Surviving the Little Things

by Kevin Estela April 30, 2017

Surviving the Little Things

How many people do you know who claim to be “survivalists” or “bushcrafters?” Maybe they don’t go by these titles but prefer to say they are “woodsmen” or “outdoorsmen.” If these titles don’t suffice, perhaps they don’t want to be labeled at all but will tell you they “live” survival or “live” bushcraft each day. What always never ceases to amaze me are those outdoor enthusiasts (I’ll use this as my catch-all term for all of the above listed) who may have a rock-solid wilderness survival strategy and set of skills but a neglected sense of self-preservation once they leave the woodline. Of these people I asked you to consider, how many engage in risky behavior that could threaten their existence? Bushcraft knowledge and experiences are most appreciated outdoors and not from a hospital bed or prison cell. Sometimes, what threatens our survival the most is not the inability to make a fire or build a shelter but the little things we don’t consider on a daily basis.

Driving

You are more likely to die in a car accident than a plane crash. You’re more likely to get injured in a car accident than an encounter with a wild animal. We tend to focus on the most dramatic ways of getting killed or hurt and look over the most likely. Car accidents are pretty dramatic, violent and often are the result of other’s actions than our own. As a society, we have become comfortable with knowing accidents happen and most people will not do what they need to in order to improve their survivability after an accident. If you have a well-stocked first aid kit in your pack and not in your car, you are part of this group that should re-evaluate your preparedness. Is it in reach or in the trunk of the car? Furthermore, when was the last time you took a formal driving course? There are some fantastic driving schools out there to teach you how to handle vehicles in all conditions and speeds. Defensive driving is a skill and recognizing the threats found on the road is just as important as understanding those in the woods.

 

Health

Edible and medicinal plants are both incredibly important to the outdoorsman. There are plenty of articles on what to eat in the wild and I know of many outdoorsmen who are advocates of foraging. However, just as there are many who will preach the virtues of eating from nature’s garden, many of the same will eat to excess at home. How many outdoorsmen do you know who are at risk of one of the greatest killers, cardiac arrest? How many outdoorsmen do you know who have or will have diabetes? How many do you know who claim to have a well-stocked bug-out bag but can’t run a mile without stopping? Nature provides us with a playground to enjoy but we can’t enjoy it if our health isn’t a priority. Unfortunately, it is easier to buy a new blade or piece of gear than it is a healthy lifestyle. That requires a balanced diet with wise food decisions and an active lifestyle off of the couch, recliner or bed.

 

Friendships/Associations

How many friends do you have and what quality are they? Many people will cite their social network reach with Facebook “friends” or followers on Instagram. Admittedly, I have many “friends” on both but unless we see each other frequently, have shared experiences together, know details about each other’s lives and have plans together in the future, I can say most of my “friends” are just acquaintances. When was the last time a friend of your’s helped you out or did something to improve your life? When was the last time a friend brought extra drama to your life you could otherwise do without? We often worry about the actions of strangers when we plan our daily carry. We tend to think about the stranger or the “bad guys” out there who want to do us harm. While these unknowns pose a threat to us, the reality is we are likely to be wronged or harmed by someone close to us. It’s said, “blood makes you related, loyalty makes you family.” What does disloyalty, betrayal and taking advantage of someone mean then?

 

Self-Defense/Firearms

 We train to protect against nature’s threats. We buy the right clothing to keep us warm, fire starters for the worst weather, knives to perform in harsh conditions and other gear to prevent harm in the great outdoors. While I have not done any scientific study I can speak from experience as a Survival Instructor, many students and participants in my courses and seminars do not also train in martial arts. By the way, getting a junior black belt as a kid means little to me in terms of validation if you haven’t kept up with your training. What surprises me is the desire some people have to be ready for the great outdoors but the lack of interest in knowing how to throw a punch, apply a choke, understand range, space, timing and force or how to fire a handgun, rifle or shotgun. Unless our occupations take us into the great outdoors 7 days a week, we will most likely spend the majority of our time in a populated area surrounded by more 2-legged threats than 4. When I teach a seminar and make reference to training in Sayoc Kali, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and run-and-gun shooting/marksmanship, I’m often met with weird looks. My exterior response doesn’t match my inner monologue crushing the lack of logic other’s training fails to exhibit. Survival is more than a hobby, it is a way of life.

Remember, you want to survive the little things in order to better enjoy the greater things in life. Buckle your seatbelt, eat a salad at lunch with quality friends and know how to defend yourself if someone decides to attack you. Start to evaluate those you follow online and notice where the little things have worked their way into their life in a detrimental way. You don’t have to wait for one day to be the day when you first experience something. You can prepare for the little things in life and mitigate their effects on you each and every day.




Kevin Estela
Kevin Estela

Author

As a Survival Instructor, Kevin Estela founded Estela Wilderness Education. He now works primarily for Fieldcraft Survival at their location in NC teaching classes on various survival, preparedness, and firearms related courses. Kevin has been a frequent contributing writer for publications such as RECOIL, Athlon Outdoors, and Beckett Media. He is a Sayoc Kali Associate Instructor Level 5, as well as a BJJ Purple Belt.



Leave a comment

Comments will be approved before showing up.


Also in Articles

When You Walk Up To A Knife Table At A Show
When You Walk Up To A Knife Table At A Show

by Kevin Estela December 04, 2023

I think we all have a box or bin of knives at home that we purchased, regretted, became disappointed with, and stored away for safekeeping never to be lusted over again. I know my friends and I joke about this all the time. We’ve probably spent (or wasted) more money on knives that didn’t ultimately meet our expectations than most people will spend on knives they actually want. Perhaps we should have exercised a bit of expectation management or maybe the hype around a knife clouded our judgment. Whatever it was, we should have had more clarity in our decision making process and a formal way to determine if a knife is quality and suitable for our purposes. Much like a game plan that falls apart under stress from our opponent, how we examine a knife can be influenced by carnival-esque knife demonstrations, blade bunnies, the cash-laden mob around a booth, or countless other factors. Before you pull out that card, tap the electronic payment on your phone, or whip out the Benjamins, follow this advice when you are considering another knife at a show. 

Read More

The Less Things Change: Alaska 2021
The Less Things Change: Alaska 2021

by Kevin Estela September 08, 2021 1 Comment

It’s been a couple years since I traveled to Alaska and a couple years seems like way too long. Last time, I came with a handful of friends to explore the Kenai Peninsula and drive around the interior a bit.  That trip was incredible with plenty of fishing, laughs, and site-seeing. The opportunity came up this year to go back and highlight some of the good times I had before but from a new perspective through the lens my job at Fieldcraft Survival provides.  How do you attempt to replicate the awesome group chemistry you naturally had with your friends but this time in front of a camera for the audience to enjoy. The answer is, you don’t. You must simply trust you will have a great time in this rugged environment. When you have an opportunity to go back to Alaska, you don’t pass it up. While the world has changed some since 2019 when I was last here, I’m happy to report there is something familiar about this land. You see, the less things change the more the land keeps calling me back.

Read More

Every Man, a Rifleman
Every Man, a Rifleman

by Kevin Estela August 25, 2021 1 Comment

Author’s Foreword:
In August 2020, I attended GUNSITE Academy’s 250 Pistol Course. I had applied and received the Jeff Cooper Memorial Foundation’s scholarship (for more information, please visit jeffcooperfoundation.org) for free tuition to this baseline course all students must take. I attended and was one of 23 students broken up into two classes. At the end of the course, I earned the “Silver Chicken” which is the silver raven pin for shootoff winner. Upon completion of the course, I swore I would attend another class in the future to further my studies in the ways of the late great Lt. Col Jeff Cooper. I set aside some funds, ammo, and time and by September, had my deposit down on the 270 Rifle course.

Read More

Knives & News

Sign up with your favorite email.