Remembering to Breathe

I watch a lot of exercise videos. Walking, aerobic, cardio, yoga, Pilates. While all of the techniques are very different, there is one thing all of them have in common. At some point, they talk about the importance of breathing. In yoga and Pilates, breathing is key, as they say. You breathe in when you're doing this, you breathe out when you're doing that. In other exercise venues, they just remind you to breathe because breathing is energy.

Sometimes I forget that I'm holding my breath. It's like I'm waiting for something to happen to me. Obviously, when you're not breathing, you're not really living. So I've started reminding myself to look up, look outside of myself, to see, feel, experience life. Life is all about moments. I've never met anyone who gets bliss every minute of every day. I'm learning that you have to make your own. Like this one:

After shopping at Heinen's last week, the cashier told me I'd earned a reward. I had one of two choices, either a package of hot chocolate or a bouquet of tulips. I chose the tulips. They made me think of my mom, and it felt like they were her gift to me. All week, I've seen those tulips and thought about my mom. A dozen moments that have made my heart happy.

Another example...I hope my sister won't mind if I borrow one of hers. I was on Facebook and saw a picture of her in a huge sombrero, her plate filled with a yummy-looking dessert. She was smiling a contented smile, obviously having a wonderful time. When I think of that picture, it makes me smile. It has become my moment, too.

This morning I got up and opened the curtains, and there was the sun. I stepped out onto our frosty porch, my breath coming like puffy clouds. A reminder to me. I had two different views:

I could focus on the cold, frosty earth or the brilliant blue sky.

 Or I could choose to drink in the whole picture. Which is what I did. And took in the cold air of a beautiful new morning.