Saturday, September 3, 2011

On Power

As Irene swept by, this area experienced high winds that knocked out power for hours or days. My electricity was off for a day and a half. I always feel like a kid camping out when that happens--cooking and getting ready for bed by lantern light, no electronic entertainment--just silence and crickets. When the power came back on, I felt a stronger than usual pang of disappointment. I decided to pay attention to that. What did I miss, now that the power was back on? I wasn't really sorry to have the microwave and the washing machine back on line. What I missed most was the silence. I realized that I had fallen into the habit of switching on the radio for whatever I was doing--cooking, washing dishes, taking a bath, and so on. Why did I need constant chatter in the background? What was I avoiding? So I decided to leave the radio off. (I don't have TV.) What happened moved me so deeply I wanted to share it. In the peace of silence, I could listen to my own thoughts. I could notice things, draw connections, appreciate surprises. I could step outside of time and be in the now--instead of always having my attention drawn to whatever was happening on the radio. I rediscovered how much I enjoy my own company. I found new energy for writing and other projects. I'm not missing much by unplugging.  How much of what's on the nightly news do you REALLY need to hear?  It's funny that it took a hurricane to wake me up. Funny that a loss of power helped me rediscover my own power.

6 comments:

  1. I hear you, Marlieta. I also enjoyed the music of the crickets, the warm, cozy glow of the oil lamps and the gift of being able to listen to my own thoughts. I wish we could ditch the tv, but my husband watches it.

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  2. I finally made a deal with mine--he got the TV on between football and basketball season; I got it off for the rest of the year. It was great for our kids.

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  3. Marileta, I was nearby at Boyds Mills, too scared to stay by myself in Jersey to ride out the storm. Without power, I read three books. It was nice to disconnect - for a while. When I got home, I had no Internet and went to the local Starbucks to use its WiFi.

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  4. No power here in the Arizona desert would mean no air conditioning for my people. I don't need TV for entertainment. I get that from chasing lizards---but even I have to come inside and cool off now and then. Woof!

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  5. Isn't it wonderful to be empowered by a loss of power? Splendid, I think!

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  6. Marileta! wonderful sharing and meditation on silence. My mate was gone the week the power went out .... and my experience was much the same as yours ..... candles provided lovely glows throughout this small house .... and proved difficult to read by .... the stillness was palpable and fascinating to just 'be' in. LOVED not jumping online at every whipstitch moment and recognized how often i use that to distract me. no street lamps to illuminate the street .... and a short walk outside provided the sound of a gentle hooting owl ... thank you so much for your experience. and i know i'm going to truly relish reading your posts here

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