The Preparedness Primer: How To Get StartedA journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Lao Tzu (604 BC 531 BC) Above is the most popular version of this quote by ancient Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu. But Ive always kind of liked the more literal translation, which is, A journey of a thousand miles must begin where you stand. I find it so inspiring that wherever I want to go in life, I can start working towards that goal, right here, right now. I just have to make the decision to do so. I cant think of any place this quote is more applicable than with a journey to preparedness and self-sufficiency. Wherever you are, whatever youre doing, you can begin right now, this very day, to ensure the well-being of your family during whatever crisis comes your way. Lately, Ive gotten a lot of emails and comments asking where to begin. I think that is a wonderful question because it means that more of you reading this have realized that theres no time to lose. Ask yourself these questions: Once you know where you are, it helps you map out where you need to go! Next, you need a plan. This is where I refer you to another website. I recommend 52 Weeks to Preparedness by Tess Pennington, over at Ready Nutrition. This is a free (FREE!!!!) series that breaks down preparedness week by week. It is incredibly well organized, and by breaking things down into small, bite-sized pieces, its far more affordable for those of us who make under 6 figures and cannot afford a fully stocked bunker in the mountains of Idaho. When I first discovered this site, Id already been prepping for several years, but the sheer organizational genius of all the lists helped me take it to another level. So, whether you are starting from the very beginning or youve been at it for a while, this series will be incredibly beneficial. 52 Weeks to Preparedness: An Introduction Take the First Step Take this a bit at a time. No, you dont have unlimited time to get prepared, but its important not to go out in a tizzy and make rash expenditures, particularly if the budget is already tight. Use the week at a time system above to help you break this down. Its very overwhelming to try and attack this all at once. If youre going to go out and do some shopping, put together a list. A good starting target is a two-week supply of the following: And there you are. It really is THAT EASY to get started. What caused you to make the decision to start prepping? What was your first step? Please share in the comments below! Daisy Luther is a freelance writer and editor. Her website,The Organic Prepper, wherethis article first appeared, offers information on healthy prepping, including premium nutritional choices, general wellness and non-tech solutions. You can follow Daisy onFacebookandTwitter, and you can email her atdaisy@theorganicprepper.ca 