Breathe

Recently, while driving home from work, I found myself pondering my next blog. I usually have four or five in the queue, either in progress or ready to publish, but I realized I was down to just one. It was time to start creating again.

I never know where inspiration will come from. A book, a podcast, a meme. But this time, it was something entirely unexpected.

I was almost home when I remembered I needed to stop at the local food pantry. It is a small, locally owned bulk foods store just a few miles from my house. They carry meats, cheeses, spices, and a rotating supply of homemade goodies. The store is owned and operated by a lovely Mennonite group who never fail to offer a kind word and a smile.

As I was checking out, the credit card machine glitched and needed to be rebooted. The young woman behind the counter, she could not have been more than eighteen, smiled and said, “Sorry for the inconvenience. This will only take a minute.”

I was not in any rush, but as we stood there in the silence that sometimes creeps in between strangers, she glanced at my arm, tilted her head slightly, and asked, “Does that say ‘breathe’?”

I nodded and said, “It does.”

With a soft laugh she replied, “It’s important to do that.”

I smiled. “Yeah, I need the reminder sometimes. That’s why I put it there.”

Her smile deepened, and her eyes lit up. “Oh yes, we all need to take a long, slow breath and just learn to relax once in a while.”

I was surprised to hear her say it so plainly, and I immediately agreed. It always amazes me how simple truths can transcend beliefs, cultures, and generations. I wish we heard them more often.

That brief exchange stayed with me long after I left the store. There was something about the way she said it, like she knew it firsthand. Like it was not just a nice idea, but something she had learned to reach for in her own way. I think that is what struck me.

It reminded me why that one word, breathe, means so much to me. Why I chose to carry it with me, not just in ink, but as a kind of anchor. It is simple, yes, but not always easy. And for me, it has become one of the most honest practices I have.

The breath is the one thing I can always come back to. It does not require equipment, or a quiet room, or a specific mood. It does not even ask me to fix anything. Just notice. Just feel it move. When everything feels scattered, that is what steadies me.

I used to think I needed to do something dramatic to feel grounded, some long routine or perfectly curated practice. But over time, I have realized it is the smallest things, done with intention, that create the biggest shift. A single breath. In and out. Slow and steady. That is where presence begins for me.

It is not about controlling the breath, or using it to escape whatever it gets hard. It is about letting it bring me back to what is real. Back to my body. Back to this moment, whatever it holds.

The more I pay attention to the breath, the more I realize how much it reflects what is happening beneath the surface. When I am anxious, my breath gets shallow and rushed, as if I am trying to outrun something. When I am holding back anger or grief, I catch myself holding my breath altogether. And when I let go, really let go, it is always the breath that leads the way.

It has become a kind of quiet mirror. Not something I force or manage, but something I listen to. A way to check in without words. Sometimes I sit with it intentionally, letting each inhale and exhale slow me down. All of you know I like to meditate. Other times, it catches me off guard, like a friend reminding me to soften when I did not even realize I had gone tense.

Modern science echoes what ancient traditions have known all along: the breath is a bridge between body and mind. When we breathe slowly and deliberately, we activate the parasympathetic nervous system, the part responsible for rest, digestion, and repair. It signals safety to the body. That is why a few deep breaths can slow a racing heart, ease tension in the shoulders, or soften anxious thoughts.

In a culture wired for urgency, breath is one of the few tools we always have access to. No app required. No subscription needed. It is a built-in reset button, constantly available, though often overlooked. And in a world where stress has become almost expected, learning to breathe with awareness is not just calming, it is radical.

And maybe that is what I am really trying to remember. Not just to breathe, but to trust that returning to something so simple can still matter. That slowing down for even one breath can be enough.

If this message resonated with you, I invite you to share it forward.
Wellness expands when we pass it on, a moment of stillness, a shift in perspective, a reminder to pause. I can’t tell you how many times someone has reached out to say, “Your message came through just when I needed it.” This is why we share. You never know whose day, or mindset, you might help shift with a single post or message.

So if something here spoke to you, don’t keep it to yourself.
Send it to a friend. Post it on your feed. Mention it to someone who might need to adjust their script. One small action can ripple in powerful ways.

To explore more reflections and resources, visit:
Just Breathe | The Unscripted Mind blog: https://just-breathe.ghost.io

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Let’s keep the conversation flowing. Let’s breathe together.

Always Remember... Just Breathe!
The Unscripted Mind