As a swimmer and a polo player, I have learned to limit my breathing when I'm in the water. So for a long time, when people would tell me "don't forget to breathe" I would just laugh at them. Breathing. How silly of a concept!
Megan and Renee have told me for a long time when I would get stressed out to "breathe". To take a breath and slow down. I would always stop, take a second to breathe, and then get all stressed back out again.
A good family friend gave me this decoration for my dorm room that simply says the word "breathe" on it. I absolutely LOVED the decoration when I got it, and enjoyed the reminder.
Tonight I was talking to Laura (someone from camp who graduated from A&M in the spring and who I got close to this summer and look up to) and she was asking me if I was ready for class to start up tomorrow. I kinda sighed, gave an "ehhh" response, and quickly tried to change the subject. Laura (who knows me extremely well) stopped the conversation, called me out for avoiding my nervousness, and asked me again. I nearly broke down in tears because I was nervous, scared, worried, anxious, excited, intimidated and every other emotion under the sun. All she said was "You can do it. All you have to do is remember to breathe and you will make it through tomorrow. Don't stress out, you have so many friends from camp right here on campus that can meet you where you are if you need them. You can, and you will do it. Just remember to breathe. Breathe Kylie, breathe".
After talking to Laura, I walked outside, unlocked my bike, and took a smile bike ride around campus. I timed just how long it takes me to get to my first class tomorrow, and was enjoying the cool 98 degree weather. Campus was relatively quiet, and after finding my 8AM class, I rode around for a little bit. I thought a lot about breathing, and realized that it is more than the simple inhalation and exhalation of oxygen. Breathing means taking time to stop. To stop whatever you are doing, and breathe. To focus on God and all of His creation that is constantly surrounding us. It may only be a second, but taking that time to breathe and refocus our attention on what REALLY matters, regardless of how stressed out we are, is so refreshing and provides us the strength to make it through whatever is going on.
So, that's what I'm going to do tomorrow. Right before I walk into that 8AM education class, I'm going to take a second to breathe. Soak up the beauty surrounding us that is God, and breathe, knowing that our God has a mighty plan and everything will be okay :)
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