My daddy taught me early on in life to keep my head on a swivel! He often used redundant phrases like “keep your eyes open,” and “always be on the look out,” or “pay close attention to your surroundings.”
Daddy’s words of intention were methodically repeated for my safety and protection. He desperately ingrained an awareness in me to be alert to dangerous situations. I think daddy misjudged my spirited confidence and happy-go-lucky attitude. My independence must have scared him. Therefore, he badgered me with love and words to be a strong vigilant young woman. He spoke about many unsafe scenarios such as parking garages, traveling alone, jogging city streets, rolling up to stop lights, elevator, hotels, locking doors, putting the garage down before you get out of the car, walking to and from my car in any day or night environment and or walking to classes, malls, job or restaurant.
Little did I know, middle-aged Angi would still hear daddy’s deep steady calm voice of security whispering to me every day when I’m out jogging or power walking. “Head on a swivel girl. I love you and want you to be safe.” Thanks daddy!
The purpose of my post today is for YOUR SAFETY! I’m paying it forward, passing it along in hopes that it will serve as a safety reminder to all young women and men far and near.
I wish we lived in a perfect world without crime and mean corrupt or ill people whose intent is to harm innocent people. Unfortunately, the facts are we live in a fallen world. In the United States of America we have sex slave trafficking, drugs, homicide, robbery, kidnapping, random murder and abduction. While we are not to live our lives in fear, we must be intelligent not to place ourselves in harms way!
TIS THE SEASON
The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is approaching and most likely you will be out and about. You will be running crazy secret santa errands in the dark and shopping with a purpose. The official time change is happening this weekend which means it will be dark and black as night for your evening activities. So whether you are out for a jog or walking to and from the gym parking lot PAY ATTENTION. If you are buried in your INSTAGRAM or FaceBook, you will not see the mugger waiting to pounce and scare the poop out you and take all of your money! If you have the phone up to you ear locked in on a juicy conversation with your bestie, you will most likely not see the mean person stalking you to grab and whisk you away and sell you for drugs. Look up, head on a swivel.
HEAD ON A SWIVEL
What does head on a swivel actually mean? The purpose of this slang is for your head to mimic a swivel chair. You are to pivot your head left and right and left and right, continually looking both ways and watching out for dangerous people or situations. Head on a swivel keeps you alert to what’s happening in front, behind and all around you.
UNPLUG
If you run at night or even during the day light hours, be cautious! I’m leery of playing my spotify playlist too loud. I think it’s important to be able to hear if someone should by chance roll up on you! You want to be able to hear a car approaching in case of a snatch and grab type of situation. If you have a head start you have a better chance of running to safety. You want to be able to hear whats happening around you. Also, girls, don’t repeat your running route. Mix it up in case you are being stalked by a sick predator. If you have to stop and answer a text or email, look around and check your surroundings before you work your thumbs. I highly recommend jogging near and around houses or people. I run during the day in a nearby neighborhood and even still I have found myself in a moment of “what should I do.”
Nothing at all against the lawn care workers, electricians or plumbers that run the streets in your big unmarked VANS but yall scare us. I’m sure the roofing van or the constrution workers are really nice but your VAN wide open in under the shade tree freaks me out! If I approach a construction van or truck of any kind I immediately cross the street. Why not? It takes the chance of being hit over the head and tossed into the VAN right off the table.
LISTEN TO YOUR GUT
When if ever you feel that strong urge that something isn’t quite right, it most likely isn’t! Trust your instinct. If you feel that something is askew, cross the street, turn around, dial 911! Better safe than sorry. It’s also a good idea to walk with a dog and or some other form of protection such as mace, cell phone or pocket knife.
Say you just walked out of a shopping center and a van slowly approaches. Say the driver of the van yells and asks for directions. If your gut senses something sketchy…turn and walk really fast or run. Most likely they will drive off and you might can get a licence plate. But first be sure to get somewhere safe.
Don’t allow yourself to be a good Samaritan when actually you could be lured into a troublesome situation. If a person is suspicious acting or looking always err on the side of caution. Predators and attackers use tricky tactics like fluffy innocent animals, seemingly lost, needing money or flattery. FLATTERY…like oh, can I pet your dog? Do you live around here? You’re in great shape, where do you work out? I’m not from around here, can you tell me where to get a cup of coffee? Yall, even the grocery store and Starbucks can be scary.
Daddy knows best! 
Who know’s, maybe I just watch too much DATELINE or nightly news. One thing is for sure, I don’t want either of us to be next statistic!
Don’t be the dumb blonde in the scary movie that makes all the wrong really bad choices and winds up cornered in a room full of chain saws! Bottom line is, pay attention…be guarded and on point. Have a plan. Be prepared to defend yourself, scream very loud for help or run!!
Abercrombie OUT! (MIC drop)
Love, be careful and keep your head on a swivel!
Angi xo
