Breathe

Sometimes I sit next to a grumpy person in a bus, by chance. They will complain about the traffic, be angry and act worried and pensive. I’ve been through this situation enough times to know that at some point, I will get angry and act worried and pensive too. When I resist feeling that way, it feels even worse, like when you’re sleepy as hell but are trying to keep your eyes peeled.

But when I feel that emotion rushing, I just accept it then breathe deeply - in my belly - and exhale strongly and for some reason after that, the feeling doesn’t even exist.

Sometimes I meet a new person and they intimidate me. Their words feel like an attack, their demeanor feels like a threat. Everytime this happens, I just breathe deeeeply. Before I speak to that person, I breathe deeeeeply. Then, like magic, instead of sounding scared, I sound relaxed. Instead of feeling antsy, I feel at ease.

Everytime someone calls me from behind, I first breathe deeply before I turn. When there is a small source of panic, like a kitchen fire, I first breathe deeply before I move. If I was theoretically drowning, I’d do it too, except I don’t think it will work.