Responsibility begins with self responsibility and being in control of your own situation. This thought process always hits me when the first rain of the season comes and or the first power outage darkens our home. The first thought is, where is the kerosene or fluorescent light? Next, where are the matches? It comes down to the elements of basic survival: water, food, and shelter. In the case of a power outage, the elements of water and food are not initially the primary concern as is a shelter that will provide an immediate protective abode. Of course, the next questions are, do we have enough food and water? I guess I’m thinking this because I just walked out to the backyard and looked at the woodpile and tried to estimate if we had enough wood to last the winter and to what degree of dryness that the wood is. The question to myself was, have I prepared enough in this one aspect of my life? If so, I can move on to the next area. If not, what do I need to do? This scene typifies to me the basic need to provide, albeit a small example, it still is that basic primordial expectation to provide for those that you are responsible to. A need for me that is only felt when I have a close connection to the Earth and recognize that even though my sustenance takes a round-a-bout way of getting here, it still remains the same. The only difference is that, given our modern living styles we have isolated ourselves from the very means that have made us the survivors of our species that we are. I believe that this is evidenced by the dependency of those that depend on “someone” to help them when they are in need.
Granted, on a large scale, there are natural disasters that are simply to large to prepare for. On a small scale, there are many things that individuals and families can do to take care of themselves in times of trouble. A family disaster plan and preparedness with basic supplies is a good first step. We, as a species, are generally reactive, and hear and read of these things after a major disaster has taken place somewhere and people are not receiving the expected needed help.
The fall of the year is a time in which the recognition for preparation is most often felt. I see squirrels, bears, and other animals prepare for the winter by gorging themselves trying to lay in the food they need, either on their body, or secreted away. Another sign are the farmers harvesting their last crops and the gardens becoming barren and fallow from the last vegetable and fruits being picked. The sense of the salmon fulfilling their destiny and completing their life cycle. And finally, the hunter gatherer harvesting this bounty of the Earth to sustain themselves and their families throughout the long winter season. A time of year when the old ways come back and I sense in a small and distant way, that I must prepare for my own to survive, and I question, am I prepared enough?

That primordial sense comes to me when I am out in the woods and see a tree lying there for me to take back and warm my modern cave. It also comes during the fall when men talk of deer hunting. For me, it goes beyond the killing of something; it goes to that idea of providing. When I do take the life of an animal or fish, I express my thanks to it for supplying me with the sustenance I need to carry on my life and I feel that I am just a small bit closer to being prepared for the long winter season.