A Blizzard, A Lesson

Last night, the blizzard that had begun earlier in the day, finally shut down all communication in the part of our town. TV, internet and phone all gone. The Beloved and I, taking advantage and enjoying a blizzard-type of day by watching movies were now left with the question of what to do? So we gathered our pile of New York Times and to bed we went to read. We read articles to each other and engaged in more conversation than we normally do and it felt wonderful.

This morning we were still ex-"communicated." So we brewed coffee and sat down to read again before starting our day. Can I say delightful again?!

And here's the thing with technology: it’s good because information and quality/entertaining programs can be accessed anytime at our own convenience; but it’s bad because we’re constantly distracted. And this is not good for the brain. Sanity, depression and ADD symptoms are at risk if we fail to wind down daily. Meditation and reading gives our brains the time out it needs. So yesterday, having been forced to do the one thing I grew up doing so naturally that it occupied most of my spare time, I felt at peace again. I was reminded how much I enjoyed the peaceful getaway reading provided. These days I read at bedtime, but reading at other times of the day brought me back to the days when everything was less distracting and calming.

Finally when the we were in full communication mode again I was uninterested. At the moment I was engaged in an article on a Chinese fashion designer whose creations were nothing less than spectacular; it was textile art created from a mind that was still creatively young. Guo Pei has left European haute couture designers scrambling because she has raised the bar and without the help (seamstresses) European designers get because all of the best are taken by them. So she is left to hire unexperienced seamstresses and teach them herself. And had I been watching tv I would not have learned her or read any of the other articles I have had the pleasure of reading these past two days.

So today I asked Beloved whether he was up to ridding ourselves somewhat of technology. Would he be willing a few days a week to fill the nights with reading and listening to classical music as we have done these past two days and which has been so relaxing and intellectually-engaging to our souls? Agreement made, we looked forward to welcoming the new year with this new habit.

Last night technology was suspended compliments of Mother Nature and I was not pleased. But today, I thank her for the beauty of waking up to a world blanketed in undulating sheets of snow and thank her for bringing us back to ways that nurture our souls, ways that had been so conveniently and quickly erased by that lure of something else.



For Write on Edge and Lightning and the Lightning Bug