Just Breathe
(the picture is of Xoponex, similar to Albuteral, which has, literally, given our son back his breath hundreds of times)
It’s been a good while since I posted, but it has been a very hectic few weeks with many changes: a new part time job for me, the end of a 20 year job for my husband, issues with my son’s health, and etc. and all the ensuing stress that comes with all of the above. It is easy to get caught up in the stresses that life circumstances, like jobs and money, bring on. It is easy to forget, in those times, what a gift life is–what a gift breathing is.
I’ve probably been obsessed with breathing since my son was born 17+ years ago and Thursday while getting a chest x-ray with my son I went to use the restroom and was hit by a smell that brought so many memories flooding back. It must be the soap they use at this facility because it smells exactly like the Intensive Care Unit where we would have to lean over the big sinks with the foot pedals and scrub our arms and hands and nails with brushes full of soap, put on our robes and masks, each time we went in to sit with our son.
The ideas of Pneuma and Qi–both of which can be literally translated as breath but mean something closer to spirit and life–are fascinating. I have learned so much about breathing in studying buddhism, practicing Qigong, and starting to try yoga–breathing is incredibly important, not just to live, but breathing well and living well are interconnected. I was surprised to find this idea of breathing in Christian terms, but Rob Bell has an excellent Nooma (short video) on Breath (the link is to a youtube clip, not the whole piece). Anyway, I rambled on about breath early in April so I won’t beleaguer the idea.
Sitting with my son this morning while he struggled to get a deep breath, fought with the panic that comes from feeling like your lung is being strangled, listening to the doctors concern about the damage and loss of function in his lungs–snaps the importance of breath into sharp focus. It is in times of stress and times of fear and times of chaos that we most need our deep and steady breathing, that we most need to find our center and just breathe.
Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile,
but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy.
~Thich Nhat Hanh
Yes, breathing is certainly a gift and yes, it is so easy to forget it. Thoughtful post. I wish improved health to your son and less stress for you in the coming days.
Namaste.
I can feel the stength and the bond that your family has through your post and I now you will grow stronger and closer as a result of this turn in your journey. Part of the duty of deep, controlled breathing is to keep us in the moment. Keep us conscious and steady. To be. I will hold good thoughts for your family.
I wish nothing but the best for you and your family. Very thoughtful post. My son when he was first born had to have a nebulizer with Albuterol for almost his first year. It worried us alot but the Albuterol helped more than we can express.