Day 40
Compassion as a theme or the lack thereof is still running strong through my system. It seems in today's sensitive social climates people are quick to judge, polarize into groups and attack with ideological weapons. All from the comfort of homes or cafes, behind walls of screens that work to addict and divide, rather than liberate and unite. I wish people could use this privilege for the common good and not to turn on one another. Perspectives are easily misconstrued online and words on the screen lack the necessary nuances of speech and bodies of face to face dialogue, there is a lot to be desired.
A few interesting side notes with this project that mark a lot of changes. On the first day, I happened to move into a new (old) farmhouse, I also have incorporated the Wim Hof breathing method into a daily ritual and due to rural limitations have forgone the internet. These are experiments. Not quite the 40 days of biblical proportion, but some observations are clear.
Life is uncluttered without the internet or wifi in the house. It is tangible and remarkable. It leaves time for doing the things I am most passionate towards and rather than feeling “missing out” I am getting more experience out of life. Rather than distract endlessly with youtube videos or infinite research, or often dark travels down most comment sections, I am faced with time. Time the way I want to spend it. It is regaining autonomy and a sense of agency. I am not stating the internet is all bad, I am simply observing the changes of not having easy access to it. I am lucky that I can use it for an hour at work to post these entries. Having a clear task and getting in and out is not only productive, it is highly effective and efficient.
The biggest impact has been the Wim Hof breathing method that triggers our immune system to go to work. Take 30 full and intentional breaths, after the last exhalation hold your breath. The first time I couldn't last 45 seconds. Yesterday, I reached 2:30 secs without air. That would be considered one round. I do four rounds of this. The depths we can travel inside our bodies are as profound as anything. I am no expert, just open and willing to try anything to live a better life. He has done fascinating and in-depth scientific research and the results are positively widespread. Anxiety, depression are the first things to vanish. Then ailments and chronic symptoms are attacked from the bodies own primordial response mechanisms that are triggered to heal what needs to be healed in this oxygen deprived process. Observing the inner workings of this experience are quite exhilarating, and it leaves me feeling euphoric and energized, every time. I also love that it requires no equipment, is entirely accessible to every human and costs no money. I have noticed tangential benefits, more patience for poor human behaviors, increased empathy and clearer access to creativity among others. I recommend anyone to give it a try, it does no harm.
