Planning ahead is instrumental in creating a positive experience during the April 8, 2024, total solar eclipse.
By Alison Crane
“Life is all memory, except for the one present moment that goes by you so quickly you hardly catch it going.” Tennessee Williams
Have you ever noticed how two people experiencing the same event will describe it differently? How the event is perceived can be caused by a variety of factors, but the result is no two people will have exactly the same description or memory of what happened. Sometimes that is because we allow distractions or concerns to prevent us from being present in the moment.
Since I host most of the major events for my family, it can be easy to become consumed by all of the things that need to be done to make sure everyone else is having a good time. When my house is full, I tend to spend a lot of my time in the kitchen or directing traffic in our often crowded living area.
While I thrive on hosting and feeding people, sometimes I do a good job of balancing priorities and delegating tasks, other times not so much.
Spending time with people is when most memories are made. Memories happen when we have shared experiences, and they can be made at grand events or during quiet moments. To experience the moment during a big event like the eclipse or just a regular backyard family gathering requires a little insight and taking deliberate steps to not miss out. Try these tips for a positive experience during the 2024 eclipse:
Plan ahead – make a checklist of everything you might need or want with you at the time of the eclipse. Even if you are viewing from home, you do not want to have to keep running in and out repeatedly. See the Garland County Family Preparedness Handout for planning suggestions.
Practice mindfulness – just stop, breathe, and take in what each of your five senses tells you about what is happening around you. Since the time for totality will be almost four minutes, it will be a great time to savor the experience. Even if it is a rainy day, the sun and moon will still be doing their dance, don’t miss it!
Be prepared for a crowd to do anything – their reaction might be to scream and yell, cheer, or talk the whole time. If noise like that tends to bother or offend your senses, you might need to consider finding a quiet area away from the hustle and bustle to experience the eclipse. A confrontation will only serve to make everyone unhappy and steal the memory.
Be prepared for traffic congestion – chances are traffic will be backed up and possibly stop where it is at the time of the eclipse and then suddenly everyone will be trying to leave once it is over. Give yourself extra time to travel to a location and find parking and then practice patience when traveling back home to prevent the eclipse from being eclipsed by road rage or other traffic-related problems.
Even if your eclipse experience or family get-together does not take place as you planned, deliberately try to enjoy it the way it unfolds. Being open to trying new things or adjusting plans leads to positive memories and prevents dissatisfied feelings.
Contact the Garland County Extension Service for more ways to improve family and friend interactions. Call 501-623-6841 or email acrane@uada.edu. NASA has many recommendations for viewing the eclipse safely.
Alison Crane is a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with the Garland County Extension Service. The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs to all eligible persons without regard to race, color, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
