Does it seem like nobody is paying attention? My observation is that the default mode most people operate in is “distracted.” No matter if it’s talking on the phone, eating, drinking, texting, or talking the end result is the same, degraded situational awareness.

Most of the time, the results are relatively harmless. If somebody bumps into me at work because they are looking at their phone instead of the hallway they are walking down, no big deal. But if I am driving my car or riding my bike and somebody is texting behind the wheel, that represents a potentially lethal situation. My guess is this problem is only going to become worse as people get more distracted by technology.

Paying attention is a skill that all well-prepared individuals need to practice. It will help you avoid trouble and deal with problems when they arise. Moreover, it doesn’t cost anything other than the time it takes to develop the habit. KC wrote a good article over at Ricochet a while back that touches on this subject. Read the whole article, but here is the key takeaway:

Being aware of what’s going around you is the foundation of personal safety. You can’t put out a fire you don’t know about, and you can’t defend against an attack you don’t see coming.

So start being aware of your surroundings, look where you are going, and take note of what’s going on around you. It could save your life someday…