Rise to the occasion?

[Scythe13]

This is likely to shake a few branches and rustle those feathers and leaves.

How many times have you seen a champion fail but then reclaim glory, on the big screen? In all Hollywood films the final victor is fortunate in that they always rise to the occasion. Lucky actors.

Has this perception started to influence the prepping scene?

We all know of William Tell, who shot the apple off his son's head. Do we know how many others failed that shot? What about the amazing Tom Hanks who rose to the occasion and survived on the desert island in Castaway?

The thing is, the more I read, the more I watch, and the more people I speak to, the more it seems to be utter Hollywood make-believe.

So far, the best way I have had it explained, is that we default to our level of practice. No practice means no skill. Our average day at the range, average day starting fire, and average day running the trails, is the best level we should expect to perform at.

So, with that in mind....When the poop hits the fan, how will you perform? How good are your fires? How well do you recognise plants? How far can you walk? How much weight can you carry? How much solitude can you endure? How well can you grow your crops? How well can you collect and purify water? How well can you cook on a fire? How well can you shoot your bow/gun? How well can you hunt, trap, and butcher? How well can you suture?

I'm not trying to have a go at anyone. I'm just trying to remind people that reading a book and watching a video do not constitute learning a skill. It will be the time you spend practicing that will save your life, not the time you spend reading or watching DVDs.