BREATHE LIKE YOU LOVE YOURSELF

 Take a breath.
Just for a moment take a breath and take the time to read this.
One breath. 

We take breathing for granted, but without one breath we may not be here to take the next or the next.  One breath is so precious.  It is the most important thing we have and yet we pay such little attention to it. 

Oh, if it is someone else, we notice.
When our babies are born, we wait to hear that first cry knowing that it means they have taken a breath and all is well.  And when our kids are sick with bronchitis, we do everything we can to help them breathe.  We set up vaporizers, rub Vicks on their chest, give them cough drops, and prop them upright to help them fill those precious lungs.  
We want them to breathe because we love them.

Before my Dad passed from Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis, I had never given much thought to how important breathing is. As I watched him struggle with every inhale while a machine groaned and hissed to supply him with the right amount of oxygen I paid attention to his breath like I never had before.  Over time, the scarring and hardening of his lungs got worse and it became harder and harder for his lungs to hold even a small amount of oxygen. I remember the pain as I held his hand and cried as he took  his last breath.
I wanted him to breathe because I loved him.

It is our human nature to take care of others.  To love others.  But, what about showing the same attention to ourselves.  When was the last time you breathed like you love yourself?  When was the last time you paid attention to the importance of your own breath? 

Take a breath now. 
Slowly. 
Feel the coolness of the air as it enters your nostrils.  Feel as the breath passes through your nose, travels down the back of your throat and into your bronchial tubes, and slowly fills your lungs.  Feel your lungs expand and your chest push out. Now follow the exhale as your lungs contract and releases the air to exit your body.  Notice how it feels warm as you exhale. 

Most of the time we never think about it or notice that we are breathing.  Take some time right now to think about what a gift of love our breath is. Think of yourself as a young child in your care and you want that child to breathe because you love them.  Breathe with slow, full intention.

Breathe like you love yourself. 
Take a breath. 
A precious breath.
A breath is the first and last thing we do in this life. 
Let me repeat that.
A breath is the first and last thing we do in this life. 
It is our beginning and our ending.  Why wouldn’t we cherish it?  Why wouldn’t we pay attention to the way it fills us with life?  Why wouldn’t we breathe like we love ourselves?
               ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~~ ~ ~~~
Pennie’s Life Lesson:
“A breath is the first and last thing we do in this life. Cherish it.  Breathe like you love yourself.”  
                     ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

---

YOUR TURN...         
My intent in sharing this with you is to encourage you to understand the gift of each breath.  To understand that with each breath love circulates through your body.  
     ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
                               All Rights Reserved
                 Copyright © 2013-2020 Pennie Hunt
         This was written and produced by Pennie Hunt.
Feel free to forward and share this post.  Please keep the entire message intact, including  contact, logo, and copyright information.