Guardian Martial Arts

Hope or Act for Safety-

People would rather take the blind assumption of safety (even when it isn’t there) over acting to create safety.

I was in the cafeteria of Liberty Science Center with my family the other day with approximately 100 other people. When there was a sound of an explosion from the other side of the wall. Everyone’s heads popped up and they looked alarmed. Searching each other's faces for reassurance that they heard it too and for a cue as to what to do next. Then looking at the door in the direction of the noise waiting to see if a threat came bursting through the door. Everyone looked around at each other as if trying to confirm what they hoped was true, that they and their family were safe. Once one person relaxed and went back to their lunch everyone else did the same. Without assessing the situation without knowing whether they and their children were actually safe. Without knowing whether the explosion was gun fire from an active shooter or the explosion compromised the building and they needed to get out. They just sat there. Content in their hope and assumption of safety.
Fortunately for all of us the noise came from a demonstration of combustion the science center was running and not a real threat.
But they know that. Parents rolled the dice hoping the sound wasn’t something that could harm them or their kids. They didn’t try to get them out. They didn’t take any action.

In today’s society most people’s lives are not filled with dangerous encounters that could do them bodily harm. So the assumption is, it couldn’t happen to me. But it can happen to you. It can happen to all of us. Accepting that fact is the first step. Having situational awareness is the second. Pay attention to what is going on around you and your loved ones. Assess the situation, find what doesn’t look or feel right. Then act! Once you identify an issue, address it. If you don’t address it early it can escalate quickly. Usually the earlier you act the better the result will be.

Don’t just hope for safety. Keep your head on a swivel, assess what is going on around you and act. Stay safe.