Anna M.
Photographed by Luther Bells
If you’re reading this, inhale through the nose. Exhale through the mouth.
Breath bridges the body and the mind.
Intentional breath allows the two to be aware of each other.
But breathing can remain without attention. Always present, rarely noticed.
Until we begin sprinting, climbing, gasping, then breath is realized as a necessity.
If you’re reading this, maybe you’ve become breathless. But instead of breathing deeper, the body’s reaction is to breathe faster. The mind points us instead to a slower inhale. A deeper exhale.
Racing breathlessly is possible, but it is not sustainable. Being busy with no intention is exhausting and fruitless.
Come back to what sustains you. Does the allocation of your time and energy align with your purpose? Are your activities fueling your passion and aligning appropriately with your goals?
In a consumer culture, a successful day is marketed as busy. But a truly successful day is fulfilling.
Why would breathlessness be recognized as more impressive than composure?
We make decisions and commitments deliberately. But when motion becomes automatic, awareness fades.
If you’re reading this, return to the reason behind every action today. Observe how movement begins to shift. Notice the parallel between this rhythm and that of meditative breath.
No one can take your breath away from you. It is yours to control.
No one can choose your intention for you. It is yours to cultivate.
Anna M., Clemson University
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