When hurricane Wilma struck our hometown, my husband and I were without power for three weeks. We could not even leave our house for a more than seven days since a large tree had fallen across the driveway and blocked us in until the fire department cut us out.   

During the daylight hours we kept ourselves busy trying to make sense of the front yard, which was in shambles. At night, however, we had to find something to occupy our minds. The only thing we could do with the power out was catch up on all the books we’d been meaning to read but hadn’t found the time for yet. We didn’t want to waste the flashlight batteries on something “frivolous”, and so tapped into our supply of Lavender and Almond Biscotti candles that we’d been saving. 

What an experience! At a time when stress was high and we were out of contact with our family and friends, we created a little safe haven for ourselves where we could be together and relax. We only burned two candles at a time on a table near our couch, and because of this we had to be close to each other in order to share the light. Being able to spend this time close to my husband and allow myself to relax and slip into a good book with the light and scent of the candles surrounding us kept all the stress at bay. 

I was almost sad when the power was finally restored. Almost. Since then, my husband and I have established the habit of reading together weekly. While we don’t do this with the lights off, we are sure to have a candle burning, and it’s usually Lavender, to remind us to savor the little joys in life. 

HappyMomentsCandle.com has a wide selection of candles for any taste. Even if you don’t live in hurricane territory, you don’t have to be left out. Candle lights, and scents, have a magical effect on your mood when all other things seem to fail. When the power goes off, the use of a candle goes far, far beyond mere light-source. 

One of the best parts is that you can choose when the lights go off if you want! When the phones, television and computers are all driving you up the wall, turn them off. Have a make-believe power outage, break out the candles, grab your loved ones and relax together doing something you enjoy. 

If you aren’t the kind of person, or family, to read together, try playing a game – or even just talking. Our neighbors enjoyed playing checkers while the lots were off, while another family across the street sat outside, a candle nearby, talking and playing cards. 

Disasters that are beyond your control can really make life difficult – but, if you make the best of them, you’ll definitely find some enjoyment in even the most unpleasant situations. Candles light the way.