I am humbled by electricity. After living without it for few days, I am even more humbled by it.
According to the United Nations, the International Energy Agency and the World Bank – one in five people on the planet live without electricity. Not for just a few days – without, period.
That fact humbles me even more than electricity itself.
Even though I know I can’t fix that truth, what I can do is be honest with myself about the difference between a tragedy and an inconvenience. What I can and will also do is pay attention every.single.time I flippantly flip a light switch and say THANKS.
When was the last time you paid attention to your electricity?
Lisa’s Cheap Therapy blog 
We had two brief (five hour) outages this week. It didn’t get beyond slightly inconvenient here. But my neighbor took her parents to a hotel because her dad has COPD and what if his oxygen machine did not work when he needed it?
I lived for two weeks in a military construction site tent village outside the little town of Archidona in Ecuador. Their electricity went on during the daytime to support work of various kinds, but went off at nightfall.
Used to be you could visit U.S. Army Corps of Engineers dams to learn about electric power generation, and as a Corps employee, I’ve toured a few. Impressive and complex operations! Since 9/11 no way the public can get near these facilities. Sigh.
Well said Lisa.
I must admit the first day we actually kinda enjoyed “making do” and figuring things out. ( I will confess we have a generator & wood burning stove for heat in one room so we were not really completely doing without). We lived in that one room and spent a lot of time together with lots of extended family and friends who joined us off and on during the four days. That was especially nice. For me what resonated was how dangerous a job the linemen have. Yes, some would say that’s their job and they are well compensated. To that I would somewhat agree but doing that kind of work requires not only skill but confidence and great ability. When those guys have a bad day at work it is a really bad day! Possibly their last. And, many of them traveled a great distance to come and help. So, hats off to electricity and the folks who bring it to us.
Awesome. I feel this post from both sides. I have lived for 10 days with no power, 90 degrees and 95 percent humidity, two dogs, AND two children under 7. I have also done five days with no power, 20 degrees, 2 dogs and 2 children under 5. I am so humbled by electricity.
Furthermore, one of my buddies is the marketing director for a power company. When we have “weather,” he works around the clock sending those brave linemen out to restore power. He has taught me how much we take that light switch for granted!!!!
There are a lot of people in the wings making it happen.
Penny, Susan & Jean, as i write this reply, i have some windows open and am havng atough time remembering what LAST Saturday was like. THANKS for your gentle and profound reminders to never forget what’s so easy to take for granted.