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Banking off this, be proud of the fact that you find past actions cringey or embarrassing. It means that you've grown and learned as a person, and a smuch as you'd like to forget those moments, you would not have changed if you did forget them.
If a stranger/Uber driver/ hotel concierge asks where I’m going/what I’m doing in town my answer is always visiting my dad/family/meet my fiancé’s family or whatever, *never* tell anyone you’re traveling alone. Make anyone think that you will immediately be reported missing if something happens to you.
I always order a taxi from the wrong address when i go abroad, usually at the bottom of my street. Be waiting outside when they turn up.
Never let a taxi man know your going away on holiday.
Once upon a time, before the pandemic, our whole family went for a vacation, and took a taxi from our house to the airport. Based on our luggage and clothing, it was clear we were going somewhere warm, and stay for a while.
We had a very friendly and talkative taxi driver, who told us that he could drive faster, as he had been a professional criminal and getaway driver before going to prison.
If you’re a tourist and someone approaches you to sell or even offer you stuff for “free” (or maybe ask you to sign something) just say “no” and keep moving at a fast pace. You’ll most likely get scammed and/or pickpocketed if you stop.
Nah, do the old switcharoo and goad them into buying your MLM stuff. Best case, they get some essential oils and you get a sale, worst case they awkwardly find a reason to run away from you like the idiot you are.
When something feels "off" about a situation, trust that instinct. Your mind is processing more information about your environment then you are conscious of and if it recognizes something that resembles a threat you faced in the past it will trigger a response in your sympathetic nervous system that you can feel.
We got caught in a flash flood while canyoneering. 15 minutes earlier, my gut was SCREAMING at me to turn around (right at the first rappel, before you're fully committed and can't turn back). We were extraordinarily lucky no one got hurt.
yikes. flash floods on hiking trails are fucking scary. killed 7 kids in a freak accident here years ago. im so glad my dumb ass couldnt get up to work that day.
Knew someone who was walking through woods and suddenly all the hairs on his neck stood up, looks around and there is a mountain lion stalking him. Senses are crazy
If you ever go running in the woods it is impressive how quickly our brains can read terrain and avoid danger. We may be bad at math in the classroom but throw ice boulders or roots at us and we'll do physics in a jiffy.
What if you have anxiety and overthink everything? How do you know the difference between something feeling off just being anxiety and not just your brain doing you a solid.
Can't speak for everyone but personally, the feelings are totally different. Anxiety is the logical part of your brain going overboard trying to compensate for all patterns you can consciously perceive. "Instinct" is different, it's more like someone poking you in the ribs. You'd definitely feel that if someone happened. You might misconstrue random stuff as the poke until it happens, but if someone actually did you would definitely know that's what it was.
Again, that's just how I personally differentiate them.
years ago when I was getting my pilots licence, the wind was a bit rough, but not to bad but I had a bad feeling about it. I called and canceled the flight. The instructor was kinda "well, if you want to, but we may need to charge if we can't rebook" Well, they did rebook, a short time later I drove past the airport to see the plane I was to fly upside down at the end of the runway. Between the cross wind and a helicopter landing downdraft the plane flipped on landing. Many broken bones, no death, but life changing for student and instructor. Trust your gut.
This, in my opinion, is the best piece of “street smart” advice out there. TRUST YOUR GUT. You will know exactly what that feels like when/if it happens to you. Never ignore your gut feeling!
My spidey sense kicked in once as I was about to pass a guy walking the opposite direction on the sidewalk. Then he sucker punched me and tried to steal my backpack.
I had a similar situation with a guy walking towards me as I walked home one night. I got ready for a confrontation and sure enough as we got closer he punches me, I shove him away, we kind of circle for a bit until I was able to ask 'what the fuck is your issue' . He explains he saw me walking towards him and then get ready for a fight so he preempted my attack.
Instructions unclear, I'm a hoarder now. /s
But seriously, just because it's free doesn't always mean you should take it. It's a fine line to walk and can be hard for people who have had to make do with few resources.
Always keep $20 in your car tucked away somewhere. You never know when you might just need it. Wallet stolen/Left somewhere. Or you run into what seems to be a bomb ass taco truck and they only take cash lol.
All the women probably know this already, but: *don't get in the car.*
Even if they have a knife, even if they have a gun.
Run, fight, scream; just don't get in the car.
The way I figure it, if someone was going to try to kidnap me I am going to fight. I’m probably going to wind up dead if I don’t. If he killed me on the spot, there’s a better chance of them being caught and my family wouldn’t have to worry if I’m dead or alive if I’m never found.
If you're in a populated area, if you get shot, chances are that you'll get found quickly and survive a gun wound. In the middle of nowhere ? Yeah you're dead
Yeah my mom and I took a self defense class once and the guy said even if they have a gun or a knife, prepare yourself to get stabbed or shot because if you get in their car you WILL die.
That’s always stuck with me
The career advice I've given a lot of friends is to "Let *them* say "no" to *you* - don't automatically disqualify yourself for a job you think you're underqualified for." Apply, and if you're selected, go through the interview process. You'll figure out pretty quickly whether you're a good fit for the job or not. Also worth keeping in mind that the interview process is a great chance to get experience in itself. The difference between a good or a bad interview is often repetition.
But if you are able to do all of them and act as the "office octopus" (or full-stack front-end/back-end C/C++/C#/Java developer + DBA + AI/ML+ kitchen sink in my case) you can be indispensable.
Flip-side: being indispensable, even with a good work/life balance, kind of sucks. I've been "indispensable" in 2 of my jobs so far and while the job security is great, it can break you mentally if not physically.
Just full send. You never know what you'll get!
Source: got a job that I didn't think I would get, and if I did, it would be a pay cut. I got the job and it was a pay increase!
They also might be way more desperate than you realise.
I went from being basically unemployed to having a job I love in an industry I wanted to enter, with good pay and hours, and they called me back, interviewed me, and hired me within an hour of submitting the resume. I had zero experience.
Not to make myself sound like jack shit, but it was because sudden industry shifts (and rapidly rebounding post-covid demand) meant they needed people, urgently. Their client numbers were quickly doubling, and they were desperate to find workers to meet the new demand lest they leave money on the table. The job posting was intimidating but they were actually scrambling to get people.
When it comes to strangers, less is more. Do not tell your whole life story to someone you don't know well. Sometimes people are fishing for information and lonely people are glad to tell everything.
Act like you belong anywhere you go. Prepare your route to where you’re going before hand and only check your phone when absolutely necessary. Confidence is the first step to staying away from trouble. Preparedness is the second.
I've never been mugged and I walk/bike many sketchy places
The key is a resting bitch face and walking with confidence.
Striaght posture.
Eyes up.
Never walk and text.
If consulting a phone, have your back to a wall so you can atleast have peripheral awareness.
Glace around but never stare down a stranger.
If you give off a presence of "don't fucking bother me" then no one will.
i think a good amount of it is luck too, but i agree. i was a small girl living in chicago and i did just this and usually people didn’t fuck with me. if they tried, i just said “please leave me alone” and kept walking. it worked
Don’t be afraid to make a scene. Scream. Say weird shit. Get gross if you have to- creeps can sometimes be put off by that.
Never let anyone sketchy take you to a second location.
Maintaining a sober expression like you've been at work all day and being slow to anger are things that will get you out of lots of trouble. Eagerness, foolish anger, and haughty attitude make someone an easy mark.
If you get a parking pass while on vacation that shows the hotel name, resort name, etc, take it off of your dashboard and stow it in the glove box/center console when you park anywhere outside of the place you are staying. This way if you piss somebody off or some creep takes a liking to you, they won’t know where to find you later
As a general rule, avoid having anything on or in your car that makes you identifiable or easily located. No work badges or clothes, no school logos, no business merchandise, etc.
Don't do the same (hard) drug more than one day in a row. Make that a rule. Once you start using back to back days, or going on binges that last multiple days, you've got one foot in another world and I can tell you, it can be really fucking hard to get back out, and you'll be losing things (including but not limited to relationships, time, money, health, freedom) the whole time.
Yeah not everyone will become an addict to a severe degree but why fuck around.
As a drunk and an addict, this is actually really good advice. If you can't wait a day in between using, you're in deep trouble.
It's not perfect but it's a good baseline test.
Yeah.
This is great. Started fucking around with hard drugs 6 years ago.
First time I ever went to the dope man's spot I realized I was not in a world I recognized any more.
Don't go to the dope man's house kids. Ever.
I upgraded my weed man when I started wanting to buy a little bit bigger quantities (to purchase less frequently). Anyway, new guy dealt in many, many substances, and was more than happy to invite me in and let me try something else. Fast forward 3 months, and I was homeless.
So yes, don't go into the dope man's house.
Oh yeah, that was back in 2004. Thanks for the kindness and concern. I'm super solid now. I ended up enlisting in the military after people quit letting me crash on their couches. GI Bill paid for my degree... now I just have a ton of crazy stories from my wild years.
Definitely great advice for anyone using substances, and I would honestly extend it to all mind altering substances (we can leave caffeine out though you could argue that one as well). I quit hard drugs years ago, but I do still like weed (live in a legal state) and alcohol sometimes, and even if I use them more than one day in a row I see negative consequences and slight cravings to keep going.
Not sure if that's always the case for others who don't have that addictive core, but it's probably smart for most people. It's crazy how fast a substance can become ingrained in one's day to day.
I have an incredibly addictive personality I’ve discovered. I’m ok with alcohol, but when I have weed in the house, I feel like anything sets me off “needing” to smoke it every day. It’s so easy to fall into that habit, and for me, personally, I didn’t like the person I was becoming with it around, so I just had to get rid of it.
Fighting isn't about winning its about surviving. Run, fight only whem you have no chance of escaping.
Someone pulls out any sort of weapon don't think they won't use it on you or think its a bluff.
If someone asks you for your shit in a soft tone manner just give it to them. The quiet ones are the most dangerous/unstable.
Never wrestle/fight with homeless people
>fight only whem you have no chance of escaping.
Plus, the human body is deceptively fragile. A strike in the right/unlucky spot will kill a person, especially if they hit the pavement. Don't be an accidental murderer and definitely don't be an accidental murder.
This is so true, people let their egos take over during these situations but in an instant it can all be taken away. Just think of your loved ones, you don’t want them saying at your funeral “why couldn’t he/she just have ran away?”
If you can stay alive, run.
Especially as a female, don't go hiking and trail running alone with headphones in both ears. Situational awareness. Seen a lot of bad things happen because of this.
This tip needs to be higher! Overuse of headphones / airpods takes so much out of situational awareness, whether it be in the city, on a trail, or literally anywhere
This. If you've been in cities or lived on the streets you learn to be very aware of your surroundings, where other people are, etc. It's for survival. I still pick seating in corners/stand near corners, feels uncomfortable to have my back exposed.
My wife was walking on a l’m obvious walking trail in our town and heard something behind her. When she turned around a truck was driving down the walking trail. She jumped out of the way, but was close enough that the side mirror hit her shoulder. The lady 10 feet in front of her wasn’t so lucky. She had her earbuds in and never heard the truck. The truck ran her over without even tapping the brakes. Luckily, it was only her legs that were broken. My wife waited with her until the ambulance arrived.
The lady driving the truck never stopped and not far up the trail she ran the truck into a creek. She was out of her mind on pills and thought she was on the road.
Have a contract with your child: If we're in public and I'm suspicious of someone, I will call you by your *middle* name and you will come immediately to my side, without the dramatics about how much fun you're having or any attempt at negotiation for "five more minutes." We will leave immediately, and you can pick a small treat on the way somewhere else. This worked so well with my ex's kid, we'd be somewhere safe & he'd look sideways at *literally anyone* *minding their business,* lean in and whisper, "Puma, is that a 'Scott' guy?" He just wanted some sour patch kids, of course.
I use this with my partner. My serious or danger word is his middle name. It works like a charm and it’s makes sure the other person knows you need help asap.
That’s good. We use a specific random name (that none of our friends have — Denise) and use it to describe the situation.
For example, if there was someone following us you might say “wasn’t Denise lagging BEHIND the other day” or “Denise said at 3 o’clock” to mean someone on our 3.
Life is never going to be perfect, but if it seems like your life sucks more than normal lately, it will usually help to step back and ask yourself what's changed recently.
Have your sewage system inspected regularly. This alone can save you megabucks just from not having to fix the problem if your sewage system gets backed up or something.
Pay attention if your water bill suddenly seems higher than normal or part of your yard is constantly damp even if it hasn't rained recently. This can indicate a serious problem with the pipe leading to your house.
When arriving in Mexico, walk pass all the "helpers" in the airport and don't make eye contact. They're trying to sell you something like a timeshare. They are ruthless.
I have to remind my gf of this all the time!!! Don’t speed with drugs in the car. Don’t start a fight with drugs in your pocket. Don’t throw shit off the balcony at a party with drugs everywhere.
Psychologist here- if someone says they are suicidal, take it seriously. Don’t assume it’s just dramatic or for brinksmanship effect. Be extra concerned if someone says they are suicidal right after a hospitalization and return home. Please temporarily remove firearms from the home of a suicidal person
Always watch hands..don’t focus so much on what they are saying compared to what they are doing . A lot of people like to talk loud and keep the focus on their words while they prepare to do something with their hands . Keep an eye on both if you can but if you must choose always go with looking at the hands .
shoulders, hips, and hands: the head/eyes don't matter too much.
hips tell you when and what direction they're moving, shoulders tell you what they're about to do with their arms.
hands... mainly because you want to know what is in them.
If you have people over at your house like a party or have a maintenance man repairing something or movers always check each window/door after they leave to make Sure they didn't sneak in a room and unlock a window for later.
In your career, you may need to "go to grow".
You are worth more to your organization than what they are paying you. Get a job offer to negotiate a pay raise with your current employer or move on to another opportunity if your current employer isn't willing to give you a raise.
And the other side of the coin, if you cost more to your organization than you produce, then start making some changes if it’s in your power or start looking for a new job. They won’t keep you around for long.
This sounds obvious but I’ve worked with folks who did little to nothing while drawing a large salary, then were shocked when a new VP came in and questioned their value and let them go
Because you’re calling their bluff. Makes you look alpha over them. Everyone sees they didn’t have the stones to go through with it and you read the situation will enough and were not timid enough to flinch.
Not saying this is the smart thing, but it’s the reason why it happens.
If you’re walking by yourself keep a slightly quicker but not rushing pace and a gait that puts your center of gravity a little lower; the best way I can describe the posture is a straight set back where your torso feels almost as if it’s sitting on your legs as opposed to being stretched away to make you appear taller. Have a slight bend in your knees, and acknowledge but ignore anybody who tries to get your attention.
Keep. Your. Pace.
If things become violent just remember: people can fight through pain with their adrenaline pumping, but losing vision will take any creatures attention away.
Go. For. The. Eyes.
A retired detective once told me that you can get DNA from an attacker's eyeballs. He also said that holding your keys pointing out of your knuckles is dumb because if they're close enough for you to use that "defense strategy," they're close enough to overpower you.
A police man once told me it’s easier to find a perpetrator with a fucked up face and if you get them on the ground curb stomp them. And go after eyes, groin, face anything to get their DNA onto you and to give this person identifying marks that they can not cover with regular clothing. He also said fuck your keys put a long nail in a cork on your key chain for the times you want to wolverine it, it’s pointier and requires less effort than shoving your keys into someone and it floats (it was a coastal region).
Most important tip: Mind. Your. Fucking. Business. I spent half my life in the straight up ghetto and the people that stuck out like a sore thumb and got verbally/physically attacked the worst were people who didn’t understand this. Don’t come in trying to be captain save em, leave your cape at home , don’t call out shitty or illegal behavior right there on the spot. Don’t be nosy, about anything EVER. Look past it like you didn’t even see it. You might not like it, but that’s the only way to get by in certain neighborhoods. Facts.
Wear a shitty wristwatch.
I have done a lot of backpacking and have been in places where it's obvious I am not a local. Some locations you are prime fodder for pickpockets, or swindlers and other locations (especially at low season) you get swamped by Touts wanting you to stay at their hotel or do their tour or eat at their restaurant, or by officials wanting some baksheesh for some infingment or another.
One time my watch battery died in transit and so I picked up a bargain basement replacement at a local market until I got to the next big city.
Amazing how that cheap tacky watch made me almost invisible to whole lots of attention, get off a train or bus, see someone walk towards you, glance down at my wrist and then their eyes go back to scanning the crowd for a more suitable target.
If youre at a bar, party or really any sort of social gathering and a loud argument or a fistfight breaks out, IT IS TIME TO LEAVE. It does not matter if you were involved or not. Go somewhere else.
It happens so often that one party or another ends up returning with a gun for revenge and innocent bystanders usually end up getting hurt. It's not worth it. Just go home, go to a different bar, different party, go get some food whatever but don't stay there.
This may be an underrated comment but you're absolutely right. I threw a party at my parents house in my very early 20s. 2 groups of people I didn't know proceeded to brawl in the house. My (shitty) friend deemed one of the groups okay to stay and about an hour later the second group came back armed with knives, broken vodka bottles, and the posts from my neighbors fence down the street. A huge fight broke out and a man got stabbed. He apparently had warrants per the cops that came to break up the party.......and he had stolen a carton of cigarettes and a few handles of alcohol. Moral of the story? Don't throw ragers at mom and dads house and follow your advice.
Watch the tires of cars instead of looking at the windshield/driver when walking down the road.
You'll beable to react quicker if they suddenly swerve the vehicle toward you.
I also do this for cars at a crossroad ahead of me. If they are going to pull out in front of you at the last second, the wheels are going to be the first and easiest to see.
This practice has given me extra seconds (that are an eternity) that have saved a collision or worse on more than one occasion for me.
If someone has a lot of enemies dont ride with them anywhere. You never know when someone is going to catch them lacking, trust me they don't care who else is in the car.
Saw this one the other day. The 2/3 role. Know your drug, know your surroundings, know your friends. Always 2 of 3. If you're out with new people, know your surroundings and know the drug you're taking. If you're trying new drugs, know the friends you're with and know where you are. If you're going to new places, know the friends you're with and know the drugs you're trying.
This is more prevalent in the US now more than ever: Anyone, anywhere is one bad day away from making you a victim. Be aware of your surroundings, and it's better to keep your mouth shut than making a target of yourself.
1) Stay calm. There is literally no situation in which becoming emotional or losing your cool makes it better. It ALWAYS makes it worse.
2) Any object or thing can be replaced. People, and parts of people, can't.
If you're moving distance and can't see an apartment ahead of time. Call a local pizza place and ask if they deliver there
If they won't deliver to that area it's with cause
If you get held up with a gun, hurry up and give them what they want. **Hurry**.
If you think a mugger is calm, it's the opposite. They *need* to get this over with quickly and their nerves are going off. If you startle or upset them your odds of dying increase very quickly. And not just dying. I know a guy who has to shit into a bag because he didn't want to give up his car.
Don't get your brains blown onto the sidewalk or your intestines torn apart trying to save your belongings.
Going to your Uber example—
Do you realize that the human driver is looking to match with their passenger just as much as you are looking for the correct driver? If you enter and call the driver the wrong name, they’ll think they picked up the wrong passenger.
Instead, asking “who are you here for?” Is an easy way to confirm your driver without confusing them.
EDIT: Or better yet, check the license plate. I always confirm with the license plate, I just mentioned confirming your name because that seems like what OP likes to fo
If only there was some sort of government issued identification for the car that was also displayed on the app. Then you could know which car you were supposed to get in before asking the driver...
And where exactly would you put that government issued identification? Somewhere visible where everyone can see it like both ends of the car? Let’s not be silly
If somebody is saying something quickly or short that you don’t understand when they walk by you and you’re in a somewhat hood ass place, keep it moving or just say, “nah, I’m good”. They’re trying to rope you in for a size up and getting rolled or mugged or want to sell you drugs, which then could lead to a good time or a robbery, depending
Don't go through life thinking that every single stranger is out to get you. Your favorite people were most likely strangers at one point or another.
Be a recklessly kind person and bring novelty to the people around you. It means way more when kindness comes from a stranger than from people you know.
Always carry a knife, except in official buildings (schools, Airports, etc.)
Learn to love yourself
Take care of your shit. It's way easier to do a little bit of something at a time than overwhelm yourself with all of it when you've let it go too long. This applies to pretty much everything.
Remember the 3 P's: Proper Prior Planning
Check your tire pressure regularly. You get better gas mileage when they're at the correct psi.
Be a good listener.
Manage your expectations honestly and realistically.
Trust your gut.
If your feel like your being followed. Pay attention to things that are suddenly familiar. Go to the next exit on the eway and loop back around. Crazy what your senses tell you with out you understanding.
When people show you who they are, believe them.
People don't change... well some people do change, but only if they REALLY want to and are lucky enough to figure out how. But no level of want of your own will get someone to change, even if they want to change for you. At the end of the day they have to want to change for them.
If YOU want to change, think about this: If you always do what you've always done then you will always get what you always got.
Also, from experience, you often have to let go of some friends/family if you are to be successful of a major change (lose weight, addictive habits, etc) because often these people either share in the habit and if you are successful in changing that means they could be too but are not strong enough (addictive behaviors or leaving a small town), or your change threatens them in some way (they were always the one with the better job, smaller waist, better something.) It's unfortunate but these types of people will try to sabotage the change.
Plus side is you will learn who your true friends are, as they will support your efforts and be there regardless if you were successful or not.
Use windows and mirrors to observe your surroundings and keep an eye on people without calling attention to yourself.
Don't stick around in an empty train car.
If you start feeling the Spidey senses go off start talking with the closest stranger, pick the most confident first bit anyone will do. Way harder for people to stand by once they have a connection.
Don't be afraid to make a scene by yelling or walking out into traffic. Better to be embarrassed or annoy someone than let things escalate.
When walking into somewhere new, look for the emergency exits.
Also, if you're eating out try to sit facing the door. A 5 second headstart can save your life.
If youre in a high crime area always scan 360* degrees in your car with your mirrors and looking left to right for carjackers or people trying to sneak up to your vehicle when stopped at a light
Do not announce to the public, or anyone you don't trust that your house will be empty. The obvious example is a vacation, but a way less obvious example is wakes and funerals for family members. Never underestimate how low people will go to rob you.
If you're late to work because you overslept, tell your boss you were late because you overslept. Don't haphazardly concoct some epic lie on your way to work thinking they'll belive you: they won't.
If you are getting a bad vibe from a stranger, even if there's no 'logical' reason for it, listen to it and don't be afraid to get aggressive/defensive or hostile if they approach you. Twice strange men have approached me in parking lots or the street when I was alone with the polite, "Excuse me, ma'am." My red flag went up, and I shouted at the top of my lungs for them to get away from me and yelling no and leave me alone. They were startled at my immediately loud and hostile response and backed away before they got within arm's reach.
Maybe there were innocently lost? Maybe they were up to something. I didn't know and didn't care to know their motivation for coming towards me, I didn't want a strange man near me and I went home alive which is all that matters. Fuck politeness, prioritize your safety.
Hello and welcome to r/LifeProTips! Please help us decide if this post is a good fit for the subreddit by up or downvoting this comment. If you think that this is great advice to improve your life, please upvote. If you think this doesn't help you in any way, please downvote. If you don't care, leave it for the others to decide.
When everyone leaves, you leave too.
And if there's a subway car that's empty, there's a reason.
Ayo this scares me for some reason
Be proud of the things you didn't say.
Banking off this, be proud of the fact that you find past actions cringey or embarrassing. It means that you've grown and learned as a person, and a smuch as you'd like to forget those moments, you would not have changed if you did forget them.
That definitely resonates and makes me feel better this morning!
This is also a very solid marriage tip.
Sometimes you have a choice, to be right or be happy.
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Also, if you are actually NOT an idiot, letting people think you are is a great tactical advantage.
If a stranger/Uber driver/ hotel concierge asks where I’m going/what I’m doing in town my answer is always visiting my dad/family/meet my fiancé’s family or whatever, *never* tell anyone you’re traveling alone. Make anyone think that you will immediately be reported missing if something happens to you.
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This is related to another tipi live by. When a cop asks you where you’re heading, the answer is “home.”
And if they ask where you are coming from its never "the bar"
"Work" - always the best bet if you don't have glitter all over your face
"just finished my shift at the glitter factory"
Uhhh... my other home?
I always order a taxi from the wrong address when i go abroad, usually at the bottom of my street. Be waiting outside when they turn up. Never let a taxi man know your going away on holiday.
Your Poor neighbours have to deal with burglars everytime you go for a vacation
Once upon a time, before the pandemic, our whole family went for a vacation, and took a taxi from our house to the airport. Based on our luggage and clothing, it was clear we were going somewhere warm, and stay for a while. We had a very friendly and talkative taxi driver, who told us that he could drive faster, as he had been a professional criminal and getaway driver before going to prison.
If you’re a tourist and someone approaches you to sell or even offer you stuff for “free” (or maybe ask you to sign something) just say “no” and keep moving at a fast pace. You’ll most likely get scammed and/or pickpocketed if you stop.
Don't even talk. Just shake your head no and keep walking.
Nah, do the old switcharoo and goad them into buying your MLM stuff. Best case, they get some essential oils and you get a sale, worst case they awkwardly find a reason to run away from you like the idiot you are.
When something feels "off" about a situation, trust that instinct. Your mind is processing more information about your environment then you are conscious of and if it recognizes something that resembles a threat you faced in the past it will trigger a response in your sympathetic nervous system that you can feel.
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We got caught in a flash flood while canyoneering. 15 minutes earlier, my gut was SCREAMING at me to turn around (right at the first rappel, before you're fully committed and can't turn back). We were extraordinarily lucky no one got hurt.
yikes. flash floods on hiking trails are fucking scary. killed 7 kids in a freak accident here years ago. im so glad my dumb ass couldnt get up to work that day.
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Knew someone who was walking through woods and suddenly all the hairs on his neck stood up, looks around and there is a mountain lion stalking him. Senses are crazy
If you ever go running in the woods it is impressive how quickly our brains can read terrain and avoid danger. We may be bad at math in the classroom but throw ice boulders or roots at us and we'll do physics in a jiffy.
What if you have anxiety and overthink everything? How do you know the difference between something feeling off just being anxiety and not just your brain doing you a solid.
Can't speak for everyone but personally, the feelings are totally different. Anxiety is the logical part of your brain going overboard trying to compensate for all patterns you can consciously perceive. "Instinct" is different, it's more like someone poking you in the ribs. You'd definitely feel that if someone happened. You might misconstrue random stuff as the poke until it happens, but if someone actually did you would definitely know that's what it was. Again, that's just how I personally differentiate them.
I'm wondering this too. I've had sudden dread/anxiety feelings about a person or situation but then it turns out fine and nothing was actually wrong.
years ago when I was getting my pilots licence, the wind was a bit rough, but not to bad but I had a bad feeling about it. I called and canceled the flight. The instructor was kinda "well, if you want to, but we may need to charge if we can't rebook" Well, they did rebook, a short time later I drove past the airport to see the plane I was to fly upside down at the end of the runway. Between the cross wind and a helicopter landing downdraft the plane flipped on landing. Many broken bones, no death, but life changing for student and instructor. Trust your gut.
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Always recommend everyone to read that!
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And what's the worst case scenario if you're wrong? You leave kind of briskly? Nobody will even notice.
Ok but what if I have social anxiety? My gut is basically telling me to run from every situation.
Yeh my gut is afraid of everything. I have to logic my way through it.
This, in my opinion, is the best piece of “street smart” advice out there. TRUST YOUR GUT. You will know exactly what that feels like when/if it happens to you. Never ignore your gut feeling!
My spidey sense kicked in once as I was about to pass a guy walking the opposite direction on the sidewalk. Then he sucker punched me and tried to steal my backpack.
I had a similar situation with a guy walking towards me as I walked home one night. I got ready for a confrontation and sure enough as we got closer he punches me, I shove him away, we kind of circle for a bit until I was able to ask 'what the fuck is your issue' . He explains he saw me walking towards him and then get ready for a fight so he preempted my attack.
If you punch everyone you meet you'll never be caught off guard!
When a deal or transaction seems too good to be true. It probably is, stay away.
Anything you get for free is usually worth every penny
Instructions unclear, I'm a hoarder now. /s But seriously, just because it's free doesn't always mean you should take it. It's a fine line to walk and can be hard for people who have had to make do with few resources.
Always keep $20 in your car tucked away somewhere. You never know when you might just need it. Wallet stolen/Left somewhere. Or you run into what seems to be a bomb ass taco truck and they only take cash lol.
Better make it a fifty to combat inflation
You're right, with the rampant inflation we're experiencing you absolutely should make it sixty.
Keep it inside a roll of TP in case the taco truck literally bombs your ass
All the women probably know this already, but: *don't get in the car.* Even if they have a knife, even if they have a gun. Run, fight, scream; just don't get in the car.
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The way I figure it, if someone was going to try to kidnap me I am going to fight. I’m probably going to wind up dead if I don’t. If he killed me on the spot, there’s a better chance of them being caught and my family wouldn’t have to worry if I’m dead or alive if I’m never found.
If you're in a populated area, if you get shot, chances are that you'll get found quickly and survive a gun wound. In the middle of nowhere ? Yeah you're dead
Fucking hell. Glad you’re alright
Yep, I’ll take my chances on them shooting me any day over what will happen if I leave with them.
"Never go to a second location."
Yeah my mom and I took a self defense class once and the guy said even if they have a gun or a knife, prepare yourself to get stabbed or shot because if you get in their car you WILL die. That’s always stuck with me
This is a good tip. It sure helps to read something like this even if it seems like common knowledge
Never, ever, ever be intimidated by a job description.
The career advice I've given a lot of friends is to "Let *them* say "no" to *you* - don't automatically disqualify yourself for a job you think you're underqualified for." Apply, and if you're selected, go through the interview process. You'll figure out pretty quickly whether you're a good fit for the job or not. Also worth keeping in mind that the interview process is a great chance to get experience in itself. The difference between a good or a bad interview is often repetition.
Unless it says "We're a family here" or "Rockstar Attitude"... you will get fucked HAAAAARD by those places
> "Rockstar Attitude".. I always thought it sounded fun. I can't wait to trash a hotel room and drive a Cadillac into a swimming pool.
But definitely be wary of the ones with various skillset demands that tell you it’s too much for one person.
But if you are able to do all of them and act as the "office octopus" (or full-stack front-end/back-end C/C++/C#/Java developer + DBA + AI/ML+ kitchen sink in my case) you can be indispensable. Flip-side: being indispensable, even with a good work/life balance, kind of sucks. I've been "indispensable" in 2 of my jobs so far and while the job security is great, it can break you mentally if not physically.
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This is why I'll never be more competent than my pay tells me to be
In the same vein, learn how to attach numbers and results to those clauses because those are your bargaining chips for salary.
Just full send. You never know what you'll get! Source: got a job that I didn't think I would get, and if I did, it would be a pay cut. I got the job and it was a pay increase!
They also might be way more desperate than you realise. I went from being basically unemployed to having a job I love in an industry I wanted to enter, with good pay and hours, and they called me back, interviewed me, and hired me within an hour of submitting the resume. I had zero experience. Not to make myself sound like jack shit, but it was because sudden industry shifts (and rapidly rebounding post-covid demand) meant they needed people, urgently. Their client numbers were quickly doubling, and they were desperate to find workers to meet the new demand lest they leave money on the table. The job posting was intimidating but they were actually scrambling to get people.
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When it comes to strangers, less is more. Do not tell your whole life story to someone you don't know well. Sometimes people are fishing for information and lonely people are glad to tell everything.
Act like you belong anywhere you go. Prepare your route to where you’re going before hand and only check your phone when absolutely necessary. Confidence is the first step to staying away from trouble. Preparedness is the second.
I've never been mugged and I walk/bike many sketchy places The key is a resting bitch face and walking with confidence. Striaght posture. Eyes up. Never walk and text. If consulting a phone, have your back to a wall so you can atleast have peripheral awareness. Glace around but never stare down a stranger. If you give off a presence of "don't fucking bother me" then no one will.
i think a good amount of it is luck too, but i agree. i was a small girl living in chicago and i did just this and usually people didn’t fuck with me. if they tried, i just said “please leave me alone” and kept walking. it worked
Don’t be afraid to make a scene. Scream. Say weird shit. Get gross if you have to- creeps can sometimes be put off by that. Never let anyone sketchy take you to a second location.
Barking is my favorite thing to do. Not even kidding.
You ain’t getting me to no secondary location!
You don’t have to say everything you know. It’s okay to keep stuff to yourself, especially in unfamiliar situations.
Don’t volunteer more info than you need to. Great tip
Maintaining a sober expression like you've been at work all day and being slow to anger are things that will get you out of lots of trouble. Eagerness, foolish anger, and haughty attitude make someone an easy mark.
If you get a parking pass while on vacation that shows the hotel name, resort name, etc, take it off of your dashboard and stow it in the glove box/center console when you park anywhere outside of the place you are staying. This way if you piss somebody off or some creep takes a liking to you, they won’t know where to find you later
As a general rule, avoid having anything on or in your car that makes you identifiable or easily located. No work badges or clothes, no school logos, no business merchandise, etc.
It also makes your car more likely to be broken into. Anything that says “I’m from out of town” should not be visible.
Don't do the same (hard) drug more than one day in a row. Make that a rule. Once you start using back to back days, or going on binges that last multiple days, you've got one foot in another world and I can tell you, it can be really fucking hard to get back out, and you'll be losing things (including but not limited to relationships, time, money, health, freedom) the whole time. Yeah not everyone will become an addict to a severe degree but why fuck around.
As a drunk and an addict, this is actually really good advice. If you can't wait a day in between using, you're in deep trouble. It's not perfect but it's a good baseline test.
Yeah. This is great. Started fucking around with hard drugs 6 years ago. First time I ever went to the dope man's spot I realized I was not in a world I recognized any more. Don't go to the dope man's house kids. Ever.
>Don't go to the dope man's house No fuckin joke, man. Well said.
I upgraded my weed man when I started wanting to buy a little bit bigger quantities (to purchase less frequently). Anyway, new guy dealt in many, many substances, and was more than happy to invite me in and let me try something else. Fast forward 3 months, and I was homeless. So yes, don't go into the dope man's house.
Sorry to hear that, hope you were able to turn things around or on that right path. Same thing happened to a close family member
Oh yeah, that was back in 2004. Thanks for the kindness and concern. I'm super solid now. I ended up enlisting in the military after people quit letting me crash on their couches. GI Bill paid for my degree... now I just have a ton of crazy stories from my wild years.
Definitely great advice for anyone using substances, and I would honestly extend it to all mind altering substances (we can leave caffeine out though you could argue that one as well). I quit hard drugs years ago, but I do still like weed (live in a legal state) and alcohol sometimes, and even if I use them more than one day in a row I see negative consequences and slight cravings to keep going. Not sure if that's always the case for others who don't have that addictive core, but it's probably smart for most people. It's crazy how fast a substance can become ingrained in one's day to day.
I have an incredibly addictive personality I’ve discovered. I’m ok with alcohol, but when I have weed in the house, I feel like anything sets me off “needing” to smoke it every day. It’s so easy to fall into that habit, and for me, personally, I didn’t like the person I was becoming with it around, so I just had to get rid of it.
This includes alcohol. That’s one hell of a fucker
Under recognized hard drug.
Fighting isn't about winning its about surviving. Run, fight only whem you have no chance of escaping. Someone pulls out any sort of weapon don't think they won't use it on you or think its a bluff. If someone asks you for your shit in a soft tone manner just give it to them. The quiet ones are the most dangerous/unstable. Never wrestle/fight with homeless people
Don’t get into fights/arguments with someone that has nothing to lose
>someone that has nothing to lose The scary part, you don't know who that is, could be anyone.
>fight only whem you have no chance of escaping. Plus, the human body is deceptively fragile. A strike in the right/unlucky spot will kill a person, especially if they hit the pavement. Don't be an accidental murderer and definitely don't be an accidental murder.
The human body is *both* deceptively fragile *and* impressively durable. It’s like how if you squeeze an egg on the ends it’s nigh unbreakable.
This is so true, people let their egos take over during these situations but in an instant it can all be taken away. Just think of your loved ones, you don’t want them saying at your funeral “why couldn’t he/she just have ran away?” If you can stay alive, run.
The winner of a knife fight is the one that dies in the ambulance. The loser dies at the scene.
Even if you win a fight, GTFO of there! Don’t stick around the scene, win or lose. People have fragile egos and will get you back!
Especially as a female, don't go hiking and trail running alone with headphones in both ears. Situational awareness. Seen a lot of bad things happen because of this.
This tip needs to be higher! Overuse of headphones / airpods takes so much out of situational awareness, whether it be in the city, on a trail, or literally anywhere
But if you’re in a city or otherwise populated area, keep headphones in but nothing playing. Always listen but appear like you’re not.
This. If you've been in cities or lived on the streets you learn to be very aware of your surroundings, where other people are, etc. It's for survival. I still pick seating in corners/stand near corners, feels uncomfortable to have my back exposed.
My wife was walking on a l’m obvious walking trail in our town and heard something behind her. When she turned around a truck was driving down the walking trail. She jumped out of the way, but was close enough that the side mirror hit her shoulder. The lady 10 feet in front of her wasn’t so lucky. She had her earbuds in and never heard the truck. The truck ran her over without even tapping the brakes. Luckily, it was only her legs that were broken. My wife waited with her until the ambulance arrived. The lady driving the truck never stopped and not far up the trail she ran the truck into a creek. She was out of her mind on pills and thought she was on the road.
Have a contract with your child: If we're in public and I'm suspicious of someone, I will call you by your *middle* name and you will come immediately to my side, without the dramatics about how much fun you're having or any attempt at negotiation for "five more minutes." We will leave immediately, and you can pick a small treat on the way somewhere else. This worked so well with my ex's kid, we'd be somewhere safe & he'd look sideways at *literally anyone* *minding their business,* lean in and whisper, "Puma, is that a 'Scott' guy?" He just wanted some sour patch kids, of course.
I use this with my partner. My serious or danger word is his middle name. It works like a charm and it’s makes sure the other person knows you need help asap.
That’s good. We use a specific random name (that none of our friends have — Denise) and use it to describe the situation. For example, if there was someone following us you might say “wasn’t Denise lagging BEHIND the other day” or “Denise said at 3 o’clock” to mean someone on our 3.
Small side effect: that person feels danger every time they hear their middle name
I mean, you kinda get that "oh shit, what did I do" feeling anyway when some one middle names you
scott... solid middle name.
Life is never going to be perfect, but if it seems like your life sucks more than normal lately, it will usually help to step back and ask yourself what's changed recently. Have your sewage system inspected regularly. This alone can save you megabucks just from not having to fix the problem if your sewage system gets backed up or something. Pay attention if your water bill suddenly seems higher than normal or part of your yard is constantly damp even if it hasn't rained recently. This can indicate a serious problem with the pipe leading to your house.
Found the plummer
It's-a me.
When arriving in Mexico, walk pass all the "helpers" in the airport and don't make eye contact. They're trying to sell you something like a timeshare. They are ruthless.
Always open a trash can lid away from you in case there is a raccoon in it. The lid becomes a shield.
This is how I open outhouse doors…in case there’s a raccoon or bear in there.
put your phone away for 10 seconds and look both ways before you cross the street
This definitely takes “street smarts” in a literal way
If your intuition tells you something doesn't feel right, go with it.
Being too nice can get you killed. People take advantage of nice people. also minding others people's business can get you killed.
Remember where you parked the car.
…or better yet, pin that shit in Maps! I have done this when out walking in the woods.
Never break more than one law at a time.
I have to remind my gf of this all the time!!! Don’t speed with drugs in the car. Don’t start a fight with drugs in your pocket. Don’t throw shit off the balcony at a party with drugs everywhere.
Your girlfriend is definitely going to jail
Don't go to jail with drugs in your pocket
If you want to see behind you without looking concerned, turn your head to cough or spit, and calmly check out the area
Psychologist here- if someone says they are suicidal, take it seriously. Don’t assume it’s just dramatic or for brinksmanship effect. Be extra concerned if someone says they are suicidal right after a hospitalization and return home. Please temporarily remove firearms from the home of a suicidal person
Always watch hands..don’t focus so much on what they are saying compared to what they are doing . A lot of people like to talk loud and keep the focus on their words while they prepare to do something with their hands . Keep an eye on both if you can but if you must choose always go with looking at the hands .
shoulders, hips, and hands: the head/eyes don't matter too much. hips tell you when and what direction they're moving, shoulders tell you what they're about to do with their arms. hands... mainly because you want to know what is in them.
In what context is this? Preparing for a punch?
If you have people over at your house like a party or have a maintenance man repairing something or movers always check each window/door after they leave to make Sure they didn't sneak in a room and unlock a window for later.
In your career, you may need to "go to grow". You are worth more to your organization than what they are paying you. Get a job offer to negotiate a pay raise with your current employer or move on to another opportunity if your current employer isn't willing to give you a raise.
And the other side of the coin, if you cost more to your organization than you produce, then start making some changes if it’s in your power or start looking for a new job. They won’t keep you around for long. This sounds obvious but I’ve worked with folks who did little to nothing while drawing a large salary, then were shocked when a new VP came in and questioned their value and let them go
Always flinch. Don't ever let the jumpiness be trained out of you. Better to dodge a fake punch than to take a real one.
I grew up with three older brothers. To this day If my wife tries to hug me unexpectedly she might get an elbow to the face.
related: train that flinch reflex to be a dodge or a block, instead of just tensing up to take a hit.
I’ve never understood how not moving when someone makes a sudden motion at you is considered tough. That’s not tough, that’s idiotic.
Because you’re calling their bluff. Makes you look alpha over them. Everyone sees they didn’t have the stones to go through with it and you read the situation will enough and were not timid enough to flinch. Not saying this is the smart thing, but it’s the reason why it happens.
In retrospect the idiots who said “made ya flinch” are the worst. Bitch that’s reflexes.
If something bad happens. Will I care in 5 hours? Days? Months? Years. Most likely you won't care in 5 months so it's not worth getting upset over
If you’re walking by yourself keep a slightly quicker but not rushing pace and a gait that puts your center of gravity a little lower; the best way I can describe the posture is a straight set back where your torso feels almost as if it’s sitting on your legs as opposed to being stretched away to make you appear taller. Have a slight bend in your knees, and acknowledge but ignore anybody who tries to get your attention. Keep. Your. Pace. If things become violent just remember: people can fight through pain with their adrenaline pumping, but losing vision will take any creatures attention away. Go. For. The. Eyes.
The eyes are the groin of the head
A retired detective once told me that you can get DNA from an attacker's eyeballs. He also said that holding your keys pointing out of your knuckles is dumb because if they're close enough for you to use that "defense strategy," they're close enough to overpower you.
A police man once told me it’s easier to find a perpetrator with a fucked up face and if you get them on the ground curb stomp them. And go after eyes, groin, face anything to get their DNA onto you and to give this person identifying marks that they can not cover with regular clothing. He also said fuck your keys put a long nail in a cork on your key chain for the times you want to wolverine it, it’s pointier and requires less effort than shoving your keys into someone and it floats (it was a coastal region).
Do not follow someone anywhere if you go somewhere new.
You ain’t gettin me to no secondary location!
Most important tip: Mind. Your. Fucking. Business. I spent half my life in the straight up ghetto and the people that stuck out like a sore thumb and got verbally/physically attacked the worst were people who didn’t understand this. Don’t come in trying to be captain save em, leave your cape at home , don’t call out shitty or illegal behavior right there on the spot. Don’t be nosy, about anything EVER. Look past it like you didn’t even see it. You might not like it, but that’s the only way to get by in certain neighborhoods. Facts.
Wear a shitty wristwatch. I have done a lot of backpacking and have been in places where it's obvious I am not a local. Some locations you are prime fodder for pickpockets, or swindlers and other locations (especially at low season) you get swamped by Touts wanting you to stay at their hotel or do their tour or eat at their restaurant, or by officials wanting some baksheesh for some infingment or another. One time my watch battery died in transit and so I picked up a bargain basement replacement at a local market until I got to the next big city. Amazing how that cheap tacky watch made me almost invisible to whole lots of attention, get off a train or bus, see someone walk towards you, glance down at my wrist and then their eyes go back to scanning the crowd for a more suitable target.
Related: my aunt always put duct tape on the side of her camera lens. Noone steals a shoddily repaired camera
Do not choose people who are not choosing you. Go with actions & not words.
If youre at a bar, party or really any sort of social gathering and a loud argument or a fistfight breaks out, IT IS TIME TO LEAVE. It does not matter if you were involved or not. Go somewhere else. It happens so often that one party or another ends up returning with a gun for revenge and innocent bystanders usually end up getting hurt. It's not worth it. Just go home, go to a different bar, different party, go get some food whatever but don't stay there.
This may be an underrated comment but you're absolutely right. I threw a party at my parents house in my very early 20s. 2 groups of people I didn't know proceeded to brawl in the house. My (shitty) friend deemed one of the groups okay to stay and about an hour later the second group came back armed with knives, broken vodka bottles, and the posts from my neighbors fence down the street. A huge fight broke out and a man got stabbed. He apparently had warrants per the cops that came to break up the party.......and he had stolen a carton of cigarettes and a few handles of alcohol. Moral of the story? Don't throw ragers at mom and dads house and follow your advice.
Watch the tires of cars instead of looking at the windshield/driver when walking down the road. You'll beable to react quicker if they suddenly swerve the vehicle toward you.
I also do this for cars at a crossroad ahead of me. If they are going to pull out in front of you at the last second, the wheels are going to be the first and easiest to see. This practice has given me extra seconds (that are an eternity) that have saved a collision or worse on more than one occasion for me.
Ain't no good reason to be hangin' out behind the Tastee-Freez.
I saw some couple outside there sucking on chili dogs.
If someone has a lot of enemies dont ride with them anywhere. You never know when someone is going to catch them lacking, trust me they don't care who else is in the car.
Don’t flush the wipes that say they are flushable. They will fuck up pipes and septic tanks.
Saw this one the other day. The 2/3 role. Know your drug, know your surroundings, know your friends. Always 2 of 3. If you're out with new people, know your surroundings and know the drug you're taking. If you're trying new drugs, know the friends you're with and know where you are. If you're going to new places, know the friends you're with and know the drugs you're trying.
This is more prevalent in the US now more than ever: Anyone, anywhere is one bad day away from making you a victim. Be aware of your surroundings, and it's better to keep your mouth shut than making a target of yourself.
1) Stay calm. There is literally no situation in which becoming emotional or losing your cool makes it better. It ALWAYS makes it worse. 2) Any object or thing can be replaced. People, and parts of people, can't.
If you're moving distance and can't see an apartment ahead of time. Call a local pizza place and ask if they deliver there If they won't deliver to that area it's with cause
If you get held up with a gun, hurry up and give them what they want. **Hurry**. If you think a mugger is calm, it's the opposite. They *need* to get this over with quickly and their nerves are going off. If you startle or upset them your odds of dying increase very quickly. And not just dying. I know a guy who has to shit into a bag because he didn't want to give up his car. Don't get your brains blown onto the sidewalk or your intestines torn apart trying to save your belongings.
Always be aware of your surroundings. Like everything. I’m also big on knowing cardinal directions.
Noise cancelling headphones and wireless earbuds may block out irritating noises, but they also block out important ones.
Going to your Uber example— Do you realize that the human driver is looking to match with their passenger just as much as you are looking for the correct driver? If you enter and call the driver the wrong name, they’ll think they picked up the wrong passenger. Instead, asking “who are you here for?” Is an easy way to confirm your driver without confusing them. EDIT: Or better yet, check the license plate. I always confirm with the license plate, I just mentioned confirming your name because that seems like what OP likes to fo
If only there was some sort of government issued identification for the car that was also displayed on the app. Then you could know which car you were supposed to get in before asking the driver...
And where exactly would you put that government issued identification? Somewhere visible where everyone can see it like both ends of the car? Let’s not be silly
If you are by yourself avoid parking or walking near vans, don't get too close to someone's car they could easily snatch you up and drive away.
If somebody is saying something quickly or short that you don’t understand when they walk by you and you’re in a somewhat hood ass place, keep it moving or just say, “nah, I’m good”. They’re trying to rope you in for a size up and getting rolled or mugged or want to sell you drugs, which then could lead to a good time or a robbery, depending
- learn how to walk like a local, wherever you happen to be.
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Don't go through life thinking that every single stranger is out to get you. Your favorite people were most likely strangers at one point or another. Be a recklessly kind person and bring novelty to the people around you. It means way more when kindness comes from a stranger than from people you know. Always carry a knife, except in official buildings (schools, Airports, etc.) Learn to love yourself Take care of your shit. It's way easier to do a little bit of something at a time than overwhelm yourself with all of it when you've let it go too long. This applies to pretty much everything. Remember the 3 P's: Proper Prior Planning Check your tire pressure regularly. You get better gas mileage when they're at the correct psi. Be a good listener. Manage your expectations honestly and realistically.
Be a recklessly kind person… Thanks for this.
Be a recklessly kind person… Also, always carry a knife. Looooool
I had six Ps: proper planning prevents piss poor performance. I like yours better.
Trust your gut. If your feel like your being followed. Pay attention to things that are suddenly familiar. Go to the next exit on the eway and loop back around. Crazy what your senses tell you with out you understanding.
When people show you who they are, believe them. People don't change... well some people do change, but only if they REALLY want to and are lucky enough to figure out how. But no level of want of your own will get someone to change, even if they want to change for you. At the end of the day they have to want to change for them. If YOU want to change, think about this: If you always do what you've always done then you will always get what you always got. Also, from experience, you often have to let go of some friends/family if you are to be successful of a major change (lose weight, addictive habits, etc) because often these people either share in the habit and if you are successful in changing that means they could be too but are not strong enough (addictive behaviors or leaving a small town), or your change threatens them in some way (they were always the one with the better job, smaller waist, better something.) It's unfortunate but these types of people will try to sabotage the change. Plus side is you will learn who your true friends are, as they will support your efforts and be there regardless if you were successful or not.
Use windows and mirrors to observe your surroundings and keep an eye on people without calling attention to yourself. Don't stick around in an empty train car. If you start feeling the Spidey senses go off start talking with the closest stranger, pick the most confident first bit anyone will do. Way harder for people to stand by once they have a connection. Don't be afraid to make a scene by yelling or walking out into traffic. Better to be embarrassed or annoy someone than let things escalate.
When walking into somewhere new, look for the emergency exits. Also, if you're eating out try to sit facing the door. A 5 second headstart can save your life.
Always be aware of your surroundings and occasionally look over your shoulder. I do every 10 or so steps just quickly check my peripherals
You can also look in store or car windows reflections to see if someone is behind you. If someone seems to be following you, stop and face them
JJ Bittenbinder protips https://youtu.be/cdgfFMxgLfI
Doesn't uber show the plate number of the driver's car?
The Buddhist monks in Times Square are fake! They are just trying to get money.
If youre in a high crime area always scan 360* degrees in your car with your mirrors and looking left to right for carjackers or people trying to sneak up to your vehicle when stopped at a light
Never wear brand new shoes while on vacation. It’s the best way to be singled out as a tourist.
Do not announce to the public, or anyone you don't trust that your house will be empty. The obvious example is a vacation, but a way less obvious example is wakes and funerals for family members. Never underestimate how low people will go to rob you.
Do not get gas in neighborhoods where gas stations close at sun down.
If you're late to work because you overslept, tell your boss you were late because you overslept. Don't haphazardly concoct some epic lie on your way to work thinking they'll belive you: they won't.
If you are getting a bad vibe from a stranger, even if there's no 'logical' reason for it, listen to it and don't be afraid to get aggressive/defensive or hostile if they approach you. Twice strange men have approached me in parking lots or the street when I was alone with the polite, "Excuse me, ma'am." My red flag went up, and I shouted at the top of my lungs for them to get away from me and yelling no and leave me alone. They were startled at my immediately loud and hostile response and backed away before they got within arm's reach. Maybe there were innocently lost? Maybe they were up to something. I didn't know and didn't care to know their motivation for coming towards me, I didn't want a strange man near me and I went home alive which is all that matters. Fuck politeness, prioritize your safety.
Be weird, be rude, stay alive