Our Shared Breath

We are all sharing in this breath.

It doesn’t matter how far away you are from me, you exhale and eventually, it is part of my inhale. Those trees, that squirrel, that president, that immigrant - they are breathing with us as well.

Waves of breath, all across the world.

Take it literally or metaphorically - you’ll find truth either way.

There’s a lot that can be taken from this recognition. It can spark the imagination, bring awareness to the depth and sensations of your own breath (this one, right now - feel it), and even make you feel a bit uneasy. 

I’ll cherry pick two ideas that are timely and relevant to our shared, collective breathing.

One. My fellow Americans, I’m looking at you here: Wear. A. Mask. 

Your breath is my breath. If you are selfish about yours, it leaves less for me. If you exhale a virus, you leave it for my mom to inhale. If you don’t maintain awareness about how your breath has influence beyond your own lips, then you put the burden of the consequences on us all.

Just wear the mask.

Two, Black Lives Matter.

Yep - this has to do with our collective breath. It doesn’t matter how easily we (white people) can breathe if the shared flow of breath is being repressed, caged, interrupted, … stopped. 

“Black Lives Matter” are three words that bring awareness to where the breath has been suffocated for years. It is not saying your breath doesn’t matter. It is saying that your breath - your SHARED breath - DOES matter, and it’s (beyond) time to recognize where it doesn’t flow … and to take responsibility for doing something about it.

Those who breathe easy have a responsibility to help those who do not. That’s part of being alive, part of the work for the benefit of being able to share in this beautiful flow of breath.

With me, now, take a full inhale, then with delight, a full exhale. Sit up with a regal attitude and own your strength. Drop your shoulders, soften your stomach, and own your softness. 

We’re breathing this together. We’re creating this day together.

Take another full breath, mask up, and let’s get to it.