Be Aware, Be Thankful
1. Nate and Urban are safe
2. Alone time
3. Computers as a resource
4. Home printers
5. Swaps
* * *
I’ve been contemplating a day without using electricity.
Why?
Am I making a ‘green’ statement? No.
Am I paying homage to the pioneers? No.
Am I making a statement against commercialism? No.
My husband and 5 year old son are away for a few days and I’m home alone. I’ve imagined a stay-cation such as this for a long time and what I would do with my time and now it’s here!
I’ve already wisely used some of the time to sew, sew, sew. I’m involved in a few block swaps and it’s been fun working on them. I’ve downloaded to my computer several movies and have enjoyed them while sewing.
I’ve got lots and lots more projects to keep me busy, but I didn’t want to use up all my alone time without using some of it to do some self reflecting. For this reason I’m going to go a day without electric enhancements.
Now, since I live in an apartment complex in downtown Denver, I know I can’t LITTERALLY go without the use of electricity entirely. I will not turn off my refrigerator and I will use hot water. Oh, and I will use ice in my Diet Coke.
I will turn off my air conditioner; did I mention this in August? I will not use the elevator going or coming to our 4th floor apartment. I’m also going to refrain from using the car.
I already don’t own a TV for various reasons, and my cell phone – that I rarely use anyway – was left in the car that went to Utah. So I haven’t had those two electronic interferences.
I’m not going to spend the day at the library using their cool air and computers, either. Our complex has a pool, so I may go there to cool off.
To reward myself, I may go to a local tea house and play mahjong later in the evening for a couple of hours. I will have to drive the car for that.
I've found some articles online on those who choose to live without electricity, as well as articles on self reflection, and mind detox.
I’m not going to focus on “demands” during this time, like “I need to be a better ______” "I should _____ " . I am focusing on BEING.
I only wish I had a non electric typewriter to keep track of my discoveries during the 24 hours as I’m afraid that I’m not going to be as thorough keeping long hand notes.
I plan to read, do some handwork sewing and quilting, and I’d like to do some simple drawing/sketching.
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8 comments:
good luck with that... I won't be joining you..lol
I think that's cool. Enjoy the experience! :)
having been forced into no electricity a couple of times due to ice storms pulling trees and lines down, then in the spring, strong winds taking out the branches that never quite made it out of the trees during the ice storms and bringing the lines down, it's amazing the things you can think of to do when there's no TV/music/phonecalls to bother you.....however some of the things you think of during the daylight still require electricity.......like Oh, I'll do the ironing.....uh, no that won't work.....ooooo I'll do the vacuuming....uh, no that doesn't work either.....so then you have to think a little more creatively. But family time with card games and board games etc by kerosene lamp are pretty fun!!!
Enjoy your experiment and your reflection time. I'll be interested to hear your thoughts on it when you post to us about it.
what a wonderful idea ENJOY!! and let us know how it goes!
Sounds good. Good luck with it.
Sounds like quite the adventure. I'm sure the reflection time will be therapudic.
Mel, I reckon we should do this more often... I think we'd be surprised at what we need and what we just use.
Hope you enjoy the quiet time.
I'd love to be there stitching quietly with you.
hugs
Robyn xx
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