"Net" is a good word here because it suggests a web or network composed of nodes and connective pathways. Unlike a chain, which is no stronger than its weakest link, a network can reshape and reconfigure itself if a link goes bad.
To apply this network concept to your life-support system, consider your needs and how you meet them. For instance, how do you meet your need for food, shelter, and medical care? For companionship? For spiritual guidance?
In meeting these needs, what role is played by the government through Medicare and Social Security? Your pension? Your place of worship? Friends and family? Where can you turn in a time of crisis? What specific people can you contact for help if necessary?
If for some reason your current living situation becomes untenable, what alternatives are available? How can you investigate and choose among these alternatives?
This isn't a kind of thinking many of us like to do, but it's important to be aware of the choices and resources that are available so that you can make informed decisions, especially in times of crisis, about matters that affect your personal safety and well-being. In the long run, you'll feel more secure and comfortable in your daily life if you know you have a secure personal safety net in place.
Activity
Write a short paragraph describing your personal safety net. In that paragraph, answer some of the questions above. When you finish, share and discuss it with a friend.
