Gut check...are you breathing during the holidays?
Greetings from the backstage of Book-It Repertory Theater's production of Treasure Island! My pirate just met her watery grave (spoiler alert), so I have a moment to share something I've been contemplating lately.
Did you know that most humans stop breathing when we don't want to experience something? Think of the last time you almost got into a bike or car accident. Perhaps you gasped, held your breath, and braced your body for impact. Many of us go through life like this - subconsciously braced for the worst, sipping in only shallow amounts of air as we go. Shallow or halted breathing becomes most noticeable when confronted with difficult news or people, with uncertainty, and of course, when confronted with an audience!
The opposite is true as well. When we want to experience life more vividly, we literally breathe it in more deeply. Think of how your breathing changes when a delicious, long-awaited meal arrives to your table, or when someone you find incredibly attractive is near.
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