Beta team, GO!

Gosh it has been awhile. Lo siento.

Today's idea looks at the worst and laughs at it with all the bravado of a GI Joe action figure with little to fear from blue lasers and besides with no anatomical correctness to protect. Today's idea is quite simple making a plan B. (God I hope I haven't written this one already.)

This is basically a riff on something my counselor made me do: imagine the worst possible scenario and what it would mean. Morbid as it seems, looking at the worst can in fact be reassuring, seeing that indeed it is bad, awful, utter shit...but perhaps, still survivable.

So what I'd like to suggest is that you literalize this process. Think of the worst case scenario, losing someone you love, your job, home, dog, being written into a country song, you know anything real bad. And then type, preferably in whatever font looks most like a typewriter (or if you have a typewriter literally type), your plan of action for when all else fails.

Maybe you would move to South America and live in the jungle or live in your van, or maybe just take a job as a garbage man, or move to a hippy compound and "live off the land." Whatever it is, write it down. Get a manila envelope. Stick the plan in. Seal the envelope, preferably with a wax seal. In big letters write "Plan B" on the front and put the thing away (or hang it up on your wall, tevs).

And when/if the shit hits the fan, you have something to go to. Maybe just for laugh about how it really isn't that bad or maybe cause it is that bad and you seriously need to get your ass to South America pronto. Either way. It is something outside of yourself for a shitty time. A message from an earlier you that knew someway to get your through whatever.