And the Beating Goes On...

Wow, I don't like rotaviruses. The whole family was down for a while. It seems to be going around the neighborhood.

After being up until 3:30 in the morning washing soiled linens, I was thinking to myself that being calm in a stressful situation really helps to mitigate the potential problems. Though tired, I managed to get a little sleep, take care of the wife and kids, prepare a Sunday School lesson and teach it.

How to stay calm in an emergency has a lot to do with how you deal with day to day life. If every little thing bothers you, you won't be able to deal with the stress and uncertainty of the emergency. Work at calming yourself. Find routines that can help. Prayer can only help you in finding peace and is one of the best routines that you can still do when in an emergency. Reading to kids can not only help bring you back to the ground, but it will help your kids feel a piece of home during uncertainty. Don't forget to pack some small books in your 72 hour kit. The distraction alone may save your sanity if you are stuck in a situation where you have little to do.

- Mark

Value is based on perception.