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March 03, 2005

Basic Human Needs - Protection

The next installment of "Jennifer's Basic Human Needs" is protection (also called security in some texts).  Protection is about feel safe, both physically and emotionally.  I know I have adequate protection/security when I have care, adaptability, and autonomy.  Let's examine each of these:

Care – Do I have access to care?  Well, I have been fortunate enough not to need my travelers insurance while I've been here in Sweden.  But it's reassuring to know that I'm covered wherever I go, even if I go back to the United States for a couple weeks.  I'm glad I spent the extra money and got a low deductible.  I figured that I would probably get an ear infection, or similar ailment requiring antibiotics, at least once this year.  And while I'm seeing the end of the school year rapidly approaching, another wave of flu is making the rounds in our class.  I'll keep my fingers crossed and hope that I can sneak by without catching anything that needs more treatment than Nyquil.

Adaptability – Despite (or maybe because of) a nasty adjustment phase my senior year of high school, I think I have a high degree of adaptability.  After all, I picked up and moved to Sweden for a year, didn't I?  That involved quitting my job, throwing caution to the wind (a little, my family has cushioned the gale-force winds of change to some degree), and changing continents.  And I've done it with a smile on my face (even if not on my blog).  Even when EVERYTHING has gone wrong (please re-read the first several weeks of my arrival in Karlskrona for episodes of no furniture, no lights, dead birds, no communication, poor school administration, missing boxes from the post office, mis-delivered plane tickets, etc.), I have wholeheartedly thrown myself into this experience.

Autonomy – I believe that my high degree of autonomy relies heavily on a strong sense of care and adaptability.  Because I have secure financial resources (at least for now…every day the bank account dwindles), a feeling of physical security (the sketchiness of Kungsmarksvägen notwithstanding), and the ability to adapt to changing circumstances, I feel quite free to make my own choices.  I suppose this is most evident in my decision to drop everything and move to Sweden.  Enough said.

So what is the conclusion?  My basic human need for protection is more than adequately met.  I feel safe and secure in my present situation—and this leads me to believe that I have the opportunity to continue that trend into the future.  And looking ahead to the other categories, I believe that freedom, participation, and affection are essential components of my optimism for a secure future.

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