Breathing
My Alexa awakened me at one o’clock this morning: “Someone is at the front door.” My breathing stopped.
Its calm voice startled me as my phone vibrated with the same message from my Ring doorbell: Someone is at the front door. Then, the banging began.
Loud bursts of a fist pounding on my front door stopped my breath. My Alexa screen brightened to reveal a woman outside looking frantically behind her as she pounded on my door and yelled, “Help me!”
I jumped out of bed, grabbed my phone, and dialed 911. My hands were shaking, so I could barely hold the phone steady.
“Nine-one-one, what’s your emergency?”
“There’s a woman outside banging on my door and yelling for help.” I felt a tear run down my cheek.
“Okay, ma’am,” the operator said. “It’s okay. She’s drunk, and her friends are trying to get her home. Deputies are on their way.”
I exhaled. “Okay,” I said. “Thank you.”
My heart and adrenaline were competing speeds, racing each other to exhaustion. I took a deep inhale and slow exhale. Deep inhale and slow exhale. I was focusing on my breath, staying as present as possible. I breathed like this until I felt calmer and safer. Eventually, I fell asleep.
Breathing is so important. Often, we don’t even notice when we’re holding our breath. Fortunately, I have been practicing meditation consistently for the past two weeks, so I automatically knew how to manage it during that high-stress moment.
How often do you notice your breathing? Spend a few minutes just focusing on your breath and see what thoughts or feelings come up. Jot down your experience.
For more journal prompts, visit ZayZoh.com. Also, here’s why I podcast.
