CEO Karen Moore
By now, you and your family are approaching the last few weeks of summer. It’s only a short while before kids go back to school, sports commitments resume, extra-curricular activities fill your family calendar and the “busyness” of life creeps back in.
You might find yourself wanting to slow down and reconnect with your loved ones while your distractions are minimal, and your time is more abundant. How will you do that? Well, there was a time when taking a vacation was the antidote for all the “busyness” of life. But these days, vacations can be just as stressful and tiring as our normal routine.
So, what is the solution?
“Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes, including you.”
Author Anne Lamott made this statement in 2017 while delivering a speech called “Twelve Truths I Learned from Life and Writing.” Her point was that sometimes, reconnecting to what really matters means disconnecting from the things that don’t, the things that distract us.
Keeping up with work and family activities or the latest trends on social media makes most of us feel compelled to constantly interact with devices like smartphones or tablets. But if you could find just a day or two to put all of that aside, and convince your family members to do the same, you might find it makes a world of difference. If you need a few ideas for how to spend your family time, here are some of my favorite family-bonding activities:
• Visit one or two of our local farmers markets, research a new recipe you can make from the items you purchase, and then get everyone cooking!
• How about a hike? Our area offers several scenic spots, such as Historic Blakeley State Park, Graham Creek Nature Preserve or the Hugh Branyon Backcountry Trail, that even amateur hikers can enjoy.
• Grab a camera and create your own photo safari. Animals, nature, family members – they can all become impromptu photo subjects. After a few hours, sit down and enjoy a makeshift slideshow of what everyone captured.
• Have a day of volunteering. I’ll bet any of our local charitable agencies, like food banks or thrift shops, would be glad to take a family of volunteers for a day, or even just an afternoon.
And there’s another benefit to “unplugging” – one that hits closer to home for Baldwin EMC. It can save you money on your power bill. That kind of sounds like a win-win situation if you ask me.
When you’re ready to plug back in, we can help you connect with our energy-saving programs and services. We’re just a call or click away.