How To Be Prepared

By Lev Novak

Life can sneak up on you sometimes. Or, sometimes, you sneak up on life. Things can happen to you, or you can happen to things.

I don’t know why I’m so inspirational today, but I’m just going to roll with it.

Being prepared for anything is one of the key ways to be successful, simply because it expands your options. Life changes and twists, and the best way to move is to twist around with it. God laughs at plans, but back-up plans only get a chuckle.

1. Wear Decent Clothes

I live in New York now, and the biggest secret to life I’ve found is to dress well.

Not in a “ooh, ooh, look at me” way, but in a flexibility way. Grey jeans can pretend to be pants if you suddenly find yourself in a fancier bar. A sweater can be you being warm or you being classy depending on the venue. The clothes you wear to be cozy for in class could double as “I wish I looked good because I want to ask them out” clothes. And, to paraphrase my brilliant (and brilliantly dressed) friend Jacob, “the better dressed you are, the longer it takes people to figure out you’re drunk or stupid.”

Jacob has won many a party argument by that logic. You can too.

2. Supplies

A little umbrella will come in handy at least five times a year. A nice warm hat will come in handy about thirty times a year.

A set of nips in your pocket or bag will never be unwelcome. Two shots of honey whiskey are going to be valuable to stumble upon in any situation. Zombie apocalypse or baseball game, who couldn’t use a little buzz?

An energy drink in your car will be equally helpful. Same with a granola bar or two. That way you can party or battle through a hangover without too much trouble.

Portable supplies keep you prepared. You can’t keep a sandwich, but you can keep energy, alcohol, or weather preparation without any trouble at all. You might as well, right? It’s practically a super-power.

3. Protection

A condom is a bullet-proof vest for having sex. Invest the four dollars you need into a condom case (yes, they exist) so you can keep them somewhere safe and solid rather than, say, your wallet.

After all, I can’t think of a better thing to protect than your protection.

4. Be Flexible.

If you can’t bring things, bring ideas.

Is the party going to be lame? Be prepared. And that that doesn’t have to be “another party” (although it could be.) It could also be “Netflix and an early night.” Because you might want to party, but if you aren’t flexible- meaning, if you aren’t prepared to change your plans- you’re going to stick out bad things just because you aren’t prepared for them being bad.

Are you “prepared” to leave this boring party? Are you prepared to change your major if you hate it? Are you prepared to do what you have to do, zombie apocalypse or otherwise?

You should be. Because preparation isn’t just about objects. Sometimes it’s about ideas.

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