Just Breathe

If you had a freeway billboard, what would it say?

Probably something like: Take a breath or Just Breathe

Last time I visited my son we worked on my Beatrix butterfly breathing book. Ayla, who turned two during my visit was sitting on one of our laps the whole time as we were on our computers discussing, reformatting, fixing color etc. she and I did a little yoga in the mornings and she, without us directly teaching her picked up on the breathing.

Kids are little sponges, so we shouldn’t have been surprised, but we were. On day my son and I were editing the wording for the breathing exercise. She was across the room playing as we did the motions, her mom said look at Ayla. She was doing the motions, from across the room! Which was adorable of course, but who would think a two year old could consciously breathe?

She’s ours, so we are sure she’s advanced and of course smarter than average, so maybe it’s that, but all bragging aside, (or in front), this baby can breathe!

Wait, it gets better. While we’ve been here this time she’s has had a few moments. She was having a two year old moment of frustration at one point, trying to fit a toy together and her mom again said look at Ayla, she’s breathing, I wish I could remember to do that. Sure enough, this tiny two year old was closing her eyes and taking deep breaths! I kid you not! We saw her do a version of this a few other times.

Again, I am happily surprised by the power of concious breathing. It works to calm a frustrated two year old as well as a stressed out forty year old. All it is, is a moment of filling your lungs and emptying them while thinking about filling your lungs and emptying them. I love the simplicity of breathing while I also love it’s power. If a two year old can learn how to regulate herself while she’s in a disregulated state, what is the potential here?

Some billboards remind people to wear their seat belts, to not drink and drive, or not to text while driving. I get that breathing won’t solve complicated problems, Ive heard this and it’s true, but it’s not about solving, so much as soothing . It’s just one small thing anyone can do to help themselves through a moment. My billboard would remind us to take a concious breath. To Just breathe.