Growing up I've always had this fascination with watching people and asking myself why they do what they do or why didn't they do something that they should have. It never ceases to amaze me while I am out interacting with people throughout my days, the amount of people who go through life totally oblivious to what goes on around them. This is a very dangerous habit and outlook to have in life. This is literally a case of what you don't know can hurt you! 

Sitting in a airport restaurant recently while traveling, I was seated next to a young lady who was working on a laptop, appearing to the be totally ignorant of what was going on around her in the crowded restaurant, as well as what was happening up and down the jet way inside the terminal. As I glanced at her laptop, I noticed she had a piece of colored tape over the camera on the top edge of the screen. I politely made the comment that I was impressed that she even knew to do that. She responded that she's always done that and surprised more people don't. She said that she travels a lot and is generally pretty safety-conscious, which started us in a conversation of what I do. I explained that in addition to teaching women how to protect themselves and be safer in public, I also consult businesses and individuals on security. We began sharing stories of experiences we've had while traveling on airlines and staying in hotels, using elevators and public transportation and I became immediately aware that she wasn't as security conscious as she originally thought. Fortunately, she became aware of the same thing. As I shared some of the practices I engage in while traveling when staying in unfamiliar places, she was amazed at how much she had been overlooking and was very grateful for the information. The conversation shifted to women's self-defense and the program I teach with my wife. She replied that she had heard of the program through her brother who is a police officer, but that she had never taken the time to take the class. After discussing some of the things covered in our women's self-defense class, she immediately decided she was going to make taking the class a priority when she got back home. 

The point of this story is to illustrate just how much we don't know about being as safe as we can while in the public space. We are constantly reminded in daily news reports that this world can be a very dangerous place. When it comes to acts of sexual violence, assaults, domestic violence, kidnapping rape and abductions committed against women, not to mention the potential for sex trafficking in this day, we have statistically come to the point in our society where someone you know and likely care deeply about has had to endure that experience or may have or likely will endure that experience in their lifetime. We can no longer say “may”. This is unconscionable to me. Why then do so many people choose to ignore these very things that can bring so much pain to our lives rather than address them proactively with the intent to prevent and avoid victimization? 

Fact: When it comes to our personal safety, we are the only people ultimately responsible for ensuring that we avoid violence and danger. To do that we need to educate ourselves. 

My hope is that in the coming months you will visit this blog and learn one or two things that will change the way you govern your lives and consequently may change your life for the better. As I referenced in the story above, if you are a woman and you've not done so, the R. A. D. Women's Self-Defense program ( rad-systems.com ) is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do to help change the odds of you potentially becoming a victim of sexual violence. If you found this interesting, live in the Dallas Fort Worth area and think you may want to take a self-defense class which is a non-martial arts self-defense class, you can find our schedules here. www.preparedanddefended.com    

Bradley A. Smith, PCI, TCI

Texas Association of Licensed Investigators – Former President

Certified Private Investigator - Security Consultant – Crime Prevention Specialist

RAD Certified Women’s Self Defense Instructor