Cade's Corner: Polar Bears and Green Chili

As odd as this might sound, I have a Christmas tradition that I try to accomplish every year based on my geographical location. Some might refer to it as the "Polar Bear Club."

For those of you not familiar, it involves finding a body of water, cutting a hole through the ice, and totally submerging in that body of water.

And why in the heck would I do this every year on Christmas morning?

Well, I never want to stop pushing my comfort zone. And this activity, as stupid as it sounds, represents an example of this.

I've discussed how important it is to have a "survival mindset," which means not only being prepared for what might occur, but also staying physically and mentally tough.

So, if my ice bath tradition helps me maintain this survival mindset, I will continue the torture! The other reason I do this is afterwards, I have a crock pot full of my family recipe pork green chili waiting for my return.

It's my favorite way to warm back up.

This dish has been passed down for four generations, and before it's ready, it's been slowly cooking over 10 hours. My entire house is engulfed in the delicious aroma of awesomeness.

But before I dive into my crock pot creation I have a little work to do. Twice a year, I take an inventory of my entire survival suite and ensure everything is in order:

  • Batteries charged
  • All gear is operational
  • Food has not expired (with the 4Patriots Survival Food Kits this won't happen for 25 years)
  • Change out stored water (add a tablespoon of bleach to each container)
  • Contact lists updated
  • Medical kit, including prescription medication is current (and not expired)
  • Bug out bags – good to go
  • Survival mindset still intact (see above)

OK, so my bi-annual survival gear status report is complete.

Time to dive into my pork green chili and enjoy my other Christmas tradition... watching "Die Hard."

No question, it's been a tough year, folks.

But with 2021 just around the corner – which includes COVID-19 vaccinations – let's stay positive (your attitude... not COVID-19 test!) and stay strong.

Be a survivor, not a statistic,

Cade Courtley
Former Navy SEAL / 4Patriots Contributor

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