Overcoming Learned Helplessness

By Cade Shadowlight

Most people today wait for someone else, be it the government, media, or the "experts" (or even their favorite celebrity) to tell them what to think or do. That's not mental laziness. It's actually learned helplessness: a behavioral term for when an organism (animal or human) has been taught over time to NOT help themselves, but instead to depend on outside factors, such as the animal's human owner. Or, in the case of people, to depend on government officials, the media, or other approved  experts, rather than on themselves. Passivity and dependence are not natural, but learned.

The concept shows up in declassified CIA manuals (like KUBARK from 1963, released publicly in the late '90s). There, it's framed as a type of instilled "apathy" or a "debility-dependency-dread" state that is hard to reverse once it sets in deeply. (Note: The CIA claims to have applied it only in coercive contexts, not as a broad societal tool, although it would work as such.)

The good news? You can unlearn it if you're motivated. Here's how to start:

• Question authority. No blind trust. Government officials, institutions, and experts are human, and therefore prone to bias, errors, politics and agendas. Verify claims yourself. (Article link)
• Build sharp discernment. Ask: Does this story hold up? Fit with commonsense? Match what you know? Verifiable with multiple independent sources? Has the person or outlet made multiple mistakes or been caught lying before? Who/what is their underlying source? Remember: Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.
• Practice self-reliance. Think for yourself. Make your own decisions. Act on them. Start small, build the muscle. (Article link)
• Own your life. No one cares more about your future than you. Take responsibility for outcomes. Skip the blame game. Focus on what you control.
• Pick up DIY and practical skills. Fix things, grow food, build stuff. Cook, sew, code. Learn to do for yourself. Each win boosts confidence and proves you don't need permission or pros for everything.
• Sharpen situational awareness. Stay alert to your surroundings and patterns. (Article link)

Bottom line: Dependence is comfortable until it isn't. Reclaim your mind one deliberate choice at a time. You got this.

Between Shadows and Light,

Cade Shadowlight 

 Join the Shadow Tribe: Sign up for the email list by clicking here. 

 

If this article inspired or helped you, then please buy me a coffee so I can keep exposing the things they don’t want you to know → https://buymeacoffee.com/cadeshadowlight 

Amish Perspectives on Their Health and Lifestyle

By Cade Shadowlight

Photo: Randy Fath/Unsplash

The Amish generally avoid technology and the media, but they will occasionally give interviews and participate in studies from which we can draw lessons. They view health as intertwined with faith, seeing the body as "the temple of God" to steward for work and family. To the Amish mind, good health enables hard work, family provision, and community participation, with well-being described as physical, spiritual, and relational freedom. 

 

Faith and Church is seen by the Amish as the top protective factor. They emphasize "medicine helps, but God alone heals." ¹ One Amish leader pointed to the importance of faith for mental resilience, saying "We go to church, I love church." ² Another said "in order to be a good husband or good leader, I need a good connection, relationship with the Lord, that’s important." ²

 

Family and Community is valued for support and reducing isolation. As one Amish woman put it: "Family, I think we’ve got more closeness because we cannot just jump into our vehicles and go just anywhere... we want to be together." ²  Another points out "There is always someone to talk to." ²

Work Ethic and Physical Labor is a core health maintainer. One Amish man described outdoor tasks like cutting firewood: "You can get out there and relax your brain." ²  Several Amish cited activities like gardening and farming as having many physical and health benefits.  

 

Simplicity and Contentment by avoiding modern distractions fosters peace for the Amish. One stated, "I’ve lived without a television or radio for 60 years and I have never missed it." ² The Amish consider their quiet country lifestyle to not only offer moral clarity, but also physical and emotional benefits when compared to hectic, high-pressure urban life. 

Natural Approaches such as folk remedies, supplements, and home care, along with low tobacco and alcohol use and other healthy lifestyle choices, are the preferred healing methods for the Amish. Modern medicine and hospitals sought only in the most serious cases. 

Sources of Quotes and Information

1)  https://www.ohiosamishcountry.com/articles/the-health-of-the-amish

2)  https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8963&context=dissertations (PDF)

   

Between Shadows and Light,

Cade Shadowlight 

 Join the Shadow Tribe: Sign up for the email list by clicking here. 

 

P.S. Here is my go to for all things life saving: Refuge Medical & Refuge Training (affiliate link). High quality, American made, first aid kits and medical supplies (training, too!). A 10% discount will automatically be applied at checkout using my links. 

 

If this article inspired or helped you, then please buy me a coffee so I can keep exposing the things they don’t want you to know → https://buymeacoffee.com/cadeshadowlight 

 

 

 

Why the Amish Enjoy Better Health: Key Lifestyle Factors Backed by Science

Photo by Randy Fath/Unsplash

By Cade Shadowlight 
 

The extraordinary good health of the Amish (see Part 1) has drawn a lot of interest from the scientific community. Studies have identified several lifestyle and social factors associated with lower rates of chronic conditions like obesity, diabetes, cancer, and infertility compared to the general U.S. population. These findings come from epidemiological research, genetic studies, and comparative analyses. Genetic factors play a role in some health outcomes, but lifestyle elements are frequently highlighted as primary contributors. 

Key Factors From Scientific Studies

 

1- High Levels of Physical Activity: Amish lifestyles involve extensive manual labor, farming, household chores, and non-motorized transportation (walking or horse-drawn buggies), leading to significantly higher daily step counts and vigorous activity compared to non-Amish groups. Adult Amish men average 10 hours per week of vigorous activity, while women average 3.4 hours, contributing to lower body mass indexes (BMIs) and obesity rates around 4% (versus ~42% nationally). This activity is linked to a much lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes even when BMIs are similar to non-Amish. Studies also associate it with better cardiovascular health and longevity, with Amish men living about ~5 years longer than their non-Amish counterparts. 

 

2- Low Tobacco and Alcohol Use: Minimal smoking and alcohol consumption are cultural norms, reducing risks for tobacco-related cancers and other conditions. Amish cancer incidence is ~60% of U.S. rates, with lung cancer notably lower even compared to non-smoking non-Amish populations. Alcohol avoidance also supports lower rates of related chronic diseases.

 

 3- Diet and Nutrition Patterns: Emphasis on homegrown, whole foods with minimal processed items contributes to lower obesity, diabetes, and cancer rates. Overall dietary patterns support metabolic health.

 

4- Strong Community Support: Tight-knit family and community structures provide emotional, practical, and financial support, reducing stress and isolation. This is associated with lower mental health issues (depression rates under 1%) and enhances physical health by encouraging healthy behaviors and elderly care without nursing homes. Social cohesion's mortality benefit is comparable to quitting smoking. Less stress has multiple health benefits, including better sleep, lower blood pressure, and more stable blood glucose levels. 

 

5- Pro-Family Cultural Norms: High fertility rates (6-7 children per woman on average) stem from early marriage and large families being valued (97% of Amish couples have children). Low sexually transmitted disease rates due to monogamy and stigmatization of non-marital sex (STDs can increase the risk of cancer and other health issues). Divorce rate is near zero (it happens, but is extremely rare). Amish women have higher fertility and fewer low-birth weight babies than non-Amish.  

 

6- Genetics: While Amish have slightly higher rates of Ellis-van Creveld syndrome (dwarfism and extra digits) due to founder effects from their small pool of Swiss founders in 1700s, certain other mutations (such as PAI-1 deficiency) are linked to longer, healthier lives, with lower cardiovascular risks.

 

Overall, these six factors lead to comparable or better longevity and healthier lifespans, despite lower modern medicine and healthcare utilization among the Amish. Slightly longer and much healthier lives with less need for doctors and hospitals. 

 

Sources

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8857275/
• https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0051560
• https://www.feinberg.northwestern.edu/research/podcast/finding-internal-fountain-of-youth.html
• https://scholarworks.waldenu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=8963&context=dissertations (PDF)

The next article in this series will take a look at what the Amish themselves say  about their own good health. Sign up for the free email list (click here) to be notified when part 3 drops. 

 

Between Shadows and Light,

Cade Shadowlight 

 Join the Shadow Tribe: Sign up for the email list by clicking here. 

 

P.S. Here is my go to for all things life saving: Refuge Medical & Refuge Training (affiliate link). High quality, American made, first aid kits and medical supplies (training, too!). A 10% discount will automatically be applied at checkout using my links. 

 

If this article inspired or helped you, then please buy me a coffee so I can keep exposing the things they don’t want you to know → https://buymeacoffee.com/cadeshadowlight 

 

 

Lessons from the Amish: Superior Health and Fertility in a Modern World

By Cade Shadowlight

 

The West faces a profound health crisis. Rates of cancer, diabetes, heart disease, infertility, and other chronic illnesses have surged dramatically. "Excess deaths" appear in official statistics across Western nations, often without clear explanations, while people die unexpectedly at young ages. Modern healthcare, even with insurance, has become prohibitively expensive, involving endless tests, specialists, vaccines, and treatments. Profits and power to the Elites, burdens to the common folks. 

 

This series avoids the politics or conspiracies behind these trends. The "why" matters less than actionable steps for protection. A recent X post by @thehealthb0t got me to thinking: we should look to the Amish for health, fitness, and fertility.

 

Why the Amish Stand Out

 

According to HealthBot "The Amish basically have no obesity, no infertility, no cancer, no diabetes." This fact checks as true. Medical studies and official statistical comparisons prove the point:

• Amish obesity rate at 4%, versus 42% among the general population.
• Amish overall cancer rates are 60% lower than the national average. 
• Amish diabetes rate is 75% lower.
• Amish have extremely high fertility (6-7 children per woman) compared to Western averages (now lower than the 2.1 replacement rate). Amish population is doubling every 20-25 years. 

 

This is also reflected in life- and health-spans:  Amish men live about 3-5 years longer than non-Amish counterparts in comparable studies, with healthier later years. Amish women show similar overall expectancy to non-Amish women, but with far fewer age-related ailments. 

 

This is despite the Amish generally avoiding modern medicine (no strict ban though), preferring to rely on healthy living, natural remedies and home care in all but the most serious cases. Vaccinations among the Amish are much lower than average (though not zero, varies by community/family). 

 

The Amish "Secret"

The advantages stem from a lifestyle rooted in physical labor, home-grown food, strong community support, limited technology (reducing sedentary time), and cultural norms favoring natural health and family. Genetics may play a role in some aspects, but lifestyle dominates proving most modern diseases are preventable through daily habits. 

 

This three-part series explores these factors in depth, drawing from peer-reviewed medical studies and Amish perspectives. No speculation from self-proclaimed experts, including myself. This article sets the stage. The next two articles are the deep dive. 

 

Sign up for the free email list (click here) to be notified when part 2 of this series drops. 

Between Shadows and Light,

Cade Shadowlight 

 Join the Shadow Tribe: Sign up for the email list by clicking here. 

 

P.S. Here is my go to for all things life saving: Refuge Medical & Refuge Training (affiliate link). High quality, American made, first aid kits and medical supplies (training, too!). A 10% discount will automatically be applied at checkout using my links. 

 

If this article inspired or helped you, then please buy me a coffee so I can keep exposing the things they don’t want you to know → https://buymeacoffee.com/cadeshadowlight 

 

 

 

2025 End-of-Year Preparedness Assessment and "To Do" List

By Cade Shadowlight

As 2025 draws to a close, now is a great time for us to assess our situation, make any necessary changes to our plans, and to do all those things we only need to do occasionally, but are so easy to forget. 

End-of-Year Assessment 

How prepared are you and your family for any future chaos? With multiple shooting wars and trade wars going on around the world, AI Jobs losses, the possibility of a looming recession,and ongoing political and social unrest, 2026 is certain to be unpredictable.

Here are some questions to ask yourself as you assess your current state of preparedness:

• Do you have a Disaster Preparedness Plan?
• Is it written? Or do you keep it "in your head?" 
• Are you and your spouse in agreement on your preparedness plans?
• If it involves other family members or friends, have you discussed it with them?  
• Have your circumstances changed? Have you modified your plans to fit your new circumstances? Things to consider include births, deaths, marriages, divorces, long-term illnesses or disabilities, moves, and job changes within both your household and extended family or tribe.. 
• Do you have a Family Communications Plan? (article link) 
• Do you have a fully stocked first aid kit at home? In your vehicle? (Refuge Medical link for 10% off) 
• Have you taken a first aid course recently (not when you were in the scouts 30 years ago)? 
• Do you have a fire extinguisher in your home? (Amazon link)
• How is your emergency fund holding up? Do you need to expand it? Do you even have one? 
• How are your vehicles holding up? Are they "bug out" ready? Do they need new tires, brake jobs, or other maintenance? 
• Have you planned for your pets and any livestock in an emergency? 

End-of-Year To-Do List

▢ Check and change your water storage. Also, check to make sure your water storage containers don't have any slow leaks. I had trouble with this in the past, as ALL of my Ozark Trail 6-gallon water jugs developed slow leaks. Do you need more water storage? I now use the 7-gallon Aqua-Tainers by Reliance (available on Amazon) for most of my water storage and have never had a problem with them. 

▢ Check your food storage. Make sure your rotation plan is working and you don't have any problems with food going bad. Make sure all canned foods are not swelling or leaking. Check dry foods for signs of mold or infestation. Restock any food storage that you're running low on. Augason Farms (Amazon link) is where I buy powdered butter, eggs, cheese, and milk for my Survival Pantry.  

 
▢ Check all medications and first aid supplies, and replace any supplies that you have used up during the year. Many medicines are safe to use past their expiration date, but some do grow less effective over time, and a few can become toxic. Do your research, talk to your doctor or pharmacist, and use your best judgment. Click here for first aid supplies from Refuge Medical, and automatically receive 10% OFF at checkout!

▢ Check all batteries to make sure they are okay. Check all stored batteries to make sure none are starting to corrode or leak. Also check all batteries currently "in use" to make sure they are still working. It is especially important to check the batteries in gear that you don't frequently use, such as in flashlights, headlamps, or radios sitting in your bug-out bag, a toolbox, or the glove compartment of your car. I personally have lost more than one seldom-used flashlight over the years due to the battery going dead and corroding for weeks or months before I realized it. Learn from my mistakes!

Note: Battery testers are relatively cheap - the one I use (Amazon link) is available on Amazon for less than $7 currently.

▢ Change the batteries in your smoke/fire alarms if you haven't changed them recently (many folks change them with the twice yearly time changes). Better to "waste" a good battery by changing it too soon, then for it to be dead when you really need it. 

▢ Do any needed vehicle repairs or overdue maintenance. Inspect your vehicles and tractors. Are there any repairs that need to be made? Is it time for an oil change? How do the tires look? Are all the headlights, taillights, and turn signals working? Is your battery getting old? Be sure to inspect the brakes.

▢ Rotate any gasoline storage you may have. If you have gasoline storage (please do so legally and safely), remember to keep it rotated. Gasoline slowly starts to go flat (lose energy) after about six months or so. STA-BIL Fuel Stabilizer (Amazon link) may help gasoline last up to two years, but remembering to rotate your stored fuel is probably the easiest and best way. 

▢ Do a home safety inspection. Check for fire hazards, tripping hazards, poisonous or toxic materials that aren't stored properly, overloaded outlets, frayed electrical cords, expired fire extinguishers, non-functioning smoke detectors, and so forth. 

▢ Review your emergency and preparedness plans with **everyone** in your family or group. Make sure everyone is on the same page and knows what to do, and when. 

▢ Update your contact lists. People change jobs, move to new addresses, and get new phone numbers. Email addresses can change often. Now is the time to update your contact lists and communications plan. You do have a family communications plan, don't you? 

▢ Make sure you are addressing the needs of any family or group members with special needs. There are a lot of folks with special needs, such as the mentally or physically handicapped, the elderly, the disabled, people with chronic illnesses, pregnant women, babies and very young children, just to name a few. In fact, most families are likely to have one or more people with special needs of some sort. Make sure you are addressing those needs! 

▢ Review your bug-out plans and location. Is your bug-out location still available? Is it still a safe location? Does it require any work, repairs, or maintenance? Do you need to make any improvements? Do you need to restock it with food, water, or other supplies? Has your bug-out route changed due to road work, construction, or other circumstances? Do you have an alternative bug-out location? Do you even have a bug-out location? Work on these things now.

▢ Re-think your EDC. How has the gear you carry everyday worked out for you? Are you carrying unneeded gear? What gear are you actually using? Have you needed something you didn't have? Now is a great time to make any needed changes to your EDC.

▢ Review your finances. The end of the year is a great time to review your finances, especially in light of any changes in your circumstances over the past year  (raises, promotions, new job, job loss, births and deaths in the family, etc.). Have your insurance needs changed? How goes the retirement savings? It is also a good time to reconsider your monthly budget and make any needed adjustments. Live within your means in 2026! Start an emergency fund if you don't yet have one. Add to it if you can.

▢ Do a personal self-assessment. How have you changed during the past year? How have your concerns changed? How have your needs changed? Are you addressing any new concerns in your planning? Is your health and fitness better, worse, or the same as a year ago? Have you gained weight, or lost fitness? What skills do you need to learn? Did you meet your goals this year? Do you need to set new goals for next year? 

▢ Is it time for any medical exams, for you are your family members? I've learned the hard way the importance of regular medical check-ups. The key to healing any disease or chronic health condition is early detection. I strongly urge everyone to get regular physical, dental, and eye check-ups.

 

--------------------

AD: Some good categories to explore on Amazon!

Augason Farms Long Term Foods (the brand I buy for powdered butter, milk, cheese, eggs, etc.)

Canned Meats

Canned Soups

Canned Veggies

Canned Fruits

Dried Beans and Peas

Rice and Grains 

Oatmeal

Prepping For Economic Problems and Supply-Chain Failures

By Cade Shadowlight

 

Empty store shelves, skyrocketing prices, long lines for basics. These aren't just dystopian fiction. They've happened before and could again if economic systems fracture in today's volatile world (high debt, trade wars, geopolitical tensions). There is potential for widespread impact: shortages, hyperinflation, mass unemployment, social and geopolitical unrest. After personal threats (article link) and natural disasters (article link), this one scales up to affect millions simultaneously.

The threat is rising sharply. IMF, World Bank, and others highlight downside risks from trade tensions, high debt, and financial instability; 2026 outlooks point to slowdowns verging on recession. J.P. Morgan, for example, estimate 40% chance of global recession in 2026. We are already seeing mass layoffs as companies rapidly adopt AI.

This may lead to empty shelves, job losses, currency devaluation, social unrest and geopolitical tensions (war). It affects everyone through job disruptions, higher costs and scarcity.

Common Manifestations

• Financial meltdown: Stock crashes, bank failures, debt crises, currency collapse.
• Supply-chain breakdowns: Shortages of food, fuel, medicine, goods due to disruptions such as tariffs, cyberattacks, conflicts.
• Inflation/hyperinflation: Prices spiral, savings evaporate.
• Unemployment spikes: Businesses fail, leading to poverty and unrest. (AI job replacement already under way.)

Preparation Strategies

1. Build Financial Resilience

• Emergency fund: 6-12 months expenses (beyond personal disasters).
• Reduce debt: Prioritize high-interest; avoid new variable-rate loans.
• Maintain employability: Skill stacking (article link)
• Diversify assets: Some in precious metals (gold/silver as historical hedges), cash, land, tangible goods.

2. Stockpile Essentials

• Food: 3-12 months non-perishables (rice, beans, canned goods); rotate stock.
• Water: Storage and purification methods (Amazon link).
• Fuel/energy: Extra gas (safely stored), generators, solar options.
• Medicine/hygiene: Over-the-counter, prescriptions stockpiled as possible.

3. Develop Self-Reliance

• Garden/grow food: Seeds (Amazon link), garden tools.
• Consider fruit trees: if you have room, plant fruit and nut trees, berry bushes. 
• Skills: Learn canning, home repair, auto maintenance, foraging, hunting, fishing, first aid (RM affiliate link), sewing.
• Alternative energy: Wood stove, solar, off-grid basics.

4. Supply-Chain Diversification

• Local sourcing: Support farmers markets, mom and pop stores, community networks.
• Multiple suppliers: For critical needs, avoid single dependencies.
• Monitor risks: Follow news on trade, geopolitics.

5. Community and Security

• Build networks: Trusted family, friends, neighbors for mutual aid.
• Home defense: Guns and ammo (training!), harden home, outdoor lights, security cams, protocols for travel.
• Cash on hand: Small denominations, as ATMs/banks may fail.

6. Additional Suggestions

• Digital backups offline: Financial and medical records.
• Family Communication Plans: (article link)
• Precious metals or crypto: Small amount as hedges (with caution).
• Relocation consideration: To safer and less vulnerable areas if feasible.

Economic threats are probable and devastating. 2026's uncertainties make preparation urgent. Start with a stockpile audit and emergency fund boost; resilience now beats regret later.

I've studied economic history crashes closely; patterns are repeating. Being ready isn't paranoia. It's highly practical in an unstable world. Stay vigilant.

 

Between Shadows and Light,

Cade Shadowlight 

 Join the Shadow Tribe: Sign up for the email list by clicking here. 

 

P.S. Here is my go to for all things life saving: Refuge Medical & Refuge Training (affiliate link). High quality, American made, first aid kits and medical supplies (training, too!). A 10% discount will automatically be applied at checkout using my links. 

 

If this article inspired or helped you, then please buy me a coffee so I can keep exposing the things they don’t want you to know → https://buymeacoffee.com/cadeshadowlight