Does it really take a BLACKOUT for people to come together? This past week here in San Diego, we had electricity lost for about 8-10hours which seemed like an eternity since no one is really used to this in California. One person in Arizona was responsible for the BLACKOUT that affected millions of people lives during this escapade where time stood still and people came together like family and managed to connect on a deeper level on the meaning of life!
I live in a highrise apt building in a section of San Diego called Little Italy. For the most part, everyone here is very friendly and I get along with everyone. We have alot of activities sponsored by the ownership of the complex, and for the most part, there is minimal participation and people just don’t show up! Could be a variety of reasons I understand, but the night the POWER went out, everybody and their momma came down to the main floor for fellowship and connection. I guess people felt a sense of not being in charge, because they had no power to do anything about the circumstances.
It was a crazy awesome experience! People brought down food from their refrigerators because we had no idea how long the power would be off, and there was enough beer and wine to support our troops for a weekend of R&R! We have gas stoves downstairs in the common area, and had plenty of ice so we had everything we needed for a night that felt like Thanksgiving!
I met people in my building I have never met before, and got closer to some people who were just acquaintances at the most before this ordeal. It was amazing the conversations that were being had because they were more on a spiritual, deeper ,connecting with soul talks, so to speak. I really got to know who people were, on the inside! Their thoughts, beliefs, values, and their dreams.
WOW! Why does it take disasters, blackouts, terror attacks before we really get to know each other? If we would take the time to really get to know someone’s dreams, don’t you think we could support one another and grow closer as a people. Oneness, is what I’m talking about! We are all here I feel for a particular reason, and that is to help and support one another to become our best self so that we leave an impact in this world to create heaven on earth! We don’t have to wait until we die, let’s help create happiness and joy while we are still alive! For everyone, each and every person doing their part and creating a great “Ripple Effect” that reaches the corners of the earth!
P.S. If you like what you just read, please feel free to share on facebook and twitter and leave a comment below.
marquita herald|10:17, 13. September, 2011
Reading about your experience brought back a similar memory from when I was working at the Intercontinental Resort here in Maui. Hawaii had been alerted to a tsunami and all of the coastal areas were evacuated. Our hotel was on a hill and the ballroom above the 500 ft level (considered “safe”) so we housed as many guests there as possible as we waited … before long it was dubbed the “Tsunami Party” and that’s exactly what it turned into. Except of course for us employees. The good news was when the tsunami arrived it was about 3′ high – the bad news (for us) was none of the guests wanted to LEAVE the party!
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Eldridge Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 10:31 am
Ha Ha, great story Marquita! Too bad we have to wait for bad things to happen, like funerals, when we get to spend time with the ones we love!
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Rick Salas|14:45, 13. September, 2011
Hi Eldridge, It’s too bad that so many people have to have a blackout to get to know each other. So many people are cautious of others but I really believe they’re looking to meet people. It’s a great feeling to meet people and get to know what they’re all about. It’s all about taking the first step. If they’re too cautious to meet us or think we have an underhanded reason for being nice then that’s their problem. People should never pass up an opportunity to meet people that can make life better.
Rick Salas
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Eldridge Reply:
September 13th, 2011 at 2:50 pm
Amen Rick,
I love meeting new people so I believe everyone is worth getting to know, until they prove they are not!! lol
Thank you
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Richard Goutal|16:42, 13. September, 2011
I first noticed that phenomenon here in my small 7000 person town north of Boston back in “the blizzard of 78.” Then Gov Mike Dukakis declared a state of emergency while the major highways were impassable with hundreds of stranded and abandoned cars. As with your story, people came out of their homes, shoveled sidewalks and conversed with their neighbors! Wow. Even in New England. Great example of finding something to appreciate in a challenging circumstance.
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Eldridge Reply:
September 14th, 2011 at 10:09 am
Hey Richard,
I always find the silver lining in circumstances:)
Thank you for your comment!
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Allegra Sinclair|22:23, 13. September, 2011
Hi Eldridge,
I love your storytelling style. I felt like I was in San Diego in your building! Confess, you were a little bummed when the power came back on, weren’t you? I think when something like a blackout happens, we are forced to forget all the silly little things that keep us from connecting and magic happens. If you might not have power for 3 days do you care that someone didn’t speak to you in the hallway? You may still care, but it’s probably not as important as it might have been. I love your Oneness concept and I hope you are still finding opportunities to deepen your connections with your neighbors and community.
Have a POWERFUL week! Allegra
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Eldridge Reply:
September 14th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Hey Allegra,
Thank you for discovering my oneness concept because I believe we are all one! Pretty soon the whole world will know it as the shift in consciousness is upon us now!
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Rob Wilson|10:38, 16. September, 2011
Hi Eldridge, I used to have a friend who loved circumstances like you describe for the very reasons you describe. I’ve got another one that not so secretly hopes for problems severe enough to keep people connecting with each other and new people long after the initial disaster or problem. Personally, I think it’s a bit morbid to wish for that! I was watching some older movie and one of the characters was really affected by how hostile and cold everyone was in a city and the guy she liked told her that was just how it was. She thought it could be changed and while waiting to cross the street introduced herself and shook hands, saying hello and asking the name of the other person. The people were almost immediately affected and all started introducing themselves and saying hi and being super pleasant. She kept doing this at other times too. It was kind of neat because once she broke through the wall of silence and/or hostility by basically just recognizing that the other people existed and she was interested in them, that this was all it took to start making a change. I prefer to think like that so that it doesn’t require a disaster to bring us closer! – Rob
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Rob Wilson|10:39, 16. September, 2011
Hi Eldridge, I used to have a friend who loved circumstances like you describe for the very reasons you describe. I’ve got another one that not so secretly hopes for problems severe enough to keep people connecting with each other and new people long after the initial disaster or problem. Personally, I think it’s a bit morbid to wish for that! I was watching some older movie and one of the characters was really affected by how hostile and cold everyone was in a city and the guy she liked told her that was just how it was. She thought it could be changed and while waiting to cross the street introduced herself and shook hands, saying hello and asking the name of the other person. The people were almost immediately affected and all started introducing themselves and saying hi and being super pleasant. She kept doing this at other times too. It was kind of neat because once she broke through the wall of silence and/or hostility by basically just recognizing that the other people existed and she was interested in them, that this was all it took to start making a change. I prefer to think like that so that it doesn’t require a disaster to bring us closer! – Rob
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Eldridge Reply:
September 17th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
Hey Rob,
Actually, I kind of agree with your friend, not that I want terrible things to happen to people. Everyone is so busy with their lives, we aren’t taking enough time to re-connect with each other. I believe, things will get worst so that we realize that we are all one and we re-connect to that sense so we can all help each other as one big family!
Thanks Rob
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Donna Merrill|16:19, 17. September, 2011
Hi Eldridge. Oh boy does this story bring me back to the black outs in NYC. New York may have that stereotype that people don’t look at one another, etc. But when there was a black out, people came out in the streets to make sure everyone was ok. Bar-B-Q’s came out and people shared their food so It wouldn’t go bad, candles and flashlights were shared and people pulled together.
Taken this lesson, and realizing we as marketers are in groups,makes me realize how much we share all the time. Now let’s take an extra step and message on FB or give each other a call. What a call to action that would be!
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Eldridge Reply:
September 17th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Hey Donna,
I agree that’s what we should do, but the reality is everybody is so darn busy with their stuff. I think we have not seen the worst yet, because in the end, our stuff gets in the way of us becoming one!
Thank you dear
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David Merrill|19:21, 23. September, 2011
Nice reminder, Eldridge, that we are really part of one great big humanity.
We seem different… different sizes, shapes, colors. We act different… artist, plumber, teacher. We even think different… Democrat, Republican, Tea Party, Liberal. And a lot of people get a lot of power out of always preaching to us that we ARE different… rich, poor, religious, atheist.
But we FORGET. We are all the same. We come from the same stuff and we’ll end up returning to the same dust. So let’s stick together guys! We’re all here TOGETHER for some reason or other. Let’s make it work.
No
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Eldridge Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Yes David,
We are all one! And it’s getting pretty apparent that all the things happening in the world today, is to bring us closer!
Thank you
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Marcus T Cox|23:10, 24. September, 2011
You know sometimes it take situations like that to bring everyone down to a human level. Also giving everyone something in common to talk about. We have had some black out here, but none as fun as your. It sounds like it was a great time. It is a shame that it took something like that, to bring that about. Thank you for sharing that story.
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Eldridge Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 9:52 am
Hey Marcus,
It’s not over my friend! The world is changing at a fast pace to bring us all closer together again!
We are all one anyway, and we will soon discover this again!
Thank you
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Theuns|21:50, 25. September, 2011
Hi Eldridge
Wow this is something to think about, and i so agree with you why does
it nee to take a Blackout to bring people togeter.
we are all hear to help one another not just in bad times but in all the times and we are all one with one spirit that bring us together, great Post.
Regards
Theuns
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Eldridge Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 9:51 am
Hey Theuns,
I think this is where the world is headed anyway. Back to the times where we get to know each other, help each other, support one another.
Thank you Theuns
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Emma|4:34, 28. September, 2011
Hi Eldridge,
Gosh, quite shocking really! I’ve spent 12 years sailing and because we tend not to have TV’s and such on cruising boats, all we seemed to do was connect (usually over a gin and tonic or two!!).
I remember when I was a kid hardly knowing anyone in my neighbourhood and neither did my parents… really odd how we can live in such close proximity and not know each others names!
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Eldridge Reply:
September 28th, 2011 at 9:49 am
Wow Emma,
I like the cruising on the boats with the gin and tonics! lol
Nothing like bearing one’s heart to create great deep meaning relationships!
Thank youi
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Raena Lynn|21:09, 8. October, 2011
Hi Eldrige,
I feel a little in the dark because I didn’t hear anything about the person in Arizona that caused this power outage! (no pun intended). Anyway I can relate to your story. I think when something uncomfortable or scary happens, I think people naturally shift into “community mode.” In my opinion, it has a lot to do with survival and instinct. For example, if someone is injured, most people will make an attempt to help the other person. The same is true for a group setting. We naturally want to make the other people comfortable and safe. That is the beauty of being human.
When everything seems normal (whatever that is) such as people going to work, or neighbors are gardening, or people are grocery shopping, we tend to “go about our day” without interfering with other people’s lives. We are social but I suppose we need a setting for engagement. That is one reason why people gather for dinners, partys, and other social events. It is a social setting that helps ease the situation of meeting other people. Of course there are some people who love to socialize and can “break the ice” in any situation. However, for most people, it goes back to instinct. We are instinctively cautious with how and who we approach. I think it is intended to be that way for self protection in an unknown setting.
So when the black out or disaster occurs, people will step up to the plate to take care of others. You talked about how people brought down food and bonded together through the ordeal. Yes it would be nice to not have a negative occurrence in order for people to connect, but most people are conditioned to mind their own business. An event gives people an excuse to follow their natural instinct to bond with others.
Raena Lynn
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Eldridge Reply:
October 8th, 2011 at 9:49 pm
Hey Raena,
Thank you for sharing that thought and opening my mind to what you just shared. I truly appreciate your point of view and never thought of it that way!
So thank you very much:)
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HollyF-J|13:42, 11. October, 2011
I must say my question would be the same.. Why does it take a ‘disaster’ to get people together!! Well, it is just great to know that there is that connection when disaster happens… We have seen that as a nation and a world over the last several years,. It would interesting to know what would happen if we had a closer relationship before the disaster struck… Great to know that good things did come of it, though!
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Eldridge Reply:
October 12th, 2011 at 9:56 am
Hey Holly,
Yes it is great to know that people have a great way of sharing their compassion and love in the worst situations. That’s why all the garbage on TV just shows the bad people, but I know we have alot of good people..more in fact:)
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Kevin Martineau|8:30, 12. October, 2011
Hi Eldridge:
Great point! It is sad that it takes a disaster or a traumatic event to make us think about what is important. We should be living each day to it’s full!
Blessings,
Kevin
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Eldridge Reply:
October 12th, 2011 at 9:53 am
Hey Kevin,
Yes, in the end, we are all one! This truth of this is starting to come out now, and in 2012, watch out! lol
Thank you
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Crescele|10:40, 17. October, 2011
I was nodding and I kept on nodding to every point well stated in this article. Sometimes, no, most of the times its the most unpredictable situation where people take action and realization. This made us weird and yes, unpredictable too. I think we all get used to doing the routines that breaking it creates a huge impact on our lives. That is why, i dont know if im making sense, God sends reminders in any form (black out) randomly. It is where people starts to act and become smart in there most uncomfortable situation.
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Eldridge Reply:
October 17th, 2011 at 12:34 pm
Yup, God has a funny way of bringing all together when need be!!
Thank you
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