Breathing Into and Beginning 2021
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January 2021
I LOVE January. Not only is January the month I was born, it is a month of beginnings. I typically don’t start New Year’s resolutions until my birthday on the 18th. It seems we are usually traveling or still “holidaying” over the new year, which tends to sabotage any success of starting something new. This past year, of course, has been different, and for us there was no holiday travel.
So for this year, I am beginning my New Year’s resolutions on January 1st 2021, and I invite you to join me in a focus on breathing. I will be offering glimpses of beauty each day – daily visuals of living, breathing, growing flowers – as a reminder and as a challenge to slow down and focus on our breath.
Sharing some of the images that have pulled me and the lens of my camera into their beauty gives me great joy. I wonder if we could imagine together that I am ringing your virtual doorbell and delivering a bouquet each day? Some of these images were photographed in the Des Moines Botanical Center, some from Claude Monet’s garden in Giverny, France, some in Costa Rica, some in Nepal, some on a hike in Washington, and some in our back yard. Each one represents a breathtaking moment for me…a moment to reflect on slowing down, and taking a deep breath.
One of the premises of Stop Breathe Believe: Mindful Living One Thought at a Time is to practice recognizing our thoughts, tuning into our bodies and breathing, and finally, choosing a healthier, more life-giving thought process. My hope for each of us in 2021 is that we are paying attention, leaning into our learning, growing in place, and starting a ripple effect of breathing calm into our world. May the intention of breathing into our communities, our homes, and our relationships begin with our very own hearts.
What we know is that deep, diaphragmatic breathing is healthy for us, physically and emotionally. In this day of Covid, how wonderful to practice deep breathing! Could it be that we can exercise our lung muscles by simply breathing in…breathing out…? Could it be that we can bring greater calm to our anxious hearts simply by breathing in…breathing out…?
Artwork by Allana McNeill
I admit, beginnings are hard. I am not that great at beginnings. I like to be really good at things from the beginning. Roger and I attempted to learn how to play the guitar a few years ago. Roger is still playing the guitar; I am back to playing the piano. Enough said. Roger and I are now beginning in-home tap dancing with our precious granddaughters. I will keep you posted on how this “beginning” ends. The reality is, we are all beginners. Beginning takes courage…but we already have what it takes to begin breathing strong and begin breathing in beauty.
Roger’s poetic take on Sterling’s breathing can be a lesson for us all.
Learning by Roger Jones
Our dog pounces
onto the couch
circles a turn
curls into a tightknit ball
deeply inhales and
exhales a strong sigh.
I watch her belly
expand,
by-passing the
ineffective shallow
chest-rising breath
they tell us to avoid.
Without a meditation
instructor, it seems
she knows how
to breathe properly.
Next, she slivers
off the couch
front feet extended
rear end towering
above her head,
elegantly stretching,
precisely as the yoga
instructor trains.
Later we head
out for a walk.
I’m paying careful
attention to her.
Wondering…
what else can
she teach me,
here and now.
Let’s practice together. Let’s practice learning about breathing. Let’s practice breathing in beauty. Let’s practice strengthening our lungs. Let’s practice breathing out. Let’s practice together. Let’s stay connected.
Happy New Year to you all,
Dianne
