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Monday, May 4, 2026

Second Week Survival Problem: When Emergency Plans Start to Break Down

Most people who put together an emergency kit feel a quiet satisfaction afterward. They have their 72-hour bag, a few gallons of water, some canned goods, a flashlight with fresh batteries, and maybe a printed family plan tucked into a binder. That sense of readiness feels solid, even responsible, but experienced survivalists, emergency managers, and ... Read more...

from Prepper's Will

25 Items You May Need To Replace Or Add To Your Home

25 Items Apple Peeler Kitchen Stuff

Here are 25 items you may need to replace or add to your home. Whether you’re doing a seasonal refresh, stocking up for emergencies, or simply realizing your household basics have seen better days, certain items deserve a closer look. From the bathroom to the kitchen to the garage, here’s a practical guide to 25 items you may need to replace or add to keep your home running smoothly.

Why Regularly Auditing Your Household Items Matters

Most people wait until something completely falls apart before replacing it. But worn-out tools, expired supplies, and missing essentials can quietly make daily life harder than it needs to be. A periodic review of your home inventory helps you stay prepared, safe, and efficient. This list covers the essentials across personal care, kitchen tools, baby supplies, emergency preparedness, and general household needs based on my own personal experience.

Fire Lighters

Personal Care and Bathroom Essentials

1. Tweezers

Tweezers seem simple, but a pair with dull or misaligned tips is nearly useless. If yours no longer grips well, it’s time for a replacement. Quality stainless steel tweezers with a pointed or slant tip make a noticeable difference in splinter removal, grooming, and fine-detail work. Tweezers

2. Toothbrushes

Dental professionals recommend replacing your toothbrush every three to four months, or sooner if the bristles are visibly frayed. Old bristles are less effective at removing plaque and can harbor bacteria. If you can’t remember the last time you replaced yours, that’s your answer. While you’re at it, you may want to consider an electric toothbrush. Our dentist indicated he felt they did a better job at cleaning the teeth and massaging the gums to keep them healthy.

3. Pillows

Pillows lose their supportive structure over time, which can lead to neck pain and poor sleep quality. A general rule is to replace pillows every one to two years. If your pillow folds in half without springing back, it has reached the end of its useful life.

Bedroom and Linen Closet Basics

4. Sheets

Bed sheets wear thin with repeated washing and use. Pilling, thinning fabric, and persistent staining are all signs that it’s time to invest in a fresh set. Quality sheets also significantly improve sleep comfort. I’m concerned about cotton fields, and the prices just keep going up. I just bought a new set of sheets since ours were sure showing signs of age and use.

5. Pillowcases

Even if your sheets are holding up, pillowcases take a beating from nightly use and frequent washing. They can harbor oils, skin cells, and allergens over time. Rotating multiple sets and replacing worn ones as needed is a simple step toward better sleep hygiene.

6. Bath Towels

Towels that no longer absorb water efficiently or have developed a persistent musty smell have outlived their usefulness. Most bath towels last two to five years with regular use. If yours are scratchy, thin, or smell sour even after washing, it’s time for new ones.

7. Wash Cloths

Wash cloths wear out faster than bath towels due to the friction of daily use. They are also affordable and easy to replace in bulk. Check yours for worn patches, thinning fabric, or lingering odors.

Kitchen Tools and Cookware

8. Kitchen Towels

Kitchen towels that are stained beyond cleaning, frayed at the edges, or no longer absorbent are both ineffective and unsanitary. Keep several clean sets on rotation and replace old ones regularly.

9. Hot Pads and Oven Mitts

A hot pad with worn insulation is a burn waiting to happen. If your oven mitts have thin spots, holes, or have lost their heat resistance, replace them before using them near high heat again. These are the ones I LOVE: Long Silicone Hot Gloves

10. Pancake Griddles

A quality griddle can last for years, but non-stick coatings eventually scratch and degrade. Once the surface is flaking or food consistently sticks to it, it’s safer and more practical to replace it. Cast iron griddles are a long-lasting alternative. Cast Iron Griddle

11. Pancake Turners (Spatulas)

Spatulas take a lot of daily abuse. Melted tips, cracks, or worn edges on plastic spatulas can introduce unwanted materials into food. Metal spatulas can scratch non-stick surfaces. Replacing them periodically ensures you’re cooking safely and effectively.

12. Cutting Boards

Cutting boards can develop deep grooves over time that trap bacteria even after washing. Warping is another sign that a board needs to go. Wooden boards can be sanded and re-oiled to extend their life, but plastic boards with deep scoring should be replaced. We use silicone gel cutting boards a lot, especially when cutting meat. They don’t scratch or show much wear, and they clean up very easily.

13. Measuring Cups

Faded measurement markings make accurate cooking nearly impossible. If your measuring cups are cracked, stained, or illegible, treat yourself to a new set. A reliable set of dry and liquid measuring cups is foundational to consistent cooking and baking. Measuring Cups

14. Measuring Spoons

Measuring spoons get bent, fall off their rings, or simply get lost over time. Like measuring cups, faded markings reduce accuracy. A complete, clearly labeled set makes recipe following far more reliable. Measuring Spoons Fit In Spice Jars

15. Apple Peeler

If you do any volume of cooking that involves apples, potatoes, or other peelable produce, a quality apple peeler is a game-changer. Hand-crank models that clamp to a countertop peel, core, and slice in one motion. If yours is dull or rusted, a replacement will save considerable time and effort. Apple Peeler

Baby and Family Supplies

16. Cloth Diapers

Families who use cloth diapers know they’re an investment that pays off over time, but they do eventually wear out. Look for thinning fabric, elastic that has lost its stretch, or waterproof layers that are no longer effective. Replacing worn diapers helps prevent leaks and discomfort. Cloth/Burp Diapers

17. Diaper Pins

Diaper pins that are bent, dull, or have stiff clasps can be difficult and even dangerous to use. Sharp, smoothly locking pins make cloth diapering much easier and safer. Keep a fresh supply on hand. I forgot to add a hot water bottle, so here it is: Hot Water Bottle

Emergency Preparedness and Utility Supplies

18. Batteries

Old batteries can leak and corrode the devices they power. Check your supply regularly for expiration dates and signs of leakage. Stock a variety of sizes, including AA, AAA, C, D, and 9-volt, to cover flashlights, remotes, smoke detectors, and other essential devices.

19. Flashlights

A flashlight that doesn’t work in a power outage is just a plastic tube. Test yours regularly and replace units with corroded battery compartments, cracked lenses, or unreliable switches. LED flashlights are far more energy-efficient and longer-lasting than older incandescent models. We have a bunch of solar-powered units we love. We keep them on our window sills so they stay charged.

20. Propane Tanks With Fuel

For grilling, camping, or backup heating, propane tanks need to be checked for fuel level and expiration dates on the tank itself. Propane tanks have a manufacturer’s date stamped on the collar and are generally certified for 12 years. Old or empty tanks should be exchanged or properly disposed of. If you see rusty or cracked tank valves, replace the tanks now.

21. Charcoal Briquettes

Charcoal that’s absorbed moisture lights poorly and burns unevenly. Store briquettes in a sealed container in a dry location. If yours are clumped, crumbling, or difficult to light, replace them before your next cookout to save frustration. The best way to store them is in airtight containers without the starter fluid added to the briquettes.

Household Tools and Repairs

22. Gorilla Tape or Duct Tape

A roll of heavy-duty tape is one of the most versatile tools in any home. But tape dries out, loses its adhesive strength, and can become brittle over time. Keep a fresh roll of quality duct tape or Gorilla tape in your supply kit for patching, bundling, and quick repairs.

23. Scissors

Dull scissors make cutting fabric, paper, and packaging a chore. Most household scissors can be sharpened, but heavily damaged blades or loose pivot points are signs that it’s time for a new pair. Having dedicated scissors for kitchen use, crafting, and general household tasks helps them stay sharp longer.

24. Sewing Supplies

A well-stocked sewing kit handles everything from a missing button to a torn seam. If your thread is old and brittle, your needles are dull, or you’re missing basic colors, it’s worth refreshing your sewing supplies. A small investment in a complete kit saves money by extending the life of clothing and household textiles.

25. Multi-Functional Knives

A quality multi-tool knife is one of the most useful items you can have on hand. Whether it’s a Swiss Army-style knife, a Leatherman, or a similar multi-functional tool, it combines a blade, screwdriver, bottle opener, and more into a single compact package. If yours is rusted, has broken tools, or has a blade that won’t lock properly, replace it with a reliable model.

How To Prioritize What You Replace First

Start by walking through each room in your home and noting items that are broken, worn, or missing entirely. Then group your needs by urgency. Safety items like batteries, flashlights, and properly functioning kitchen tools should come first. Personal care and hygiene items are next. Finally, round out your kitchen, utility, and preparedness supplies at a pace that fits your budget.

Replacing these 25 items on a regular cycle keeps your household functioning efficiently, reduces waste from items that have failed, and gives you peace of mind knowing your home is stocked and ready for daily life and unexpected situations alike.

How To Maintain Your Home Or Rental

Duct Tape: Why You Need to Store It

Final Word

Home maintenance isn’t just about the walls and roof. It’s about the dozens of small items that make daily life comfortable, safe, and functional. Taking the time to evaluate and refresh these 25 household staples is one of the most practical investments you can make. A little attention now saves a lot of frustration later. May God bless this world, Linda

The post 25 Items You May Need To Replace Or Add To Your Home appeared first on Food Storage Moms.



from Food Storage Moms

Sunday, May 3, 2026

Russia’s Next Move

More than four years have passed since Russian tanks crossed the Ukrainian border, and the war shows no real sign of ending. Peace talks have stalled, ceasefires last a day and fall apart, and the diplomatic ground keeps shifting under everyone’s feet. But while the world watches the front lines, Russia is making moves that […]

The post Russia’s Next Move appeared first on Ask a Prepper.



from Ask a Prepper https://ift.tt/WcTF1vP

15 Cheap Preps That Can Save You Thousands

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

15 Cheap Preps That Can Save You Thousands

Browse any prepper forum or scroll through enough survival gear content online, and it won't be long before you're looking at $3,000 generators, $500 water filtration systems, and pre-made bug out bags that cost more than a month's rent.

The prepping industry has a vested interest in making you feel completely helpless if you don't have that one piece of survival gear, and that pressure pushes people to either spend way more than necessary or give up on preparedness altogether.

The truth is that many of the scenarios most likely to affect everyday people — things like burst pipes, long power outages, water supply disruptions, and minor injuries — can be mitigated with cheap, low-tech solutions. Being smart about preparedness means thinking in terms of ROI (return on investment): what's the cheapest item that solves the most expensive problem?

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In this video, J.R. from DIY Prepper TV talks about practical, overlooked items that deliver massive value when things go wrong. He covers 15 cheap preps that could literally save you thousands. You can watch the video and view his list below.

1. Pipe Repair Clamps

A burst pipe doesn't just cost you the repair bill; it costs you everything the water damages on its way out. Flooring, drywall, insulation, and furniture can all be ruined in the time it takes to get a plumber on-site, and if that moisture lingers, mold removal can cost thousands more.

A pipe repair clamp is a simple sleeve device that you can slap over a burst or leaking pipe to temporarily stop the flow until a proper fix can be made. They're inexpensive and easy to store, and you'll be glad to have them if you ever need them.

2. Utility Shutoff Tools

If a pipe bursts and you can't patch it immediately, the next best move is cutting off the water supply to your home entirely. Utility shutoff tools, which can shut off your water meter, gas line, or both, are what make that possible without calling anyone.

There are basic multi-use versions that handle both water and gas, and more heavy-duty dedicated water shutoff tools that will hold up better under real force. Having one stored near your emergency gear means that when something goes wrong at 2 a.m., you're not standing in rising water waiting for help.

3. Caulk and Silicone

Caulk and silicone sealant pull double duty as both a prep-now and prep-for-later item. Right now, sealing up leaky windows can noticeably cut your energy costs. In an emergency, especially during a heavy rainstorm, they can seal gaps and prevent water from getting into your home and causing damage.

Keep a tube or two on hand and you've got a really cheap solution for a problem that can get expensive fast.

4. Deck Screws

This one serves two very different purposes. First, security: the screws that most builders use for door hinges and strike plates are short, shallow fasteners that won't stand up to someone kicking in your door. Swapping them out for 3-inch or 3.5-inch deck screws drives the hardware all the way into the stud behind the door frame, making forced entry far more difficult.

Second, storm prep: if you live in a coastal or storm-prone area and you're boarding up windows with plywood, screws are far superior to nails. They're less likely to pull out during high winds, and when the storm passes, you can remove the boards with an impact driver without tearing up the wood, which means you can reuse those boards the next time around.

5. Ty-Rap Cable Ties (Heavy-Duty Zip Ties)

Standard zip ties are fine until they're not. Exposure to UV and weather turns them brittle and causes the plastic locking tab to snap under stress. Ty-Rap style cable ties solve both of those problems with a stainless steel locking tab and a weather-stabilized band. They also use a textured grip rather than ratchet notches, giving you finer adjustment.

When something breaks and you need to rig a fix in a hurry, having ties you can actually trust makes a real difference.

6. Bucket Toilet Seat with Lid

In a long-term emergency, sanitation becomes a serious health concern. Poor waste management opens the door to diseases like dysentery and cholera that most people in the developed world don't think about. History is full of examples of those diseases spreading rapidly through otherwise manageable disaster situations.

A bucket toilet lid converts a standard 5-gallon bucket into a covered field toilet. The lid matters more than you might think: it keeps odors contained and prevents insects from landing in the waste and then spreading contaminants around the house. It's one of the cheapest items on this list and one of the most important for a long-term grid-down scenario.

7. Garden Sprayers

A garden sprayer is useful in a surprising number of ways. For sanitation, it can disinfect large surface areas quickly, which is a huge advantage if someone in your household gets sick and you need to decontaminate a room efficiently. For personal hygiene, the pressurized spray is strong enough to function as a field shower.

In the absence of toilet paper, a small sprayer filled with water works as a makeshift bidet, a common and effective practice in much of the world. The key is keeping dedicated, labeled sprayers for each use (pesticides, cleaning, personal hygiene) so there's no cross-contamination.

8. Braces and Wraps

When you're in a physically demanding emergency like bugging out on foot, working through a natural disaster, or doing manual labor without rest, minor sprains and joint injuries that you'd normally walk off can become serious liabilities. A sprain that gets no support and no rest in those conditions will keep getting worse.

A basic collection of ankle braces, wrist wraps, and elastic bandages is cheap, takes up almost no space, and can keep you functional through situations where stopping to heal simply isn't an option.

9. Propane Bottle Refill Kit (Fuel Keg)

Those small green 1-pound propane canisters have gotten expensive, and once they're empty, they're garbage. A refillable system like the Fuel Keg kit changes the equation entirely. These kits usually run around $30, and the refillable tanks are a modest additional cost, but the tanks are purpose-built for repeated use, with reinforced construction and proper valves.

Over time, the savings stack up considerably compared to buying disposable canisters. If camp stoves are part of your cooking backup plan, this is a straightforward upgrade worth making.

10. Battery Spacers (D to AA Adapters)

D-cell batteries are expensive and hard to find during emergencies when everyone's buying them at once, but a lot of emergency lighting gear runs on them. Battery spacers solve this by letting you run a AA battery in a device designed for a D cell.

The tradeoff is reduced runtime since a AA battery holds less capacity than a D, but the advantage is that you're standardizing on a single battery format that's cheaper, more available, and compatible with far more devices. These are specifically designed for use with rechargeable AA batteries, making them even more cost-effective in the long run.

11. Solar Pathway Lights

Solar pathway lights are usually sold in multipacks, which means you can pick up several light sources for less than the price of one decent flashlight. In normal times, they live outside as landscape lighting and charge themselves daily. When the power goes out, you bring them inside.

They won't flood a room with light the way a lantern would, but they're more than enough to navigate safely without running into things or resorting to candles, which start more house fires than most people realize. They run cool (no heat from LEDs), which matters in a summer outage, and there's virtually nothing that can go wrong with them.

12. Extra Phone Charging Cables for Your Vehicle

Not everyone can afford a generator, solar or otherwise. But most people have a vehicle sitting in the driveway, and that vehicle is essentially a mobile power source for small devices. If you keep a set of charging cables in your car, then even in a total grid-down scenario, you can maintain communication and access outside information as long as you have fuel.

If your car doesn't have USB ports built in, a simple 12-volt to USB adapter handles that for a few dollars. It's a minimal investment that keeps your most essential communication tools operational.

13. Stainless Steel Stock Pot

Most people can't realistically store the volume of water needed for a true long-term emergency. A large stainless steel stock pot bridges that gap by giving you the ability to boil large quantities of water collected from natural sources. It also lets you cook large batches of soup, stew, beans, or rice in a single go, which is important when you're feeding multiple people and trying to conserve fuel.

Stainless steel earns its place here because it's compatible with virtually any heat source: glass-top stove, propane camp stove, rocket stove, or open campfire. That versatility matters when you don't know exactly what conditions you'll be cooking under.

14. Paper Plates and Plastic Utensils

Washing dishes takes more water than most people realize. In a water-scarce emergency, every gallon counts, and paper plates and disposable utensils eliminate dishwashing entirely.

This is especially important if your water storage runs lower than expected. Having a supply of disposable plates and utensils gives you a buffer and stretches what you have further. They're cheap, and they make a real logistical difference when water is at a premium.

15. Coffee Filters

Coffee filters are an underrated prep that earn their place in a kit for at least three reasons. First, they act as a pre-filter for water from ponds, streams, puddles, and lakes, which is typically full of sediment and debris that will quickly clog a water filter. Running that water through a coffee filter first removes most of the large particles before they ever reach your main filter, which will extend its lifespan significantly.

Beyond water filtration, coffee filters work as disposable bowls or plates in a pinch, can be used to collect small foraged items like berries, and can even make storage pouches when tied off with a zip tie or bread tie. For a couple of dollars, the versatility of coffee filters is hard to beat.

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The post 15 Cheap Preps That Can Save You Thousands appeared first on Urban Survival Site.



from Urban Survival Site

Do You Feel Like Time Is Slipping Away?

Clocks on Wall

Do you feel like time is slipping away? It seems like the bucket list gets shorter as the years go by. There’s a particular kind of quiet that settles over a person somewhere in their fifties or sixties. The kids are grown. The mortgage is nearly paid off. And somewhere in a drawer, or maybe just in the back of the mind, there is a list. A bucket list. A collection of dreams that were written down in a moment of inspiration and then gently, almost imperceptibly, set aside.

For many of us, that list has gotten shorter over the years. Not because we checked things off. But because time passed anyway. This isn’t a post meant to make you feel guilty. It’s meant to make you feel awake.

Pink Clock Sleep Hygiene

We Told Ourselves There Was Always More Time

The most common regret people carry into their later years isn’t something dramatic. It’s not a betrayal or a catastrophe. It’s simply the belief that there would always be more time. More time after the project at work, more time after the kids finished school. Maybe once the debt was paid down. More time when things slowed down a little.

But time doesn’t slow down. It does what it’s always done. And somewhere between the years of working hard and meaning well, a lot of living got quietly postponed.

My Oxygen Story

One day, I was rushed by ambulance to a hospital on 4-12-2024 and have been on oxygen 24/7 from then on and always will be. You may think I can still travel, but it’s not that easy. I tried it for a “Family Reunion.” I dragged my portable oxygen concentrator and another oxygen concentrator in a suitcase. Yes, Mark helped, but it’s not fun. Plus, we had two suitcases. I realized if I lived in California (sea level), I wouldn’t need oxygen. Well, house prices wouldn’t fit our budget there, so after the vacation, we came back to Utah, oxygen in tow. My dream of seeing Niagara Falls is no longer an option. Please, my friends, do what you can now while you have the strength, health, and finances to do so. Just do it.

My Bestie’s Story

She and I have been great friends for well over 15 years. Well, within a month of my oxygen fiasco, my friend ended up on Kidney Dialysis. Not fun. She’s on the kidney transplant list at two hospitals; she kept telling me, “Linda, I don’t know if I can do this.” I learned so much about kidney disease and what she went through to be prepped for Dialysis. I had no idea what it was like to go through the chills, the coldness, and the pain. Now we talk about how we used to go out to lunch and laugh so hard in Southern Utah, and now we both rarely leave our homes in different states. This is the reason I wrote this post today, my sweet friends. Do what you want to do now. Don’t wait.

Did We Work Too Much?

Work is honorable. Providing for a family is one of the most loving things a person can do. But there is a version of hard work that tips into something else, a kind of sacrifice so total that the person doing the sacrificing disappears into it.

Many people look back and realize they were physically present in their homes but mentally somewhere else, thinking about deadlines, budgets, and performance reviews. The family dinner was eaten, but the conversation was distracted. The vacation was taken, but the phone was always nearby.

It’s worth asking honestly: Did work fill the space where life was supposed to go? And if so, was that truly the trade we wanted to make?

Did We Give Too Much to Our Kids?

Parents who sacrifice for their children are doing something beautiful. But sometimes that sacrifice goes so far that the parents forget to live their own lives, and ironically, they may not be doing their children any favors either.

Children who watch their parents deny themselves joy, travel, and adventure to leave a larger inheritance often grow up with a complicated relationship with money and guilt. They may feel burdened by the sacrifice without having asked for it.

What if, instead of leaving behind more money, we left behind more stories? More proof that life, fully and joyfully lived, is available to ordinary people who simply choose to reach for it?

A child who watches a parent book that trip to Portugal, take that painting class, or finally learn to sail learns something no inheritance can teach. They learn that their own dreams are worth chasing, too.

Did We Take Our Health for Granted?

This one is tender to talk about, but it matters. Many of us moved through our younger years with a quiet assumption that our bodies would simply continue to cooperate. We skipped the checkups, and we let the weight creep up. Maybe we said we would start exercising next month, next year, or after the holidays.

Health is not guaranteed. And one of the most painful discoveries a person can make is that the window for certain adventures closed not because of money or time, but because the body is no longer able to do what the heart still wants to do.

This is not meant as a warning dipped in fear. It’s an invitation. Whatever your age and whatever your current health, the best time to begin caring for yourself is right now. Every good choice made today is a gift to your future self.

Do We Live Around Happy People?

Research on human longevity and happiness consistently points to one of the most underappreciated factors in a good life: the people around us.

We are deeply, biologically social creatures. The moods, habits, attitudes, and outlooks of the people we spend time with seep into us whether we notice it or not. Spending years surrounded by chronic complainers, pessimists, or people who are stuck does something to a person. And spending time with curious, joyful, generous people does something very different.

It’s worth looking around at the social landscape of your daily life. Are the people in your inner circle lifting you up or quietly pulling you down? Are your conversations mostly about problems, grievances, and the past? Or do they sometimes venture into wonder, possibility, and what is still ahead?

Community matters enormously. If yours needs refreshing, that isn’t a failure. It’s simply an opportunity.

Did We Skip Travel to Leave More Behind?

For many families, especially those shaped by the experience of scarcity, there is a powerful pull toward saving, accumulating, and leaving something behind for the next generation. That instinct comes from love.

But travel isn’t an indulgence. It’s an education. It stretches the mind in ways that no book, documentary, or conversation can fully replicate. Maybe it teaches humility, curiosity, adaptability, and gratitude. It shows us that there are a thousand different ways to be human, and most of them are fascinating.

The parents who travel, who experience other cultures, who sit at tables in foreign cities and try to order food in a language they barely speak, come home changed. They have more to offer the people they love. They have more stories, more perspective, more life. And the money spent on those experiences? It wasn’t wasted. It was invested in becoming a fuller, richer, more interesting person.

Travel Bags for Suitcases

Compression Packing Cubes

What Would We Do Differently?

This is the real question, and it deserves a real answer. Most people, when asked this with enough honesty and enough quiet, say some version of the same things. They would have worried less. Not about important things, but about the small everyday anxieties that consumed so much mental energy and came to nothing in the end. They would have said yes more often. Invitations. Adventures. To experiences that felt a little outside the comfort zone.

They would have taken better care of themselves earlier, not out of vanity, but out of a recognition that the body is the vehicle for everything else. They would’ve had more honest conversations with the people they love, said the hard things sooner, and expressed appreciation more freely.

We would have spent more time outside, more time in nature, more time doing things that had no practical outcome but filled the soul. And many, though not all, would have traveled more. They would have seen more of the world and trusted that the money would work itself out, because it usually does.

It’s Not Too Late

Here’s the thing about time slipping away: it only slips away in one direction. What’s behind us is behind us. But what is ahead is still unwritten, and it belongs entirely to the choices being made right now.

The bucket list doesn’t have to keep getting shorter. It can grow again. It can be rewritten with the wisdom that only comes from having lived long enough to know what actually matters.

Whatever age you are reading this, whether you’re forty-five or sixty-five or seventy-five, there are still mornings ahead that belong to you. Still places you haven’t been. Still, conversations you haven’t had. Do you have versions of yourself you haven’t yet become? The question isn’t whether time is slipping away. Of course it is. Time always slips away. The question is what you’re going to do with what remains.

Start Small, Start Today

You don’t have to book a flight anywhere or make any dramatic announcements. You just have to begin. Call the friend you’ve been meaning to call. Look up and register for the class you keep thinking about. Say yes to the thing you’ve been quietly wanting to do. The bucket list isn’t a document of regret. At its best, it’s a compass. It points toward the life that is still possible, the one that’s waiting patiently for you to remember it’s there. Time is slipping away, but some of it is still yours. Use it.

Traveling During a Pandemic: What You Need

Behind Every Front Door, There’s a Story

Final Word

If I could do anything differently, I would have spent less time preparing for life and more time actually living it. We are remarkable creatures when it comes to planning. We plan for retirement, plan for emergencies, plan for the kids, plan for the house, plan for next year, and the year after that. And somewhere in all that careful, responsible planning, the present moment often slips by largely unnoticed.

I would’ve sat longer at the dinner table. Not to finish the meal but to finish the conversation. I would have said I love you more, and I would have meant it in the small everyday ways, not just the grand gestures. A cup of coffee was brought without being asked. A hand held during a forgettable Tuesday. I would have worried less about what other people thought of my choices, because the honest truth is that most people are far too occupied with their own lives to spend much time judging yours.

Almost every time, I would have taken the trip. I would have quit the things that were draining me sooner and invested that energy in the things that were filling me up. I would’ve called my parents more before the calls became impossible to make.

And perhaps most of all, I would have understood earlier that a life well lived isn’t measured in what you accumulate or what you leave behind. It’s measured in the depth of the moments you were actually present for. The good news is that most of us still have some runway left. The question isn’t what we would have done differently. The question is: what are we willing to do differently starting right now? That’s the only answer that still matters. May God bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Clocks on Wall AdobeStock_497397083 By New Africa, Pink Clock Sleep Hygiene AdobeStock_327813929 By Victor Moussa

The post Do You Feel Like Time Is Slipping Away? appeared first on Food Storage Moms.



from Food Storage Moms