Boy Scout Troop 325 Scoutmaster Minute
March 15, 2011
Andy Duprey, Scoutmaster
The scout motto is "prepared for life"
Are we really as prepared as we think?-most likely not.
To prepare for everything that could happen to us would burden us with too much stuff and worry.
Really the question should be "are you resilient enough to meet the challenges life throws at you?"
Resilience is defined as "... the ability to recover readily, as from misfortune or from unexpected events."
Here are some quotes from a BBC reporter in Fukushima, Japan about people's response to the earthquake:
"People are resilient here, and used to earthquakes. But this one has startled them far more than usual"
Most shops are closed and shuttered. We have some food, and you can find some convenience stores open if you hunt around. People are getting by, relatives and friends seem to be calling on family and friends thanks to their cars, or on bikes, or on foot.
We have power and gas still, so we can be warm. But the water is off. We don't shower, or flush the toilet, or wash up everything.
I started a trend in getting buckets of water from the river just metres away - to flush the toilet, of course. I think this had made folks feel better."
If, and when, water supplies are fully restored and people can shower and bathe, spirits will really lift, especially for those of us who have not lost friends and relatives to the quake, and especially to the tsunami.
Resilience is the ability to accept what has happened, envision a solution and make it happen.
As you practice each of your scout skills, realize that you are building fundamentals abilities that you can use, in creative ways, to confront each challenge you face, and "be prepared for life".
Thank you and good night scouts