"Dear Karen..." Advice for Women on Living Life Simply, Safely and Securely in the Year 2000 and Beyond, By Karen Anderson (c) Copyright 1998-2001 Karen Anderson

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Issue #95 September 20, 2001

Topic: Y2K Women Special Edition "Dear Karen..."

My dear friends,

Our country has recently undergone the unthinkable: a devastating international terrorism attack with an unbelievable loss of life. My heart aches for those who have lost so much. There have been many moments over the past week and a half where I, like you, have watched the pictures and heard the stories with tears running down my cheeks, tears that express what words often can't - grief at the horrible loss of life, heartbreak for the families of those who do not know whether their loved ones are alive or not, outrage and anger that this could even happen, and sometimes just plain helplessness at the enormity of the tragedy.

In spite of all this, Americans have rallied together. It has been so encouraging to see all the flags flying proudly on cars, in store windows and in front lawns everywhere. Our places of worship have been overflowing with people joining hands to bear one another's burdens and to comfort those who are hurting in this unprecedented time. As many have noted, the intended effects of their terrorism have served to pull our country together.

But it's not over; there is talk of war and tonight, our first troops have been deployed. Our economy is teetering precariously and huge layoffs are being announced daily. Many women I know are sick with worry and are beginning to let fear run wild with their thoughts.

Is it time to panic? Absolutely not!

Let's go back to basics. Why did we make Y2K preparations in the first place?

Y2KWomen began because there was a possible threat to our families and we wanted to work together to protect them and those we loved. We wanted to be ready, just in case. The main idea was to be prepared in case of an emergency - any emergency.

Obviously, we don't know what is going to happen in the future. On the news tonight, they were reporting that trucks are being stopped at checkpoints (with long delays) and products are not getting to stores. Businesses are not getting the customers they need to remain afloat. The possibility of losing our livelihood or our nation going into an all-out war is mind-boggling.

But we do know this: God is in control and we know that when we work together we can help our families, neighbors and communities. Given the current turmoil, I wanted to share some of my thoughts and give you some action steps I believe will help as we walk through this.

So let's tackle this on three fronts, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

* Physically: Think of Y2K as a drill. Now it is time to put into place the things we already know how to do. Recheck and restock your food and water supplies (review my basic essentials check list) and make sure you always have a little extra on hand to share. Make sure you have some "emergency" money on hand (I have to admit, of all my y2k prep stuff, the cash was the first to go!). Make sure those batteries you bought for your radio still work, etc. Just work your plan. Even if you have used most of what you bought, little by little, begin to rebuild. (Remember, this is still about eating the elephant one bite at a time!) Checklist: http://www.y2kwomen.com/individualprep.html

* Emotionally: This is a very unusual and difficult time. Many people (men and women alike) don't know how to handle things that are so far outside their control and they, in essence, "shut down." But there are positive ways we can help each other emotionally. For many women, simply talking it out helps. As I was writing this, a friend of mine stopped by and she started talking about how, for the first time in her life, she felt vulnerable. She said she is trying not to watch the TV, but she thinks about it all the time. The other day I asked my teenage daughter if she was scared and her response sort of surprised me. She said that it really didn't seem real - watching it on TV was like watching a movie - but she was scared for her guy friends, as many of them are eighteen and might go to war. So ask questions of your kids. You may be surprised at how much they open up. And remember that good listening doesn't mean you have to solve the problem (guys don't always get this!) - it means the person knows and feels you are with them in their difficulty.

* Spiritually: Particularly now, my recommendation is to do two things: Pray and serve. The Bible says, "Be still and know that I am God." Take time to be quiet and lift your heart to the Lord. It is there we will find comfort. At the same time, there are many who are hurting in ways we may not see on the surface. Sometimes a tender touch or a word of encouragement is all that is needed to make a difference in someone's life.

My last recommendation is really simple: Say, "I love you" often to the people you care about. There were many who left for work on a "normal" day and never came home. You just can't say the words too much.

Y2K Women is for all of us as women whether we are single, married, mothers, grandmothers, sisters, aunts, or whatever. It is about joining together to give practical information, support, love, and encouragement in difficult times.

I'll say it once again. Now is not the time to panic - now is the time to make sure we are doing all we can do spiritually, emotionally and physically to protect and help ourselves and those we love - to prepare for the worst and hope and pray for the best.

Please know that I am still here for you. If you have questions, please send them to me at Karen@y2kwomen.com.

With love, Karen

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(c) 1998-2001 Karen Anderson, http://www.y2kwomen.com/

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-- Anonymous, September 22, 2001

Answers

All of this rather pales when you stop to consider that Karen admitted that she set aside NO preps for Y2K. Too busy? Perhaps; books and such do take up a lot of time, but how can we take you seriously knowing what we know?

-- Anonymous, September 26, 2001