June 3, 2012
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Breathing
There’s something relaxing or comforting about simply hearing another human breathe.
There’s a rhythm to breath. It’s so natural that we forget we’re doing it. But when we focus on it, that simple act is calming. It brings us together and sets us collectively apart.
While people will often take things (food, clothes, toys, mates, etc.) for themselves to the exclusion of others, air is different. It’s not practically excludable and only temporarily rival. Air is weird because it flows: I take it in and breathe it out, and then another person can take in the exact same air and do the same thing. The same matter that was in me could also be in you. It’s kind of gross, but in that way, breath unites all breathing things–and not just because it’s a feature of living necessities. Rather, the unity lies in the fact that we take in, breathe out, and generally share a same essence.
And of course, this blog wouldn’t be complete without the etymological side note: a long time ago and for a long time, (circa Proto-Indo European), “breath” and “smell” (nouns) were the same word as were their verbs. I typically prefer not to associate smells with breath, but I’ve certainly had the smelly-breath experience. I’m glad that hygeine has improved to the point that respiration can be phonetically distinct from odors.
The last several times I’ve been in a library, things have been quiet enough that I can hear the other people around me just breathing. It’s a great reminder that, while I’m intensely focused on what I’m doing, there is life around me. Other people…also working. There’s a connection…even if silent and uncommunicated…even unacknowledged.
Comments (3)
That’s quite profound. I like it. Another quite boggling thought is that God breathed into dust and thus created life. All life is God breathed. We are, in essence dust and God’s breath. Haha. On a side note: air is free of course unless you live in dr seuss land where the lorax resides (did you see that movie?).
@thirsting_forlife - I haven’t seen the movie, but I read the book a long time ago. I should not only see the movie, but also re-read the book. One of the things that always skeeved me out was the though of moisture in God’s breath interacting with the dust…like holy spit. Slightly icky…but no less significant. : )
haha never thought of that!