setbacks. The ones who truly make preparedness a lifestyle don’t approach it as a “project” but as a consistent, long-term journey.

Real resilience comes from the willingness to keep improving your situation, whether that means adding to your skill set, restocking your supplies, or staying physically and mentally fit. Perseverance is the unshakeable commitment to keep moving forward, even if progress feels slow.

4. Relationships: Building Bonds that Sustain

Perhaps the most underappreciated asset in preparedness is relationships. It’s easy to imagine a “lone wolf” approach to survival, but the truth is that relationships can make or break one’s resilience. Whether it’s family, friends, or neighbors, people who are united in common values, trust, and mutual support can do far more than isolated individuals.

In a survival situation, each person’s strengths complement the others, and diverse skill sets increase a group’s chances of success. But this kind of unity doesn’t develop overnight; it requires cultivating trust and communication well in advance. Building relationships within your local community, especially those who share a preparedness mindset, is an often-overlooked part of self-reliance.

5. Community Development: Creating a Network of Support

Beyond individual relationships, a resilient prepper looks to the wider community. When a crisis strikes, those with local allies and a network of like-minded individuals can respond faster and more effectively. This doesn’t mean compromising your privacy or security—it means seeking out genuine connections and nurturing a spirit of cooperation. Community development can be as simple as knowing who can help with specific tasks, organizing skills-sharing events, or supporting local businesses that align with your values.

Local communities can create networks for bartering, resource sharing, and security, all of which make the community stronger as a whole. Preppers who embrace community development can create systems that allow for interdependence, rather than total self-reliance, which, in the end, can be more effective and sustainable.

True preparedness goes beyond what we can store in our homes or grow in our gardens. It encompasses who we are, how we relate to others, and our capacity to continue growing, regardless of our circumstances. When preppers embrace personal development, mindset, character, perseverance, relationships, and community development, they lay a foundation that can weather any storm.

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The night defines the day, the land defines the sea, the wall defines the room, thus, the negation defines the position.

By Moss Town Bear (aka Sam Daniel)

It is understood that one part is known due to the existence of its counterpart. We define the day by the nightly negation of light; the sea by the negation of fluidity; the room by the negation of space, but equally, one’s identity is known by the negation of indifference.

An infantile thought that takes residence in the mind of many informs the thinker that the positive is a good, right, and desirable thing; and the negative is a bad, left, and undesirable thing. Yet, position is born of apo- meaning “origin”; and site meaning “place”. Hence, positivity is the prenatal spirit that springs forth original thoughts and actions. Negation is born of ne- meaning “not”. Hence, negativity is the denial of an exogenous thought or action that possesses the potential to pervert one’s prenatal spirit. Thus, like a pond with fertile water that’s held by the fortified clay, positivity and negativity are interdependent forces that enable the human to animate in the world, but not be absorbed by the world.

Similar to the fertile water and our aquatic friends therein, the positivity within the human allows the trace of consciousness to swim without interruption. It houses the library of one’s history and the laboratory for one’s future; yet it is lighter than a feather and as empty as a desert. It is the undefinable, yet it is the source of all definitions; it can define all except itself – like the earthworm that cannot separate the earth from the worm. Positivity has the capacity to conjure all possibilities, of dreams and nightmares, of conscience and characteristics, of morals and dogmas; hence, the human possesses negativity to protect itself from total dissolution into the ocean of everything.

The negativity, like the fortified clay, defines one’s identity by deciding not only the thoughts and actions that enter, but also the thoughts and actions that exit. It has become obvious that the curse cast upon the notion of negativity has effected a perceptual error that illustrates negativity to be a monstrous thing that is bad, left, and undesirable. However, the perceptual error can be corrected by interpreting negativity as a motion rather than matter, a function rather than a form, and a verb rather than a noun. Thus, the negative is not a bad, left, and undesirable thing, instead it is a primordial force that repels the thoughts and actions that are bad; that ought to be left; and that are undesirable.

The appropriate question in this moment is: What encodes the negativity to repel one thought or action and not another? At the time that the spiders web is severed, the spider immediately re-imagines and re-creates its web by re-membering the prenatal template. This reveals the hypothesis that the human was posited with a prenatal identity. However, if the negativity of a human is corrupted by illogical thinking and unfelt feelings or punctured by poisonous interventions, the definition of one’s identity will begin to bleed like water through sand. The corrupted or punctured human will often utter responses that deny their differences, such as, “It’s fine”; “It doesn’t matter”; and, “I don’t mind”. These responses – aside from the speaker subliminally confessing that they must de-fine that which matters to their mind – are an example of positivity bleeding out of the human upon vocal waves. It is plausible to presume that, like the bleeding wound that becomes a stiff scab, the human that has abdicated their positivity will inevitably begin to form a calloused identity, and thus, affirming their indifference.

These final words intend to empower one to fortify their force of negation by reiterating that the human body is a Nation unto itself; its feelings are its culture; and its logic is its leader; but, its prenatal spirit is its judge. Thus, one ought to remember beyond the words they embody to begin to resurrect their original place. Upon recovery of this ancient template, may one cultivate the custom of declaring, without guilt, the differences that define their boundary and the Law within. With all words and actions said and done, let us stand upon the living constitution insofar that when a malevolent temptation presents itself, we may authorise, with humour and humility, “No”.

If you are interested in submitting an article for BeartariaTimes.com as a guest writer please email Editor@BeartariaTimes.com. 

In an age where information is at our fingertips and social media connects us to the world, it’s easy to lose sight of what truly matters—real life. The internet has become an integral part of modern living, offering endless streams of news, entertainment, and communication. But as beneficial as it can be, the internet also comes with a serious drawback: the ability to distract us from the richness of our real, offline lives.

The Allure of the Digital World

The internet is designed to be engaging, even addictive. Whether it’s scrolling through social media, binge-watching videos, or engaging in online debates, the digital world offers an endless source of stimulation. Algorithms are created to keep us hooked, drawing us deeper into content that is tailored to our interests and biases. Over time, this constant engagement can become a habit, pulling us away from face-to-face interactions, personal responsibilities, and the tangible world around us.

Missing Out on Real Connections

One of the most significant consequences of overusing the internet is that it can lead to a disconnection from real-life relationships. While online communication may feel like a way to stay connected, it often lacks the depth and authenticity of in-person interaction. Real connections happen when we share experiences, emotions, and moments face-to-face, unmediated by screens. Eye contact, body language, and the nuances of tone are all essential aspects of human communication that can’t be fully replicated online.

The internet often gives us the illusion of connection, but it can also contribute to loneliness and social isolation. Spending too much time online, even when engaging with others, can prevent us from nurturing our real-world relationships, leaving us feeling empty in the long run.

The Cost of Distraction

Beyond relationships, the internet can distract us from being present in our daily lives. It’s common to see people glued to their phones in social situations, at meals, or even while walking down the street. In constantly seeking entertainment or updates online, we miss the beauty and simplicity of the world around us. Nature, hobbies, and quiet moments of reflection can be drowned out by the constant noise of the digital world.

Productivity is another area that suffers. Time spent endlessly scrolling or chasing online distractions can eat into time that could be used for creative pursuits, learning new skills, or simply focusing on meaningful tasks. The result is often a feeling of being overwhelmed or behind despite hours spent in front of a screen.

The Myth of Multitasking

One of the traps of the internet is the myth that we can successfully multitask—checking emails while working, scrolling social media while spending time with family, or catching up on news while watching TV. Research, however, has shown that multitasking actually diminishes productivity and reduces the quality of our interactions. When we divide our attention between the online world and the real world, neither gets our full focus. The more we allow ourselves to be distracted, the harder it becomes to be fully present in any moment.

Taking Control of Your Time

To prevent the internet from distracting you from real life, it’s essential to take control of how you engage with it. Here are a few strategies to help:

• Set boundaries: Establish specific times to check your phone or engage with the internet, and stick to them. Create no-phone zones in your home or designate periods of the day for being offline, such as during meals or family time.
• Limit screen time: Use apps or phone settings to monitor and limit your time on social media or other distracting websites. It’s easy to lose track of how much time you spend online, so set limits that help you stay grounded in real life.
• Engage mindfully: When you do go online, be intentional about your usage. Avoid aimless scrolling or jumping from one distraction to the next. Focus on using the internet for specific purposes, such as learning something new, staying informed, or connecting meaningfully with others.
• Prioritize face-to-face interaction: Whenever possible, make an effort to meet friends and family in person. Real-life connections are richer and more fulfilling than those that occur solely online. Plan regular social activities and resist the urge to check your phone during those moments.
• Rediscover offline activities: Whether it’s picking up a hobby, exercising, or simply enjoying nature, make space for activities that don’t involve a screen. These moments will recharge you and remind you of the beauty and fulfillment that real life offers.

Real Life Matters More

The internet has its place in modern life, offering countless benefits, but it should never become more important than the world outside of it. When we allow the digital world to dominate our attention, we lose touch with the deeper, more meaningful aspects of our lives—our relationships, our passions, and our sense of presence. Real life, with all its beauty, challenges, and unpredictability, is where true fulfillment lies. Don’t let the internet distract you from that. Take control of your time, be intentional about how you use the web, and always remember to prioritize the real over the virtual.

We share our community app as often as we can. It’s just that Epic! But what makes it so remarkable is the real people who live and breathe the culture we have created together.

Beartaria is present in real life, and each individual who chooses to join the app shares tangible proof of this with each other in many ways.

Our community has a saying, “Meeting old friends for the first time.”

Individuals have organized local meetups, creating shared experiences like potlucks and campfires, building projects, and playdates for cubs, strengthening the bonds within our community.

For the last three years, our community as a whole has been invited to travel to the Missouri Ozarks and congregate at the Annual National Beartaria Times Festival.

Seeing posts about your Beartaria, be it the garden, your family, or your hobbies, is intrinsically more meaningful and inspiring when you know from personal experience that the epic crushers on the other side of those digital profiles are real people like you.

So come share your good, true, and beautiful life with other Legends on the app, and then turn off the screen as you declare, “ONWARDS TO BEARTARIA!”

If you are interested in submitting an article for BeartariaTimes.com as a guest writer please email Editor@BeartariaTimes.com.