A Blackout was What I Needed

 "...we can forget how true relationships need real fostering done in person."

I just experienced another great flooding a few weeks ago after since my last time 10 years or so. As bad as how it should sound, it was actually not that bad. Well....it might be because my house itself was not flooded and I was fortunate enough not having to get out in the water. During the great flood, we had a blackout for almost 24 hours (and prior to that, we were powerless for around 10 hours too). I have to admit, that it might be just what I needed.

What is so great about blackouts to me, would be the inexistence of electricity itself which I think I need once in a while. During the blackout and flood, I did not hold on to my smartphones because there was no reception, no data connection and batteries were running low, so my attachment to my phones was out of the question, except for the help of lighting and a short period of entertainment. What I did mostly that day was being in the real life, as opposed to the virtual one. I am usually not extremely attached to my phones (at least I don't think so), but holding on to my phones to reply to people's messages and browse through social media platforms is a part of what I do daily. Having done this for a long time, it was too late for me to realize that I've had a shorter attention span. I get rushed, impatient, nervous and overwhelmed with notifications and having to replies people's messages.



I think unplugging is extremely important in this digital age we live in. Just so we do not forget that the virtual life is not the real life. Having said that, being plugged is not necessarily bad, but if you are like me, getting overwhelmed with notifications once in a while, maybe you need some time away from your phones to appreciate what the real life has to offer. I realize that when I don't have anything super urgent or important to do. I actually don't really mind it when a blackout hits and electronics don't work, (as long as my room's not too hot to sleep in!hehe).

I am utterly sad when I see people or a bunch friends on a restaurant table together, all being so focused on scrolling up and down their phones. All heads down, no significant verbal contacts with the actual people they are with. It's a shame that I do that sometimes as well, and I am seeing how our phones have been taking our real lives away to the virtual world where things could seem to be easier and more practical. Not to mention how rude it is that nowadays we don't see others in the eye while talking to them, as our eyes are too occupied checking people's relationship statuses or pictures from their latest holiday. Maybe these are all the little things that make me overwhelmed with how plugged, hence disconnected ironically, our life is, and that blackout a while ago came just right in time.

I read this post a while ago written by Jarrid Wilson. I agree with every bit he said. After reading it, I really saw how our phones might have been taking control of our lives without us even realizing it.
http://jarridwilson.com/why-im-getting-a-divorce-in-2014/

The technology advances are definitely great blessings to our lives. We can get in contact with literally any one on the other side of the globe within a click away.  Distances are no longer a barrier for everyone to communicate. Yet when we prioritize it over other things that do matter, we can forget how true relationships need real fostering done in person.