The Campfire Trail: January 16 - The Campfire Trail

January 16, 2025

Day 1,203 of the Adventure

www.thecampfiretrail.com

The past few years, we've witnessed an unprecedented downhill trend in our economy. If there's two things that SCREAM third world economy, it's scarcity of necessary supplies and inflation making what is available, unaffordable. It's something we've all had a front row seat to, and I for one, never would have believed this would happen to this degree in my lifetime. In my life of 64 years, I've never personally witnessed this kind of environment outside of gas rationing in the 70's. I remember those couple of events in '73 and '79 when both times, it came as a result of foreign countries choosing to cut supplies to the U.S. Now, it seems like much of the shortages we've experienced, have to do with our own policies and decisions as a country. (or at least a government) I'm not going to go all "political" here. I'm just saying that whether it has foreign or domestic roots, the results have been obvious.

With that said, I'm going to veer off in a direction you probably weren't expecting. I firmly believe we are facing a unique, surprise opportunity in all of this chaos. Assuming we are willing to view it that way. While the country continues to tighten its collective belts and be brutalized by the economy, there will be some who will look upon the hardship as a sign to adopt a change direction for themselves. This notion just recently dawned on me. As I watch a certain segment of the population continue to prep in the face of what they see as impending doom, another segment seems to be truly enjoying the growing fruits of self-reliance. In many ways, I'm finding that to be true for us as well.

What triggered this thought was a picture I had seen recently on social media. It's of a young lady who has created a huge store of canned, dried and frozen goods from her garden. Virtually all of it from this year's crop. The contented look on her face and the satisfied tone to her description of the season's harvest did not imply anything but a positive experience in Self-Reliance. Then it dawned on me. As I follow various YouTube channels of similar types of people, I'm actually seeing more and more of the Self Reliant "spirit" revealing itself during this difficult economy. The exciting part is that it generally seems to be coming from the younger generations. That may be simply because most of us......... "Senior" generation folk tend to avoid digital technology like the plague. My point is, there's an entire culture of self-sufficient pioneers and trail blazers rising to the surface in the face of our current economic woes. What some are viewing as a hopeless spiral of decline is bringing others, I believe, to a crossroads of opportunity in their lives. This opportunity, if taken, is leading many into a very good life of Self-Sufficiency. It includes a greater independence from the high costs of energy, food and a measure of insulation from the effects of un-affordable housing. Seeing opportunity in the face of adversity is an option that requires vision and "forward-thinking". I dare say that most will be oblivious to the concept of opportunity during economic crisis. Others will feel a sense of victimhood and think there is no solution other than take the beating the economy is administering. The few who are brave enough to blaze a trail for themselves into the world of Self-Sufficiency will experience a completely different outlook within their circumstances. I believe as their skills and capabilities grow, they will enjoy the peace and satisfaction of knowing that outside economic forces will have to reach much further to touch them and will have much less of an effect if they do.

Carry On

Adventure Quote: “The future belongs to those who adapt; evolve with the programmable economy, or risk being left behind.” ― Olawale Daniel

Resources

Make sure to visit our website regularly to see new products and resources.

www.thecampfiretrail.com

YouTube Channel: The Campfire Trail

YouTube Channel: Life of Treasures

Our Books

Treasures of Life - Daily Devotional by Shelley

Treasures of Life 2 - Daily Devotional by Shelley

Back to the Land - Planning your Back to the Land Roadmap by Martin

Wealth Creation - Principles of Wealth Creation by Martin