This morning I am grateful for electricity.
Here in Wisconsin, in the United States, we take something like electricity for granted.
Yesterday afternoon, some unexpectedly strong storms rolled through this area, and took down quite a few tree branches and I suspect probably some whole trees as well.
We lost power, and therefore internet as well, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 a.m. this morning.
My phone was close to dying, and my husband was out working with our vehicle.
So my daughter and I spent the day and evening in a very, very quiet home.
Fortunately it was cool enough outside that I could have the windows open and it wasn’t too hot.
And without trying to meditate or anything, I inevitably had to appreciate what electricity brings to our lives.
Without going too deep:
It powers air conditioning (despite the negative environmental effects of that) which is an unbelievable blessing on hot, hot, hot summer days. It powers the light that allows me to read any time of day or night.
The microwave, our other appliances, everything that makes modern life so easy, relatively speaking, is thanks to electricity. The garage door opener, the internet, the TVs, the phone chargers…
As much as I may complain about cellphones, or TVs, or any of that, the truth is that when the electricity popped back on this morning, I was relieved.
I appreciate all of the ways electricity powers our modern lives (even knowing that it’s not all upside).
I’m going to microwave a burrito right now, and I am damn grateful for that.