It's crazy to think that a little flickering of our lights meant something far worse than my family could have ever imagined. The wires connected from the telephone pole to our meter outside were scorched. If the electrician didn't cut off our power, our house would have burned down to the ground. With that in mind, I'm so thankful that my family and I are alive today- and every day. Having to live without power for a few days taught me some valuable life lessons, especially regarding survival. Here are the 15 things I learned from not having any electricity for 72 hours:
1. You should always be prepared for an emergency.
Developing a plan of action is essential because everyone should be on the same page and know what to do in any crisis. It's always a good idea to have a first aid kit, flashlights, a can opener, etc.
2. Try to save whatever you can.
If you want to try to preserve something from the fridge, put it in a cooler with ice and it could last a few hours. Canned goods and other items in the pantry- pretty much anything that doesn't need to be refrigerated- are great to have in an emergency.
3. You shouldn’t force yourself to eat everything in the fridge.
Even if all the ice cream starts to melt, you shouldn't try to eat it all. You'll make yourself sick and regret it later- I sure did.
4. The heat is a real threat.
Since there was no air conditioning in my house, the Texas heat was excruciatingly uncomfortable, and potentially fatal.
5. Water is your new best friend.
Staying hydrated is so important. If you're not drinking enough water, you can start getting headaches and feel weak.
6. Dining out for every meal is the new normal.
There was no electricity, so I was unable to cook. You'll get sick of fast food quicker than you would've thought.
7. Every little sound you hear will make you feel paranoid.
Even if it's a door closing or a bag rustling, it will freak you out. Being in the dark also doesn't help.
8. You have to spend more time with your family than you’d like.
You have to make sure everyone's okay, and that means talking a lot more than usual.
9. Time feels like an eternity.
Sitting in complete silence is definitely not for me. Keeping the conversation going will not only allow you to get to know your family better, but will make time fly by faster.
10. You have to entertain yourself.
Since there is no power, that means there's no TV, phone, or computer to distract you.
11. Being disconnected from the outside world isn’t as bad as it seems.
Keeping up with social media was the least of my worries. I started to care about what everyone else was doing, and instead I started focusing on what really matters.
12. Your mobile phone is your only source of communication.
Saving power on your phone is important because it's the only way you can call someone when you need help.
13. You have to be resourceful.
Quick thinking and ingenuity are qualities that will keep you alive even in some of the toughest situations.
14. You start appreciating what you’ve been given.
As we get used to the things around us, we forget how impactful these inventions genuinely are in our lives. Even losing the little things in life can be a significant change.
15. You realize that if you can survive this, you can survive practically everything.
This experience showed me how strong my family and I are considering how we could handle life without electricity to power our technology- something not everyone can do.
"Electricity can transform people's lives, not just economically but also socially." - Piyush Goyal
