Remembering To Breathe
For years, my grandma and I have exchanged e-mails, and at the end of each she always tells me to
remember to breathe. She means it in the literal sense, as good breathing practices helps keep the body
calm and collected, but I take it in a figurative sense, too.
While doing schoolwork this morning, I needed a break; I needed to breathe. So, I took a break and
wrote two letters for Letters Against Depression. This is how I chose to breathe. Writing letters for this
charity calms me, is beneficial for myself and for the recipient of the letter, and gives me the
opportunity to help others. Writing two letters is how I chose to breathe this morning, and it makes me
think of other ways I could remember and choose to breathe throughout the day.
Sometimes when Josie is extra fussy, I need to take a breather. This is literal, in that I need to sit down
and take a deep breath, but it also means that I need to redirect both her's and my attention to
something else. I choose to breathe in those moments by stopping and snuggling her, or by eating a
snack with her or playing with her. I choose to breathe by redirecting our attention, and easing her
fussiness.
When I am overwhelmed with housework, I also need to breathe. I do this by writing letters, coloring,
retreating to schoolwork or by taking a short nap. I take deep breaths when I am overwhelmed and
anxious because of chores, and also refocus on something else that doesn't seem so daunting. Then,
when I am calm, I can return to my household duties. I breathed.
Taking a breath doesn't just mean taking a moment to breathe in and out. It also means redirecting
one's attention to something calming. For me, that is writing letters or reading my textbooks. For me, it
is playing with or snuggling with Josie. Breathing is essential to live, and taking a breather is essential for calming my anxiety.
I will try to head my grandma's advice and remember to breathe in anxious and overwhelmed moments.
Breathing is something we do wiithout even thinking, and deep breathing is a practice that can benefit
everyone. But remembering to redirect and refocus one's thoughts in an anxious moment is also
something one can do without thinking once practiced enough. Take a breath, take a moment, redirect, refocus, and calm down.
