Hug Nation

Hug Nation

By John Halcyon StynSociety & CulturePhilosophy
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Hug Nation episodes

  • “Transmuting Tears”

    I had a powerful experience being the butt of a joke about me crying.

    Plus “SAVE BRC!” http://donate.burningman.org

    ALSO ANSWERING: “Do you think it is more constructive to bring The Burning Man ethos into the “default world” by applying it to a conventional career, or do you think it is more impactful to try to live like you are at Burning Man by leaving a conventional career path and trying to make a living through the ethos in the “default world?” –

    submitted by David Posner

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  • Benefits of (a brief) Social Media Break

    I’ve been offline for 3 days and oh my….

    Awareness of my addiction.

    I can observe the number of times I have the instinct to scroll.
    AND how often I have an experience and automatically start to frame it in my mind as a post to share.

    Ability to spend time with larger projects.

    Usually if I sit down to do a project that is complicated or daunting, it doesn’t take long before I am checking my Facebook notifications and then caught scrolling. The low level serotonin buzz from a constant flow of stimulus is freaking attractive – and requires no effort. But when I take away that option, I am forced to be less passive – more active, and SIT with a project. I have been meaning to build out a Hug Nation community and finally did. I was meaning to update my neglected YouTube Channel, and finally did.

    Yearning for longer things to read/watch.

    Articles, Magazines, Books. Or YouTube videos I click “watch later” but never do.
    Normally I fill my brain with snacks and rarely ingest full meals.

    Real World Awareness.

    Like #2, with my default destination for my attention off the table, I am forced to seek other ways to entertain my mind. I feel like I am aware of my surroundings more. I’ve paid more attention to my houseplants, garden, and an art project.

    Naps. I suppose this is a benefit and a challenge. Naps are awesome. But sometimes it is just my way to stay passive and avoid being active. It is better for my health than scrolling, but still an escape.

    I don’t feel as guilty as I thought I would.

    I posted my email in my last FB post if people need to contact me
    AND checked my messages once every other day. (I know this is not a true fast. But it is still a reduction of my time on facebook by 1000+% From many hours to 90 seconds.) I have been using facebook as a primary communication tool, so I am worried about missing time sensitive communication.
    But I find the ‘panic in my chest’ feeling passes quickly.

    Challenges:

    I am imbedded.

    I host many groups. I gave myself permission to log in a few times to check messages and send some updates to event pages. I actually messed a zoom URL in a group event because I was off Facebook and forgot to keep up with everything.

    I also have outsourced lots of information to Facebook. I found myself forgetting names, or realizing I had no way to contact people outside fo Facebook. As I worked on another project, I allowed myself to log in breifly to access info I couldn’t remember. (And, yes, I was pulled into the desire to do more.)

    I miss people

    I logged in briefly Mothers Day to check on a message and – before I could turn away – saw a wonderful love-filled post a friend wrote about their mother. I so love the bits of human experience that are interspersed with the disinformation and clickbait.
    If I stay off more, I’ll have to develop a system of reaching out to people in ways I never have before.

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  • Love vs. Fear & Cone vs. Crap
    In dealing with the new reality, how are you dealing with the Covid MIND VIRUS? Now is the time to practice Love vs. Fear & Cone vs. Crap. Join me for daily online gatherings (for the immediate future) at noon at 6pm at http://zoom.hugnation.com
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About Hug Nation

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Hug Nation is a beacon for Love Ambassadors. (You have already been deputized.)