Darkness is a beautiful thing

Darkness has long been associated with evil, but for one hour last night, it was a symbol of collective good and of a whole world wanting to make a positive change. Hour by hour, a strip of the earth--one time zone--shut off or dimmed its lights, a resounding "no" vote against global warming.

For our part, H and I switched off the lights in the garage and living area. We watched B movies while we were enveloped in darkness, and I eventually dozed off. He gently shook me awake a while later to inform me that Earth Hour was over.

I think the whole appeal of Earth Hour is that it's pretty easy--by doing something as simple as flicking off a switch, you become part of a bigger effort to save Mother Earth. It's proof that saving the planet, much like acts of kindness, doesn't have to mean grand gestures; it's all about little acts coming together to produce astounding results.

So switch off your lights whenever you can. That one simple act can already do a whole world of good.