Memorial Day Weekend

I’ve been thinking about things to do over Memorial Day weekend this year, I know I want to do something this year.

The first option that I’m thinking about is taking a retreat. Specifically, The Garrison Institute is having a Buddhist retreat that weekend that sounds really interesting. It’s close enough (just outside New York City) that it’s a cheap flight or a day’s drive away, so it’s a realistic option. A potentially wonderful opportunity to step well outside my comfort zone and really challenge myself, both in my interactions with others and (perhaps more importantly) my interactions with myself.

Another option is to spend the weekend in a self-imposed isolation. Shut myself off from the world completely for three days. Unplug the phone, leave the television and computer off. No reading the paper, no reading anything. Keep the drapes closed so I can’t even see the outside world. Maybe even experiment with fasting, perhaps limit myself to just rice, water, and tea for the three days. Leave myself with nothing but me and my thoughts for those three days, and nothing to do but explore my own mind. See where it takes me. I’d probably allow myself to turn my laptop on, so long as it’s not connected to the internet, so that I can type out my thoughts throughout the weekend, as a sort of journal for the journey.

I’ve also considered just getting in my car, picking a direction, and driving. See where it takes me. Go to strange places to meet strange people, with no idea of where I’ll end up next. I’ll still have time to be alone with my thoughts as I make my way from place to place, but that will be punctuated by these little mini-adventures off the beaten path. Though, I have to admit, this is the kind of adventure I’d always pictured myself taking with someone, and not by myself. Still, it’s an option.

There’s a common theme here, and that’s challenging myself by getting outside my comfort zone and seeing where it takes me, mentally more than physically. So, if anyone has any further ideas please speak up. I’m very open to suggestions right now, even if it’s just something fun instead of challenging! I want to recharge my batteries by doing something besides sitting around and playing video games for three days this year. *laugh*