I spent a week in darkness, here's what I saw
A person spent a week in complete darkness to raise money for charity and for personal discovery. They lived in three rooms with basic necessities like a tent, microwave, treadmill, toilet, and shower. During this time, they meditated, created stories in their mind, exercised, and listened to audiobooks. Challenges included boredom, missing their family, slight panic, and even a mouse. They also had to go upstairs blindfolded to fix the internet. By the end, they found value in living in the present moment and appreciated simple things like light and vibrant colors, feeling they had found a deeper understanding of themselves.
Key Vocabulary
To make a continuous, low, vibrant sound, often associated with the rapid motion of machinery or objects through the air.
Examples:
- The old refrigerator kept whirring loudly throughout the night, making it hard to sleep.
- A distant drone could be heard, a helicopter whirring overhead.
- The fan began whirring as soon as it was turned on, providing a much-needed breeze.
A strip of cloth tied around someone's eyes to prevent them from seeing.
Examples:
- The magician placed a blindfold over his assistant's eyes before starting the trick.
- For the surprise party, they led the guest of honor in with a blindfold.
- It's challenging to navigate a familiar room with a blindfold on.
Used to describe weather that is hot and humid, often to an oppressive degree.
Examples:
- The sultry afternoon made everyone seek refuge in air-conditioned rooms.
- After a long day in the sultry jungle, all he wanted was a cool shower.
- The air was sultry, promising a thunderstorm later in the evening.
A meal consisting of several dishes from which guests serve themselves.
Examples:
- The hotel offered a lavish breakfast buffet with various international cuisines.
- For the party, they decided on a casual buffet so guests could eat at their leisure.
- He eagerly looked forward to the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet.
Not connected to a computer network or the internet.
Examples:
- The internet connection was lost, so the company's servers went offline.
- Many applications can still be used offline, allowing work to continue without an internet connection.
- She preferred to read books offline rather than on an e-reader.
Making a short, high-pitched sound, typically produced by an electronic device.
Examples:
- The microwave started beeping to signal that the food was ready.
- His phone wouldn't stop beeping with incoming messages.
- The security alarm began beeping loudly when the door was opened.
A gradual decline or reduction in intensity or amount.
Examples:
- His enthusiasm for the project often ebbs and flows depending on the challenges he faces.
- The noise of the city ebbs late at night, allowing for a quieter environment.
- As the day progressed, her initial excitement slowly ebbed away.
The smallest controllable element of a picture represented on the screen.
Examples:
- When you zoom in too much on a digital photo, you can start to see the individual pixels.
- The new television has so many pixels that the images appear incredibly sharp.
- Older video games often had visible pixels, giving them a distinct retro look.
To breathe out air from the lungs.
Examples:
- He deeply inhales and then slowly exhales, practicing his breathing technique.
- The dragon exhales a cloud of smoke with a mighty roar.
- She exhales a sigh of relief after completing the difficult task.
Having had all or most of the water removed, especially from food, to preserve it.
Examples:
- Hikers often carry dehydrated meals because they are lightweight and easy to prepare.
- The recipe calls for a cup of dehydrated vegetables, which need to be rehydrated before cooking.
- Dried fruit is a good example of dehydrated food, offering a concentrated source of energy.
Making a light, sharp, ringing sound, typically produced by small pieces of metal or glass striking together.
Examples:
- The ice cubes were clinking in the glass as he stirred his drink.
- She heard the faint clinking of cutlery from the kitchen, signaling dinner was almost ready.
- The coins in his pocket made a soft clinking sound with every step he took.
At any time; whenever.
Examples:
- Feel free to call me anytime if you have questions.
- You can come over anytime you like; I'll be home all day.
- The library is open anytime between 9 AM and 5 PM.
A container designed to hold water for drinking, typically made of plastic or metal and reusable.
Examples:
- He always carries a waterbottle with him on his morning run to stay hydrated.
- Remember to fill your waterbottle before we leave for the hike.
- The reusable waterbottle helps reduce plastic waste.
To play a stringed musical instrument, such as a guitar, by sweeping the fingers or a plectrum across the strings.
Examples:
- He spent the evening strumming his guitar, composing new melodies.
- The sound of someone strumming a ukulele drifted from the open window.
- She learned to play a few chords by strumming along to her favorite songs.
A casual, informal contraction of 'want to'.
Examples:
- I wanna go to the concert tonight if tickets are still available.
- Do you wanna grab some coffee later this afternoon?
- He didn't wanna admit he was wrong, even when presented with evidence.
A system for connecting a number of computer systems to form a local area network (LAN), with protocols controlling the passing of information and avoiding simultaneous transmission by two or more systems.
Examples:
- For a more stable internet connection, he decided to use an ethernet cable instead of Wi-Fi.
- The office network relies on an ethernet connection for fast data transfer.
- You'll need an ethernet port on your laptop to connect directly to the router.
Making a loud, sharp, metallic sound, often produced by heavy metal objects striking together.
Examples:
- The old radiator started clanking loudly in the middle of the night.
- He heard the clanking of chains as the workers secured the heavy machinery.
- The knight's armor made a clanking sound with every step he took.
Making a loud, grinding sound, typically associated with chewing hard food or walking on a brittle surface.
Examples:
- The sound of her crunching on an apple filled the quiet room.
- His boots were crunching on the frozen snow as he walked through the forest.
- The machine was crunching gears, indicating a problem with its mechanism.
Individuals who gain unauthorized access to computer systems or networks, often with malicious intent.
Examples:
- The company hired cybersecurity experts to protect their data from hackers.
- Hackers attempted to breach the bank's security system, but were unsuccessful.
- New software updates are often released to patch vulnerabilities exploited by hackers.
Great sorrow, distress, or misfortune.
Examples:
- The country faced a period of economic woe after the market crash.
- She expressed her woe over the loss of her beloved pet.
- Despite his many woes, he maintained a positive outlook on life.