Prompt — Brain Alerts
Does your brain alert you of your environment or location, allowing you to make the right decision?
“Count me out on this one!” Burst from Wendy’s frustrations, as she eased away from the sofa, while Angela, Tessa and Francine planned their tri-monthly five-day camping trip in the mountains.
“I can feel the frustration, I thought we had a great time,” Francine said, following her to the oblong table as Wendy pulled a chair out and sat down.
“You guys had the time of your life the last two times,” Wendy reminds them.
“And you didn’t?” Angela asked, following Francine. Tessa followed too.
“I refuse to go on a camping trip with humans who can’t control their mind and body?”
Three pairs of eyes glared at her as stares cornered her and she fought back with reasons.
“We are females. We are miles away from civilization. We have access to no phone signals, immediate help, or anything else. All of you forget where you are and go in and out of our tents throughout the night. We spend our daylight hours outside; shouldn’t we be inside at night?”
Curiosity designed their expressions and Francine demanded, “Girl, give us the damn Cliff Notes, because you aren’t making any sense.”
The others agreed.
“When I am home, my brain and mind alert me of my location and I exercise the necessary actions and precautions,” Wendy explained. “Then I get comfortable and can relax.”
“Everyone gets comfortable at home,” Francine adds.
They all agreed.
“When we go clubbing or party, my brain alerts me of my location, and I act accordingly. I don’t drink or do anything to take my focus away. I take the necessary precautions. When I am out there where there is no help or level of control on my safety, my brain and mind talk with me.”
“And what did it say?” Angela quests.
“Out there,” she indicates. “My safety level goes up. I do everything I must do before it gets dark. Inside, we are together and safer. We can’t see who is outside. But they can see us because of the lights we have on while inside our tent.”
“You are scaring the crap out of me,” jumped from Francine’s thoughts.
Wendy piled on more after giving her the evil eye, “You guys leave our tent to go and relieve yourself throughout the night. Disrupt my sleep, exposing yourself and me to more danger, and then complaining all day how tired you are.”
Her words inject truth into their memories as they ease back.
Francine eased to the opposite side pulled out a chair facing her and in childish curiosity, questioned, “Your brain alerts you of your location and you act accordingly?”
“Don’t yours?” Wendy asks.
Shock rose to the surface and her friends stared at her in surprise.
“It’s night. We are females. You don’t know who is watching or following us. I tell my body that it’s night and I am not risking my life to urinate.”
“You can tell your body to do something, and it listens?” Angela asked wide eyed.
“I practice common sense. I don’t drink liquid after certain hours if I want to stay asleep and I also do that at home. Everything that I consume is within a certain time frame. So, when it gets dark, depending on my location, I stay in one place and have a level of control over my body and safety.”
“That’s why you set booby traps?” Francine said.
“It’s called common sense girl. Wherever you go, your brain should alert you of your location and you comply.”
“You are insane,” Tessa said, easing away from the table.
Francine stared at her, and pushed on further in disbelief, “You really can tell your body and mind to do something, and it does it?”
“What do you think the soldiers do when they are at war? Their brain made them aware of their environment and their training kicked in. Then they perform at their best and save many lives.”
Silence jumped in briefly, as they stared at her in shock and understanding.
“You mentally prepare yourself for whatever location you are?” Francine said, touching a little taste of understanding.
“It’s the same at work, or other places all of us goes,” Wendy explains.
“So, it’s like when Darryl took Francine to meet his parents and she started to rearrange the lady’s house. Then went into her fridge telling her what expired and what would expire the next day,” Angela recalls in laughter.
That memory brough back bouts of laughter.
“So that’s why he didn’t call you back,” Tessa said still giggling.
“And what you did at Rosie’s posh country club two weeks ago. They throw you out and suspend Roise for a month,” Francine throws back at her.
After bouts of laugher, three pairs of eyes turned to Tessa, who agreed, “I am guilty too. But I never thought of life this way. But I will now.”
“I often wonder about the stuff you did and how your life seems to flow much better than ours,” Angela said in deep thought.
“It’s called discipline, and my world, culture and how I was raised helps,” she informs.
“You were introduced to the world too young,” Francine states.
“No,” Wendy disputes. “I don’t know which world you lived in, but I lived in the real world where I see real life as it unfolds in every way. I know where danger lives and hides so I use common sense.”
“So, your brain alerts you of the possibilities of danger too?” Tessa asked, staring at her in a serious manner.
“More bad things happen to females at nights than in the daytime. It’s common sense to protect yourself from danger when it gets dark,” Wendy educates adult females.
“Skip that trip,” Tessa said, easing away from the table.
“Look,” Wendy stressed, pulling her back. “You can go on your trips, just be aware of the dangers around you!”
“It’s hard to be aware of danger and still enjoy yourself” Francine said.
Angela and Tessa agreed.
“Being aware of the danger doesn’t stop happiness or enjoyment. It gives you the power to make smarter and sensible choices and decisions that could save your damn lives!” Wendy shouts.
Reality hit hard as her words sank deep into hearts, souls, and minds, and took effect quickly.
“She is right,” they agreed.
“But it depends on the situation,” Tessa said.
“Like what?” Francine asked.
“The war in Ukraine.”
“Nobody gets comfortable when their country is at war?” Wendy reminds them.
“Calm down ladies,” Angela attempts to take control. “I understand what Wendy is trying to say. And she is right. We need to be more aware when we are out there on our trips and take nothing for granted.”
“I am still not going with you,” Wendy said.
Yes, I am insane, but wherever I go, my brain alerts me of my environment, and I listen. Examine my surroundings and then act accordingly.
Does your brain alert you of your location allowing you to act accordingly?
Prompt: Brain Alert
Explain in a creative or innovative way/s how your brain alerts you of your environment or location that allows you to learn vital life lessons that can save your life and the life of others.
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