Self reliance seems to be somewhat of a lost art in this day and age. 75 years or so ago, I think it was a lot more common for people to do many things themselves, that these days seem out of the ordinary for many people.

Self reliance, or self sufficient living, can mean different things to different people.

It can mean practicing sustainable living, simplicity, homesteading, or just learning to do more things yourself and for yourself, that you might have to pay , hire, or depend on someone else to typically do.

When I refer to self reliance, I generally think of doing more things my self, such as cooking, cleaning, yard work, growing your own food, minor home and auto repair and maintenance, and similar activities.

It also means fixing or repairing things instead of just throwing them away. I think this is one area in which today’s society has really lost a step or two on previous generations, certainly here in the U.S. So many things today, from clothes to electronics, and dozens of other items, have become “throwaway” when they get damaged, torn, or broken.

Part of the reason I think that many people in society today is that we have this sense that we just don’t have enough time to do many of these activities ourselves, or certainly not enough time to learn how to perform new tasks.

Is this really the case? I don’t know for sure, but I often feel like much of the demands on my time are self-imposed, so to speak- I can spend hours on the internet reading if I am not careful, for example, when I could actually be learning something.

The science fiction writer Robert A. Heinlein has a great quote on what human beings should be able to “do”- some of them may be a little outdated, but you get the idea.

“A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.”

— Robert A. Heinlein

How many things can you do?
What are some things you would like do yourself but haven’t learned how to do yet?

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