Unplugged

45 Replies

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to turn off, well, everything? Have you ever wondered what the wind sounds like or are you too intent on looking at your phone? I have stated in the past that I wonder what would happen if we lost all power, all electronics. Yes, it would be devastating on so many levels, medical equipment, elevators, heat etc. etc. etc. but what if?

In my past I have spent days, many days in the wilderness where there is no electricity. You get up with the dawn and you go to sleep by fire light. The sky is breathtaking in its majesty, sound is magnified but harmonious, there are no screeching cars here, everything is more . . .  present. You can’t see things like that in the city because of light pollution. So much pollution.  But it exists.

I have always found the first night to be a little, awkward. It took me a while to get used to the, not silence, but the gentle background sounds that were often difficult to identify. There was a gentle rustle of the leaves and grasses. The unknown bird or animal squawking, whether as predator or prey was unclear. I could feel the wind on my face and smell the earthy scents of honesty. Because that is what it was, it wasn’t adulterated or modified or improved upon. It was reality in its truest sense of the word.

In our busy lives we rarely have time to sit back and unplug. We should. Would you take a few minutes every day and just turn everything off? Phones, computers, tablets and radios and TVs and, and, and. Now just listen. What do you hear? Yes, I am sitting in front of my computer writing this but I’m also listening and what I hear is fascinating. I can hear cars in the distance, not loud. Oh, I just heard a bird cry. I wonder if it is in anticipation or in fear. I’ll never know. I can hear people talking but I can’t make out what they’re saying. A car door slams. I am in a town, a downtown area. But it is surprisingly quiet. I listen. I can hear a clock ticking in my background, it’s in the other room. If I stop talking, I can just make out the refrigerator, I think. It’s quietly humming. I can hear a very faint roaring sound and it takes me a minute to realize that it’s the sound the car tires make as they travel over the roads. Interesting. I never thought of it before. We take so many sounds for granted but we never actually realize what we’re listening to. Much like talking to each other or listening to strangers. Do we really hear what they’re saying? I wonder.

Take a minute to unplug and see what you can hear…

45 thoughts on “Unplugged”

  2. Dan Antion

    They are replacing all the electrical transmission lines in our area. On Friday, we were without electricity for two hours while they made some connections. I read a book in total silence. It was wonderful.

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  3. willowdot21

    I love the peace and quiet of early mornings, and I often relish forgetting my phone when I go out after I have got over the panic of OMG I forgot my phone.
    If we lost all internet and electricity we would all be in chaos and uncivilised after a fortnight….. Goodness help us! 💜

    Liked by 3 people

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  4. Murphy’s Law

    We really do need to stop and smell the flowers, and listen to our surroundings while we’re at it. Well said Pam. You make some good points that we all can benefit from by trying.
    Ginger

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  5. Mark Lanesbury

    When I think of this I remember as a child camping out in the wilderness, that night silence as you said, with my back to the fire and so many stars out there. Perfection…until some bloody screech owl lets rip right next to us and scares every last hair from my scalp, bald forever more. So much for the beauty of silence dear lady 🤣

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Murphy’s Law

      C’mon Mark, admit it. That poor screech owl let out his war cry because your snoring scared the bejesus out of him first! 🤗
      Ginger

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      1. Mark Lanesbury

        True Pam, nature is always on the move. Even when those ants get in my sleeping bag. And the noise when a spider does, forget nature’s racket, the humans are the noise pollution 🤣

        Liked by 1 person

  7. Dale

    While yes, I am on my computer, nothing else is on. I sit for hours in silence. No TV, no radio, nothing. My screen door is wide open and I am listening to the birds – so many birds in my neighbourhood chirping away. It’s Sunday morning and the traffic (I also live on a boulevard) is not too bad but I do hear the cars drive by. Oh, a different bird just added its song! The neighbours are working in their yards so I hear rustling about.
    I used to love camping and all those different sounds we get to hear. I miss that.

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    2. Mark Lanesbury

      Now I truly relate to that John. I put some music on to dull its sound but I find that outside quietens it better. I think nature has its own frequency and it puts the tinnitus further into the background. And the surf at the beach truly quietens it down. I might have to invent an earpiece with surf for us sufferers. And definitely not a likeable sound Pam, they refer to it like what they call a Chines water torture, that slow drip, drip on your face does absolutely nothing, until hours later its the only thing on your mind and your slowly going stark raving mad. I tried singing but the neighbors threatened to lock me up 🤣

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      1. John W. Howell

        Great comment, Mark. I used to live on the Gulf of Mexico, and the surf noise would drown the tinnitus out. In fact, it retreated to a low rumble that I pretty much only noticed at bed time. I pretended it was an attic fan so it didn’t bother me much (No we didn’t have an attic fan) When we moved away from the coast the cicada moved in and has been therefor four years. Loved your idea of a device with surf noise. Take care.

        Liked by 2 people

      2. Mark Lanesbury

        Hopefully something will be invented…soon. I’m thinking of visiting a friend inland away from the surf…not sure how ‘noisy’ it will get in there 🤣 I might have to ‘get’ my own attic fan 🤣 Thank you for the share kind sir, may the surf ever be your friend 😀❤️🙏

        Liked by 2 people

  15. Pingback: Unplugged - SoftMood TV

  17. rangewriter

    I’m obviously not unplugged, or I couldn’t read/respond. But I am blissfully sitting on my porch, having just finished my morning coffee. Besides too much traffic noise, I’m enjoying the happy twittering of birds who seem as delighted as we humans that spring seems to finally have arrived. And the devilish little squirrels are busy dashing up and down my try, nibbling on branches, seeds, and digging in the flowerbeds for hidden treasure.

    Like you, I enjoy being outside and listening to nature happening. And I love my occasional trips into the wilderness. They don’t happen often enough, but at least they happen. The wilderness is never silent. It has its own score, which is far more pleasant than the urban cacophony.

    Liked by 1 person

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