Chapter 4; Week 4

One of the core agreements of existentialism is that being human means we will experience anxiety. There are countless sources of anxiety, but comfort seems to be its opposite. To access feelings of comfort when we would normally be anxious seems to be a truly lofty goal. For the last week I’d like us to look at how we access and experience comfort and discomfort in our bodies out-and-about in the world.

Assignment #1: I urge Beth to be mindful of her breath, body/extremities, movements and actions this week. Try to remain aware of your breath, your body, movements, and actions throughout the days this week.

• Start after your morning meditation at home with some mundane tasks like cleaning or making your bed.
• Work towards doing this in public, while you’re in groups and in social situations.
• Identify how your body reacts to stress or anxiety. Start to observe your body in different situations and emotional states.

Assignment #2:  Come to New York City for some isolation! Beth is coming to visit me in New York. On Saturday, Sept. 28^th we both have separate 60-minute appointments in the floatation isolation chamber at Blue Light Floatation. For more information on what the heck that is and what to expect, visit the Blue Light website here: http://www.bluelightfloatation.com/floatation.html

Here are some pre-float prep notes:

• Don’t be on a coffee buzz the day of the float.
• Don’t drink too much water.
• Get good sleep the night before.

A skeptical Blue Light Floater documented her visit on this blog. http://www.theawl.com/2012/10/new-yorks-last-sensory-deprivation-tank The post goes into great detail about what to expect when you go to Blue Light for a float. What you choose to think about (or not) inside the floatation chamber is up to you. See you this weekend, Beth!

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