Easier said than done at times, yes?
This month's wellness area of focus is BREATHING...you know, that thing we do every day that keeps us alive but we typically pay very little attention to? Yeah, that...so, what's the big deal, anyway? Why should we care about this? Let's take a moment to reflect with some relevant quotes:
"Breath is the bridge which connects life to consciousness, which unites your body to your thoughts." ~Thich Nhat Hanh
*So true! Let's think about this...breathing supplies our blood/brain/bodies with oxygen and sustains us physically. At the same time, it enables us to think more clearly and act more productively. Many spiritual practices incorporate breathing meditation...so the breath truly is a unifying force to be reckoned with!
"There is one way of breathing that is shameful and constricted. Then, there’s another way: a breath of love that takes you all the way to infinity." ~Rumi
*Have you ever noticed how shallow and constricted your breathing is when you are anxious/fearful/stressed/etc.? When you panic, how clearly can you think? On the flip side, can you think of a time when you took a wonderfully deep cleansing breath in (while walking outside, practicing yoga, etc.) and immediately felt more relaxed/at ease/calm/powerful/connected to something larger than yourself? I have experienced both sides of this coin, and can say with certainty that I prefer the latter!
Here's a good one that speaks to the value of breathing and living fully and richly: "Listen, are you breathing just a little and calling it a life?" ~Mary Oliver
A final thought: "A lifetime is not what is between the moments of birth and death. A lifetime is one moment Between my two little breaths. The present, the here, the now, That's all the life I get. I live each moment in full, In kindness, in peace, without regret." ~Chade Meng, Taoist poet
