Remembering to breathe

 

   “Electronics,” my attendant, who is considerably younger than I am and that much more familiar with electronic gadgets, said, “are weird.”

   I forget what it was that time.  I forget if my computer was frozen and I wasn’t able to click on anything.  Or if the mouse on my speech device was going haywire, perhaps with the sun hitting it at a certain angle.  Or if the joystick on my wheelchair was jammed. Or if the smart T.V was suddenly acting dumb and not doing anything. 

   As I panicked, wondering when I could get it fixed and how much it would cost, my attendant once again, and again being familiar with “weird” electronics, suggested turning it off, waiting a few seconds, and turning it back on.  Like taking a deep breath. 

   What do you know?  My attendant, with that knowledge of younger years, was right – again!  Sometimes – or most times – just flipping the switch on and then on again does the trick and is all that is needed. With just the flip of the on/off switch, my computer was working fine, like nothing had been wrong.  The mouse on my speech device moved along as it should.  The joystick on my chair was operable, and the T.V was smart again.

   If only the rest of life was that simple, that “weird.” If only we were able to turn off when things go wrong or are a mess and then turn back on with everything okay, back to normal. Or at least with a new perspective on the situation.    

   Maybe it is possible to turn off and turn on, to flip the switch and start anew.  With a change of scenery.  With some time away.  With a conversation.  With a good night’s sleep.  With, yes, a deep breath.

   Is life that simple, that “weird?” Do we just have to remember that?  Is that the hard part?