Fishing for Balance

The Power of Breath

I did some lap swimming today – first time since last year’s New Year’s Day polar plunge. That experience left me high for 48 hours. Today’s swim...in a pool...a warm, saltwater pool at that still reminded me of how good it is to feel my body cut through the water, the bubbles tickling down my sides, my abs tighten, my legs power up and my lungs working hard.

As I reached and paddled through the buoyant softness of the water, my mind wandered undisciplined from home chores to the title of my next book, to magical dolphins and then the horror outside my liquid cocoon crept in.

So I found myself using the gift of breath to comprehend, perhaps balance, my soul on the state of the World.

Breathe in love. Breathe out rage.

Breathe in homeless Syracuse woman saved by compassionate cop. Breathe out Minneapolis murders.

Breathe in 18 Tennessee dogs saved from freezing. Breathe out Black murders by federal agents.

Breathe in polar bears thriving despite melting ice. Breathe out federal cuts to Climate mitigations.

Breathe in 33 endangered North Atlantic right whales swimming off Cape Cod. Breathe out Gaza.

Breathe in DC “Snow Heroes” shoveling white stuff for those who can’t. Breathe out Greenland, Ukraine, International betrayal.

Breathe in No Kings. Breathe out autocracy.

Breathe in hope. Breathe out...breathe in...breathe out.

Note to self - we are not alone. We are not powerless. And, we are part of it all.

With gratitude to Janie Starr and Aaaron Parnas