Mad Skillz

I read an article a few weeks ago about all the skills we should have by the time we're thirty. They were simple things like how to change a tire, paint a wall, or sew a button. But it had more challenging skills like how to administer CPR--and (gulp) swim. Something I will never be able to master.

I suppose their list was all well and good, but it could be better. Every generation loses valuable life skills. Unless we make a concerted effort to learn them on our own, that information could be lost forever.

You can argue that kids today are so computer literate they can create entire apps that will show you how to do CPR--or call the auto club when you have a flat tire, but what would you do if your smart phone was dead?

What if you were without power/communication for days? Weeks?

And don't think it can't happen. It happened to us. 21 days of pure apocalyptic agony.




 
Here are 10 things every person should know by the time they're thirty.

• Cook an entire meal from scratch...and from memory.
• Know where your electrical, gas, and water main is located--and how to turn them off.
• Start a fire. Then try it without matches.
• Splint a leg.
• Navigate North, day or night.
• Know how to bring a child's temperature down.
• Recite one poem by heart.
• Recognize and identify poisonous plants like poison ivy. (Learned that one the hard way!)
• Grow one edible plant. Extra points if you grow staples like beans or potatoes.
• Write at least one love letter...in cursive. (Neatness counts!)

What other skills do you think we should have mastered by the time we're adults?

If technology stopped working today, how long would you last?