Just Breathe

February 10, 2023. Some experiences teach us important lessons about life. Others grab us by the throat only to suffocate the shallow breath we faintly hold dear in our desperate moments of survival. Yet, in the midst of desperation and despair, something beautiful happens. There lies a nudge, a beckoning, an urgent plea, a signaling that can be heard above the noise, propelling us to breathe.

As we look for answers to the most difficult questions in life, we soon realize the answer is not always visible. Sometimes our survival and our victory are predicated on one simple reality—our desire and decision to breathe.

Breathing is a mere reflection of what sustains us in difficult times. It is a subtle indication that our purpose here on earth is not complete. When we breathe, we establish patterns of acceptance and release. When we inhale, we accept the here and now, despite how good or how bad. When we exhale, we let go of judgment, shame, and regret. We release the desire to fix or change those situations we absolutely have no power to change.

In life, we will face mountains. Many will focus on the size of the mountain, but its size is not relevant. What is relevant is what we possess on the inside that can aid us in how we proceed. Often times, the mountains we face do not necessarily move, but as we continue to breathe and persevere, we inevitably gather the strength to climb, the wisdom to deviate, or the faith to go through it.

Breathing is essential because every breath indicates a measure of faith. That faith teaches us that we cannot rely on what we see. In essence, we must open our ears and listen, not to the waves, not to the crushing and perilous sounds of defeat, not to the disruptive grumblings of confusion, but to that calming and quiet voice telling us to breathe.

It is a gentle tug that can be felt maneuvering around resistant walls and familiar frustrations. It is a provoking spark, meandering through tears of persistence, while waiting to be ignited. It is a flutter of possibility that can be heard beating from a determined heart. It is a necessary whisper, reminding us, pushing us, and propelling us not to give up, but to breathe.

Just Breathe.