Today I thought I would share a few of the self-protection tips against an attacker.  First and foremost, I always stress the point that our moms were right: who you hang out with can get you in trouble.Over 80% of the time women know their attackers.  So right there, if we just pay attention to who we are with, don’t put ourselves in compromising situations, and speak up for ourselves, we MAY be able to prevent ever needing to defend ourselves.

I say “MAY” because some of these bad guys that prey on women they know are very good at looking like good guys until they have their opportunity to show their true colors (plus there are those random attackers too). 

The second main point I always share is that we need to do a better job of trusting our gut instincts.  If you get a feeling in the pit of your stomach or a general sense of, “I shouldn’t be here” that would be a good time to change your circumstances.  You don’t need to make a big deal out of it but neither do you need to allow someone to talk you into something you are uncomfortable with or shame you by saying, “I wouldn’t do anything, are you afraid of me?”

I once had an uncomfortable encounter with a man who had been riding his bike up and down the sidewalk in front of our martial arts school.  This happened to be one of the two days a year that all of the classes were being held at a local park and I was the only one in the school.  He came in and he had a wrench in his hand.  I was behind the counter and he started asking a few questions.  He was holding the wrench in one hand and kind of lightly hitting it in the palm of his other hand.  I politely asked, “Would you please put the wrench away?”  He replied, “I’m not going to do anything with it.”  (In my head I am thinking…”I’ve seen CSI and I know how much damage a wrench can do.”)  I said in a polite and slightly more firm tone of voice, “The wrench is making me nervous, please put it away.” 

At that point he put the wrench in his back pocket, we finished our conversation with me being constantly aware of where he was, that I stayed behind the counter and I did a mental inventory of what was at my disposal to use as a weapon if I needed it.  Thankfully, I didn’t need it and he left, never to be seen in our business again. 

I think back to who I was several years ago and I don’t think I would have had the confidence to ask him to put the wrench away.  And if I had asked him the first time, I am pretty sure I wouldn’t have asked again the second time.  It isn’t about getting angry and spitting fire.  It is about being kind and firm (there IS a time to spit fire but that is when you are 100% sure you need to defend yourself).

If all women could be trained to both trust their inner voices and speak up for themselves, we would all be happier and healthier; not only because we would need to defend ourselves less but also because we will have better relationships, both personally and professionally.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who is available to give women’s self-protection seminars.  For external self-protection, you can visit: www.Quest-MartialArts.com.  For help creating a healthy body, go to: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com  Donna is compensated by Shaklee for products purchased through Donna or her website.  As a partner at Quest Martial Arts she is also compensated through Quest.

These are VERY important tools and I make sure I do my own monthly (minimum) breast exam (especially after my own brush with a growth in my breast) but let us not confuse FINDING something early and increasing our chances of survival with PREVENTING it from growing/becoming in the first place.

One of the things that grows ever clearer to me is that our current health care system is not sustainable, either financially nor for the health of the people. The health care system is failing. Just look at the rates of disease. People are NOT healthier because we spend tens of millions of dollars each year on health care.

Cancer is a great example. Diagnositic tools for cancer are improving all the time. Our treatment of cancer is improving all the time. My dad only lived for a year and a half after diagnosis (and he had some mis-diagnosis in that time) BUT when he was on chemo he didn’t have many horrendous side effects that people would experience 15 or 20 years ago. They gave him anti-nausea medicine at the same time he received the chemo.

Anyway, I digress. Rates of cancer are NOT decreasing, if anything they are increasing. More people are surviving longer after cancer diagnosis but we are not reducing the numbers of people that are getting cancer in the first place.

As individuals we have a lot to do about our health, short and long term. 75% of our health care dollars go to treat PREVENTABLE disease.

In my next couple blogs I will post some of what we can do to prevent disease and illness. In the meantime, take some personal responsibility for your own health and do something good for your body and soul…get some exercise today. Here in Michigan it is a lovely, sunny spring day. Jewel (my dog) and Keith (my hubby) and I will be off for a walk as soon as I post this.

Final thought…the top five causes of death (and where 80% of health care expenses go) as shared by Dr. Jamie McManus:
Heart Disease
Cancer
Stroke
Prescription Medicines (taken properly, not abused)
Diabetes

Post your comments and tell me what you think or contact me through e-mail at keithdonnacopeland@sbcglobal.net  Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who is paid a comission by Shaklee for products purchased through her or her website: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com

• Don’t get loaded down.  I know that may seem impossible but if you do have a lot of packages in your arms, use a cart or take a break from shopping to drop packages in your trunk (not where they are visible) and then go back in for more shopping. 
• Carry your money and your keys in your pockets, not your purse.  That way if someone grabs your purse they aren’t getting your credit cards, cash, and keys in one easy swipe.
• Put packages in the car first, then people.  If a carjacker happens along they can take the car (please don’t ever fight over things, only fight over people) and your packages but not your children.
• ALWAYS lock your doors, both when you are not in the car AND when you are in the car (this includes while at the gas station).
• Lock yourself into the car when you are securing your children into their carseats.  I know it can be a bit akward to maneuver in your car with the doors closed and locked, but I can’t tell you how many times I see a woman with the minivan door wide open, herself half in/half out of the car, her groceries in the cart, and you know the rest of the doors are unlocked.  Prime time for someone to snatch a car.
• Here is the order for getting into a car (if you have packages and children): Observe the car as you approach it for anything suspicious.  1) Packages (keep children in the cart or have one hand directly on you while loading). 2) Children (lock the car while you secure them in their seats).  3) You get in.  4) You start the car.  5) Secure your own seat belt.  6) Drive.
• Here is the order for getting in the car if it is just you: Observe the car as you approach it for anything suspicious.  1) Unlock only your door.  2) While slipping into the seat, hit the “lock” button.  3) Start the car.  4) Put your seatbelt on.  5) Drive.  The thing that throws people off in this instance is that they are starting the car first before putting their seatbelt on.  Have you ever seen a movie where someone is pulled out of the car before they have a chance to get it started?  That is why we lock the door on our way in then start the car.  You can always drive without your seatbelt on (or put it on while driving) but you can’t drive if the car isn’t started.
• Have roadside assistance available and know how to contact them.  I am a big believer in everyone knowing how to change a tire but there are times or neighborhoods where it isn’t safe for someone to do that.  Be able to call a professional or simply have a few friends you can call on in emergency.  There is safety in numbers.
• Keep at least 1/2 tank of gas in your car.  Tis the season of snow storms that can keep people stuck in traffic for hours.  You don’t want to run out of gas because it was too chilly to put gas in the car on your way home last night.

The best thing you can do is to pay attention to your surroundings and listen to that inner voice that tells you if something is off.  Have your keys ready to get in and start the car and drive safely.  Statistically we are much more likely to be injured in a car accident than by being abducted.

Donna Copeland is an Independent Shaklee Distributor who also has a black belt and is part owner of Quest Martial Arts in Ann Arbor.  You can find more information on Quest at: www.Quest-MartialArts.com and you can learn more about how to protect your body naturally at: www.DonnaCopeland.MyShaklee.com  Donna is paid a commission by Shaklee and she also receives compensation from Quest.