finding light in the darkness

(  ♥)
 

 "At the darkest moment comes the light."

 Joseph Campbell 

 

For the second time in 2010, this week the people of the Washington, DC-area have had to cope with some major power outages. This time we're not battling the snow and ice, piling on layers and layers of clothes to stay warm; this time we're sweating it out, learning how to cope with extremely high temperatures and no air conditioning. I'll admit, it's been pretty unpleasant, but I'm taking this as another great lesson from Mother Nature, teaching us who have so many comforts in our lives to be grateful. There are so many things I constantly find myself taking for granted. Things like lights and air conditioning and a solid internet connection. And television. God, I never like to think of myself as a TV watcher (I'm much more of a book-reader, I swear), but life without the sound of the television and some of those beloved characters can be pretty rough.

When I'm sitting in my oven-hot apartment and I start to think about the lack of power (and the uncertainty of when it will come back on again), my mind bubbles with annoyance and irritation. I ask questions that I want answers to: When will the power be back on? Why must it be so hot? How can I possibly survive an entire evening without my computer? And what am I to do with myself when the sun sets? Without lights and television, what can I possibly do to entertain myself? My mind is racing and I find negativity creeping in stealthily from every corner. I remind myself of the blackout that took place during the cold, bleak month of February and I force myself to see the reasons why this blackout is better. And yet... frustration overrides all rationalization and I find myself slumped on the floor, back against the couch, complaining about the heat and the lack of constant mental stimulation. I'm bored. I'm hot. I'm irritable.

After finding ways to pass the time that first night (thank god for my iPad, episodes of Modern Family, warm enough weather to walk Bella and witness a beautiful sunset I probably otherwise would have missed, and a boyfriend who's willing to unfold the Scrabble board and pass the time crafting words and tallying points with me), and making it through that first fitful night of sleep without air conditioning, without a fan, and with the consistent panting coming from the overheated dog, I woke to a new day -- a day without power, but a new day nonetheless. And, without warning, I felt an overwhelming feeling of gratitude. Sure, I was drenched in sweat and had no idea how I was going to ready myself for the day in my pitch black bathroom, but I was happy. I realized just how lucky I was to actually have all of these electricity-drive amenities. Even though I might not have had them at the moment, I was incredibly thankful to know that, generally speaking, I have all of the conveniences a privileged life has to offer... I am grateful to have these things, even now, when they are starting to seem like a distant and wonderful dream.
 

. . . I am grateful to have lights that allow me to enjoy my time and post-work activities long after the sun has set.

 

. . . I am grateful to have air conditioning, which allows me to stay cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

 

. . . I am grateful to have traffic lights, the green-yellow-red that makes driving so much easier than I realized.

 

. . . I am grateful to have refrigeration, an amazing concept that keeps my food and drinks cold (and safe!).

 

. . . I am grateful to have a television, which may seem silly to some but provides me with endless entertainment.

 

. . . I am grateful to have the internet, a force that has changed and enhanced my life in so many ways.

 

. . . I am grateful to have outlets, little homes for my chargers and appliances to store energy so that I may use them.

 

. . . I am grateful to have a dishwasher to keep my dishes clean with minimal effort on my part.

 

. . . I am grateful to have an oven and stove to (hope someone else will) heat and bake my favorite foods.

 

. . . I am grateful to have a fan, which cools my bedroom and erases external noises so that I might sleep soundly.

 

. . . I am grateful to have the freedom that comes with being able to plug something in and have it come to life.

Truth be told, it really sucks not having power. It's uncomfortable and unfamilar and nearly everything requires extra thought and preparation. However, it's actually been good for me to experience being without power a few times this year because it's really brought into focus how easily I take advantage of the "givens" around me. I assume, as so many do, that it's a given to have lights and food and water and a safe place to lay my head. But it's not. It's a privlege, not a right, to have these things. Spending so much time with my lights and TV and internet on, I often forget just how lucky I am to have all of these things. This week, the loss of power has brought me back to that point where I can see the benefits of electricity through new eyes and realize how incredibly grateful I ought to be for the things I so often use and think little of. Though I wasn't entirely ungrateful before (after all, the trauma of the blizzard-related outage is only a few months in my past), this week I've learned to really take a good look at the things I have in my life and learn to truly appreciate them. The power outage really made me realize that, no how negative a situation seems, something positive can be taken away from it. This week has served as great reminder that no matter what kind of darkness comes along, there is always an opportunity to find the light. 
 

What aspects of your life are you finding the light in? 
How do you cultivate gratitude in times of darkness? 

Comments

[ilde]

I can't help but snigger a bit at your post (in a good way).

In South Africa we're so used to power outages (due to politics in the country, affecting service delivery) we have candles, matches, gas bottles and lamps permanently easily accessible in the dark. Most of us don't have airconditioning anyway, so that would not affect us. Many, MANY other South Africans don't have stoves or ovens, and make food on primus stoves. The majority of South Africans don't have internet, never mind computers and other appliances like blenders, fridges, freezers, toasters, TVs, cell phone chargers. They're so used to making do without these that a mere power outage doesn't even affect them.

Try having a WATER shortage. Now THAT's scary. Nothing to drink, nothing to make food with, nothing to wash, nothing to flush the toilet. That hit us last week. Luckily it was only for a day; I've heard of some small towns going more than a week without water. Sad, but true.

I am fortunate to have a bit more than these destitute people, but I've also learned to be prepared. And thus I can feel positive about that: That I know I am prepared and can survive without power, and without too much of a disruption.

Yes, it is inconvenient, but it always helps to realise that there are, really, others less fortunate. Another reason to feel positive, like you said: one should be grateful for what one has.

[Stephanie]

This is a great post. I think that generally humans are adaptable. I find that when my Internet is gone I am initially feeling somewhat lost, but then I get excited about sitting down at my table and drawing, or watching the sunset, or something like that. This is nothing like coping with a complete power outage or a water shortage, of course, but I do find that humans can surprise themselves. I actually like being without power when I go off wilderness camping. It gives me a sense of peace to be without most stuff. (I definitely wouldn't want to be without water though. That would be scary.) Probably the greatest difficulty for us humans is that we become dependent quite easily on things that make life easier. I, for example, grew up without a computer. I learned how to program in DOS in university! At that time we were still permitted to type our essays on typewriters or submit them handwritten. Now, however, I am a complete computer addict. Computers and statistical software are essential to my professional work as a research economist, and, moreover, I spent hours and hours on the Internet at home each day. I never would have guessed that my life would shape itself in this way, but I suppose it tells me that it could reshape itself in another way as well! Take care, Dani!

[Stephanie]

Sorry, I meant "spend"! Hope the power is back on for the weekend, Dani!

[Mike aka FiT]

Really great post. It is amazing how our thinking can change based on our circumstances. I've had some rough patches over the past few years and giving gratitude has been a way for me to become grounded again and reset in a way.

If you make it a practice that you do on a regular basis - you can turn a negative outlook into a positive one rather quickly

[Jenn]

Thanks Dani!
I love the quote and what a great reminder of gratitude! xx Jenn

[Topi]

Hi Dani,
Sometimes having to do without is a great way of making us realise exactly what we've got! I'm sorry to hear that you've had a power outage (and would it make you sad to know that right now it's cold where I live...), but as always you've found the silver lining in the cloud. Thanks for the reminder to be grateful - I'm grateful that they rain has cleared so I can go for a walk with my kids.
Have a lovely weekend.
Topi

[positively present]

Ilde - You really helped make my point with this comment! So many people in the world don't even HAVE air conditioning and here I am complaining that I don't have it for a few days. The lack of power made me feel very grateful for what I do have and it made me appreciate the lives of those who don't have all of the things I have. Even if it's for a short period of time, it's good to see the world through others' eyes. You brought up the point about being prepared and I think that's an excellent point. The more prepared I am for a power outage (which I gotten better at over the years), the less of a disruption it will be to my life. Thanks for your comment. It provided a great, unique perspective on the post!

Stephanie - The power is back on, thankfully! You're right about us humans being adaptable. Even though I feel at a major loss without the internet, I find ways of entertaining myself that normally wouldn't fit into my daily routine. It's amazing what we can come up with when we want to! But, as you said, we do become dependent on things that make life easier for us. You never know what will impact our lives (for good or bad!), but I think it's important to keep everything in perspective and (try to) use everything in moderation. That way, when one thing is gone, we don't feel as if our lives have come to a standstill.

Mike - Thank you! Our thinking really can be greatly impacted by what we're faced with in life. Lately when I find myself in a rough spot, I've found that trying to be grateful for what I do have really makes a difference and helps everything to shine in a more positive life. Practice has definitely made this easier for me so I'm glad you brought up that point!

Jenn - You're welcome! I, too, think that quote is a great one. Definitely inspiring considering the situation I found myself in this week. Thanks for stopping by!

Topi - Yes, it does! The less we have sometimes the more we're grateful for. (It can work that way with people too... The less often we see them, the more we're thrilled when we do.) The power outage was unfortunate but it was a great way for me to cultivate some gratitude in my life. I hope you enjoyed the walk with your kids!

[Jan]

Just what I needed to read. Thanks.

[J.D. Meier]

It's interesting how quickly a simple shift in our self-talk makes all the difference in the answers we come up with or what we focus on.

[positively present]

Jan - You're welcome! I'm glad this post helped you out and was what you needed to read today. Thanks for the comment!

J.D. - Yes, it's extremely interesting to me how much we can change what we focus on depending on what we tell ourselves. This situation helped me to focus on what I'm grateful for, something I don't do often enough.

[Uzma]

Hi. This is epiphany for me. I wrote a post recently on what happened when the lights went out in my hometown. About fighting darkness, with courage , action and hope. Do read. The post is called "Finding a candle: solutions come from action and calm" Here is the link ; http://uzma7.wordpress.com/2010/07/13/finding-a-candle-solutions-come-from-action-and-calm/

[positively present]

Uzma - That's so great that you also experienced the same situation and took something positive out of it! I'm looking forward to checking out your post.

[Syd]

I think not having power, which I didn't have for 23 days after Hurricane Hugo, made me realize just how dependent we are. I am reminded that alternative forms of energy such as solar power and wind power really need to become more utilized. It's a serious problem when overloads occur to the power grids in the US.
We are very spoiled in this country and need to consider there may be a time when we don't have ready electrical power and that water itself may be an issue.