I noticed it first on Friday evening. The street in front of our home seemed rather dark. Saturday morning, sun not yet risen, the street is pitched in black. All the street lights are out.
I do nothing. I forget, get busy. Sun rises, the lights are no longer needed.
That evening, still not light. Still in darkness. My daughter drops over and mentions it. Yes. They were out yesterday too, I tell her. And still I do nothing.
I’m sure someone on the street has called it in. There are at least 50 houses affected, someone has called it in. For me to do so would just be a ‘bother’, I tell myself.
And daylight breaks. Sun rises and the world is bathed in natural light.
Last night, when there was still no light on the street and I saw a woman walking past my window, I thought about safety, about darkness, about peace of mind. I wanted to know when the City would be fixing our lights and so, I risked what I thought would be condescension and called into the 24 hour City-line to inquire about the lights.
Chantelle, the woman who answered my call was pleasant, professional and informative. “No one’s called it in,” she told me when I told her how I’ve avoided calling it in for fear of being ‘a pest’.
I know what you mean, she laughed. I always figure someone else has done it anyway, so I do nothing.
We laughed together. Good thing you did something, she replied before hanging up and promising to put the job order into the streets department for action.
How many times have I done that? Done nothing because I don’t want to feel stupid, a pest, annoying, interfering?
How many times have I avoided taking action to avoid the discomfort of my judgments telling me how other people will react to my actions?
Last night I took action and learned a valuable lesson. Lighting up the world requires taking action to make sure the lights are turned on.
The lights are not yet back on but I feel better knowing I took action. And that makes a difference in my world.
Namaste.
Dare Boldly 
too many cooks……
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I think that is what we fear Trisha — too many cooks.
In this case though…. there weren’t enough cooks! 🙂
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around here
with all the rain
grey and wind
i’ve had to turn on
the lights
inside
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Nance — you always make me smile and feel so connected! Thank you.
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A little more light is always a good thing. 🙂
It’s funny how many things we hold back on because we don’t want to be intrusive/be a nuisance. (Yet there are others who will jump right in and lecture strangers about things that are none of their business.)
It took me many months of occasionally driving past a roadkill squirrel or pet 😦 en route to work before I finally looked up the phone number where one reported it, put it on my speed-dial, and STARTED CALLING IT IN. Instead of assuming “somebody else” would take care of it. I still kick myself for not doing it right away.
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you’ve hit the nail on the head Beverly! — it is that fine line between being intrusive to strangers versus being accountable for the world around us.
Good for you for speed-dialing the no. I never even thought there’d be a no. to speed dial roadkill sightings — thank you for bringing it forward — I know where to call here too! hitting my SAVE on my cell phone now!
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i’m usually annoying…but i hate making calls.
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🙂
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A post that will make a difference today, as other readers already are showing.
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Thanks Maureen. Your light is always such a welcome illumination of the path.
Hugs
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I loved this post because i have been like that all my life. Noticing things, errors, and not reacting out of fear of being ridiculous or annoying.
It’s always the same and I still am 😦
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Thank you Michele — I wrote in my journal — Lighting up my world is my responsibility — and when I expect someone else to do it, I can expect disappointment! 🙂
Hope you have a wonderful day lighting up your world.
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Nikky — I think many of us share this affliction! And blessing. — In its blessing we can grow through our awareness of what is happening when we ask ourselves, what will i do differently today. for me, the truth comes with the realization — When I shift, everything shifts.
Thank you so much Nikky for sharing your beauty and honesty here. You shine!
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I love how you use a seemingly small event to make a huge conclusion. Wonderful and enlightening! 🙂
-Michele
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