There is a balance and a rhythm to breathing.
Inhaling fills the body with oxygen while exhaling helps release the carbon-dioxide from your body. We cannot survive very long by inhaling only without an equal amount of exhaling.
What if we viewed a balanced life in this way as well?
It is easy to become so overly focused on inhaling - family responsibilities, careers, social expectations, and busy schedules, that we find ourselves busting at the seams, in desperate need of exhaling - traveling, relaxing, me time, and fun with friends or family.
We each desire a release from the pressures of life, but sometimes forget how to relax, or we simply don’t allow ourselves time to do so.
It’s so important to step out of our regular lives from time to time, to maintain our rhythm in life, to seek idleness or travel or play as a counterbalance to our many obligations.
When engaging in activities that excite us we spark a hidden spirit that emerges and energizes us. It’s the part of us that likes to be a little out of control of life and allows us time to embrace our “inner gypsy.”
From time to time we need escape from our everyday selves in order to reclaim our true selves, to burn off steam, to exhale.
We can spend so much time doing the the important things in life that we begin losing pieces of who we truly are or who you want to be.
When this happens, confront it.
Don’t be afraid to get out of your normal routines. to be a daydreamer, a misfit, an adventurer, a risk taker, a strange bird.
Go find those little pieces you’ve lost.
Exhale in rhythmic concordance with your inhaled daily life.
When you feel that pressure building up inside you and you need a release
…..don’t forget to exhale.
- Jason Durham - 2013
Hi Sprawl: We met in MD on the AT. Thank you for your advice about the oreo cookie cup. I implemented that in June. We were not able to complete our hike due to rain in the north and fire in the south. So we have turned into LASHERS on the AT. Keep up the writing. I am still writing for thetrek.co. Peace Beth Malchus Stafa