Recently my neighborhood lost electrical power around 10:00 on a Sunday night. It wasn’t weather related because it was a beautiful evening – calm, no rain, no wind. Being certain I would regain power at some point in my life, I found a flashlight and took the dogs outside one last time before bed.

My household’s calm demeanor was rewarded by our power being restored by 11:00 pm.

The next day I read posts on our community bulletin board written the previous night. Many were just curious about why seemingly random neighborhoods lost power. Other posts were a bit frantic about not knowing when our power would be restored.

And then there was the post of all posts, one that made me literally LOL: “Just eating chocolate by candlelight. Saved $0.83 on my power bill. Worse things have happened.”

Now that is perspective! There was no tragedy - no one died, we live in a community in a country where having power on demand is the norm, and the weather was perfect enough that neither heat or air conditioning was needed.

This neighbor’s glass wasn’t half full, it was overflowing.

My chocolate-eating-by-candlelight neighbor went beyond merely accepting his temporary powerlessness. He chose to use the blackout as an opportunity to have fun. He took what was out of his power, literally and figuratively, and did a 180.

The next time my home loses power or any other temporary inconvenience is thrust upon me, I will remember my neighbor who ate chocolate by candlelight. Now you can, too.

It’s all about perspective. It always is.