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Tip One: Stop making comparisons, but never forget where you came from.
Humans need three basic things to survive: shelter, food, and water. All of the other things from your previous life were extras. Stop comparing your life now to the one you once had. Comparisons pave the way to jealousy, depression, and make you unable to concentrate on tasks at hand.
Call to mind your past life now and again. Things may come up that trigger painful memories, but try to remember that you are in the process of starting anew. Channel both the positive and negative energy you experience into hope.
Tip Two: Learn to use stone and wood.
Stones and wood are now going to be your new best friends. Stone can be used to sharpen a knife if you have one with you already. Weapons are absolutely necessary if only for protection. The Juvey cops will be coming after you sooner rather than later.
Stone can be used to fashion knifes as well as to sharpen them. You will need a sharp-edged piece of stone which will be the main piece of the blade. Also, you will need a chipping tool, a light blunt-edged stone or rock that can be used to break off pieces of the knife you will be making. Then, you will want to grab a flaking tool that can be used to break off thin, flat pieces of stone. Figure 12-3 from wilderness-survival.net explains the next steps.
Wood is another alternate for forging a weapon in the wild. Find a tree limb or something long and relatively thick in diameter (2-3 inches). Then, using a sharp edged stone or knife begin to create a point on the end of the stick. Be careful not to make the point too thin because it will probably break when it comes into contact with whatever you are stabbing. After this is done you can use fire to harden the point, making it nearly indestructible. To do this you will simply hold the point of your wood weapon over the fire until it is slightly charred. The drier the wood gets the harder the point will be. After sharpening it on a coarse stone your weapon is finished.
Tip Three: Learn to build a fire.
Remember that fire can save you or be your undoing. If you plan to build a fire try to stay away from the city limits. There will be more wood at your disposal there anyway. The first step to building a fire is to collect three important items: tinder, kindling, and fuel wood. It is crucial that you select these items carefully. Tinder should be dry and fluffy according to campfiredude.com. Without tinder a fire will not light. Cedar bark, grass, and pine needles are great tinder sources that should be readily available no matter where you are. It is also a good idea to carry some with you to your next location after you finish. Storing your extra tinder in your pocket or anywhere you have that keeps it close to your body is a good way to ensure your tinder stays dry and ready for use.
Kindling is much easier to come by. Small twigs and branches are prime kindling sources and should be abundant in both wooded and residential areas. There are two things you must consider: dryness and thickness. Dry wood is good wood. Even damp wood will not burn evenly. Thickness is important because if the kindling is too thick it will put the fire out before it has a chance.
Survival Tips and Tricks