I've been living in my apartment for about 7 months now. At some point my bedroom's smoke alarm began beeping, but I never attended to it. I completely tuned it out.
Recently, during two separate phone conversations with two different friends, I was told I need to change the smoke alarm batteries. To them, the beeping was loud and annoying.
I hadn't notice.
For an uncertain duration of time, I became accustomed to a noise that alerts me something needs attention. Something needs to change.
This morning I was awakened, literally and figuratively, by that beeping. When I tried to go back to sleep, I could not. It seemed to have gotten louder. It must have. There is no way I could have ignored this nerve-wracking sound for 7 months. I am bothered that I chose to endure the signal rather than rather than make the necessary changes. (I should have changed the batteries. I should have replace the device if the smoke detector's life has ended.)
That pestering smoke alarm beeping has been such a reality check this morning. While reality checks can be rude and harsh, they are necessary.
#knowbetter #dobetter
#DoNotIgnoreTheWarningSigns
#DoNotIgnoreTheWarningSigns
