Just breathe

Today, I woke up with pain across my chest, with sharpness zinging through to my left ear. I could sense panic closing in and I reached out for a song or a verse to re-frame my mind. Johnny Diaz's "Just Breathe" came to mind.

Instead of hyperventilating or being completely frozen in fear, the movie in my mind included parts of this song followed by many Bible verses I memorized as a child (Philippians 4:13, Ephesians 3:20-21, Jeremiah 29:11-14a, Psalm 91, Psalm 121 among others) and snippets of prayers I learned to pray as member of the prayer ministry at church, speaking life and power to my body.

Here are the opening lines from Johnny Diaz's song. Feels like they were lifted directly from my life. I am breathing and breathing well for any of my readers who got concerned reading this post. I will live a long life as I know my mission is not yet complete. However, I also know that my choices for balanced work and self-care will be even more crucial at this time. By the way, every time I put something in my gratitude journal or create a blogpost, I move along in my academic work. Perhaps my experiment is working...? Just Breathe ~ Johnny Diaz

Alarm clock screaming bare feet hit the floor It's off to the races everybody out the door I'm feeling like I'm falling behind, it's a crazy life

Ninety miles an hour going fast as I can Trying to push a little harder trying to get the upper hand So much to do in so little time, it's a crazy life It's ready, set, go it's another wild day When the stress is on the rise in my heart I feel you say just

Breathe, just breathe Come and rest at my feet And be, just be Chaos calls but all you really need Is to just breathe

...

Enjoy the song here: https://youtu.be/hnjeMwxFuBA Peace and blessings to all.