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on immersion

I’m on a “high speed boat” about to leave from Naoshima Island to Takamatsu. I hear and feel the rumbling motor. All the other passengers are pretty quiet. Maybe they’re as tired as I am, having spent a full day on the island moving about and experiencing art. I’ve just been wished a pleasant journey by the overhead voice in four languages, presumably, but I only can confirm one.

This is my first post on a boat. And wow, first boat post is high speed! I feel lucky.

If I weren’t typing right now, I’m afraid I might fall asleep. I’ve been having a difficult time with jet lag lately, and part of the reason, I think, is... my computer.

I have to do some work on this trip, and work means corresponding with people in different time zones on my computer. I also sometimes don’t sleep well when I’m anxious about work. Part of me wishes I weren’t working on this trip, but I suppose this is the exchange in this society of ours for a more free lifestyle without the time and space constraints of a more formal job. (Go figure, last time I came to Japan, I worked a job with regular hours and didn't bring my computer.)

Nowadays, I fantasize about having other jobs. What would it be like to be a boat driver? To feel the waves and current under me and be responsible for others safe journey? What about a spin class instructor? Maybe I’d have to be fit, inspiring, a good DJ, and again, caring for my participants. I wouldn’t want anyone to get hurt. I’d have to do CPR on someone if something bad happened. Or what about being a park ranger? I could give tours and introduce guests to specific medicinal plants, for example. Of course while it seems idyllic, it might be scary to be near nature too—it’s awesome in both it’s beauty and power. Again I would be caring towards any hikers, giving them the best information for a safe and fun hike.

I’m sure we all feel this way. Us being knowledge workers, or anyone who mostly uses a computer all day to write or create new ideas. We know we get our best ideas when we are walking or taking a shower or some other immersive experience. (But of course that’s only because we spent some time before putting the questions and problems into play.) We desire an immersion. I keep trying to define the properties of being fully immersed. One is certainly being embodied, or conscious of your body.

Another aspect might be social. The occupations I mentioned above are all caring for others in some way, leading them on an embodied path. I feel most immersed when I’m on a journey with someone else. Like when I'm teaching. I borrowed this phrase "teaching hole" from another teacher. It certainly does feel like I come out of a "teaching hole" when I'm done with a class. I haven't been online in over 5 hours!

So here's a little list I'm working on. These all assume there's no wifi. Many of them also wouldn't go so well with an internet connection anyway.

immersive:

  • walking
  • taking a shower
  • sleeping
  • teaching
  • falling in love
  • cinema
  • life or death experience

I want to incorporate more immersion into my life. But also, to recover from the immersion, I'll need definite relaxation and leisure. I suppose what I'm saying is I don't want any confusing in-between time... I want to know if it's immersive or it's not. And if I don't know, I want to give it up.