The Safety of Darkness
The perils of living in a world of perpetual light.
*NEW voiceover feature with narration by SVB added above. And don’t forget your personal points for reflection included below post.
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Many moons ago, when I was in my 20s, my physical activity of choice was running. It was a practice that took place in the pre-dawn hours, sky still dark, feet composing the soundtrack for the day.
Running took me through multiple chapters of my rapidly-changing young adulthood and therefore through different landscapes. City streets. Lazy cul-de-sacs. And a few foreboding neighborhoods present me would think better of visiting.
As I trotted along, my mind would work to sort out problems. To plot out work tasks. To daydream about my future. And as I often battled against less-than-desirable conditions of bitter cold or rain, I would look to homes and buildings I passed for comfort.
“The notion of vulnerability, huddled under blankets, made me feel a deep connection to these humans I had never met.”
Because it brought me peace to look at the dark windows and think about people sleeping soundly in their beds, present day still wrapped tightly waiting to be unraveled with the sound of an alarm or a parent nudging for the need for school. I liked the idea of worries being put on hold until the light demanded their attention. The notion of vulnerability, huddled under blankets, made me feel a deep connection to these humans I had never met.