What will you do when the lights go out?
Life in the fast lane means any time is a good time to slow down, unplug and give our busy minds the break they deserve.
It is no secret that life in the fast lane takes a lot of energy.
Computers are always on and phones are never off. Lights are decorative and flashing and promotional, offering more return on investment than just keeping workers working longer hours for higher productivity. Television screens morph into tablets. The humble coffee pot has been transformed into a piece of high-tech consuming resources like nobody’s business. When we turn in for the night, a forest of twinkling blue and green and red lights reassures us that our convenient life will be ready and waiting when we awake.
As we prepare for the annual Earth Hour this month, we are reminded of the modems and power bars and chargers and speakers whose lights continue pulling power while we are recharging. We are becoming aware of just how many switches we have to turn off in our show of commitment to care for the little blue planet we call home.
The effort required to reduce our carbon footprint, lighten up our eating habits and get a much-needed break can easily become a heavy burden.
It is no small challenge, striking a balance while living at the hectic pace our city seems to demand.
Kids in Hong Kong are breaking under school stress, wanting and needing and appreciating this unscheduled, unstructured time with parents. Couples check diaries to schedule a little quiet time together, relying on social media and texts to keep relationships fresh. We become more aware of the positive impact of mindfulness and less available to make it a priority.
It’s the perfect time to slow down, unplug and give our busy minds the break they deserve. It’s also a wonderful reminder of just how much energy we consume in the name of convenience … much of it that we are not even aware of.
It’s the perfect time to slow down, unplug and give our busy minds the break they deserve while showing our support Earth Hour.
It’s also a wonderful reminder of just how much energy we consume in the name of convenience … much of it that we are not even aware of.
— Sign the pledge and explore online resources to raise awareness and take one action to save energy and live a low-carbon lifestyle.
— Prepare for an hour of quiet time by switching off the mains and the phones and the tablets to sit in silent contemplation, cuddle with someone close or dance in the dark to the rhythm of your own heartbeat.
— Fill your bottle with something nice and head outside to the nearest green patch and listen closely to the sounds of life in this vibrant city.
