Breathing

You can barely see it, but yes there is snow on my sleeve.

When I woke up the world was anew. It was nine thirty and life was beginning again as every day does. I went for my run and the bitterly cold air suffused into my body, zapping the innermost of my organs. I could feel that chill penetrate my heart, lungs, and breathe. I gasped for air as I continued to run, pounding my feet against the pavement, stretching my sleeves so that they could keep my knuckles from freezing off like those insane images of flowers frozen in nitrogen (check national geographic for a cool photograph). Alas, then the snow flurries began to flutter down from the clouds and onto my hair, my shirt, and my nose. I felt the specks of white inadvertently crash into my eyeballs and while there was some pain, the exuberance within spread my mouth wide into a smile.

Even in the most miserable moments, joy exists. I went later to Pike Place and ate some delicious piroshkies with friends and we headed to the aquarium only to find that our student budgets did not favor such extravagant fares. Instead we wandered Seattle jumping into a warm building every other block, bought some yummy dried fruit and a mango lassi, finally returning to my warm dorm this afternoon. I started planning for my upcoming trip, making a map and I am brimming with anticipation and nervous excitement for tonight. I am going to a dinner with some friends and then going to a cocktail hosted by one of my clubs. I have no idea of what to expect, and I don't know what it will turn out like, but my one goal is to release, have fun, and enjoy life. Maybe I'll step outside my comfort zone a bit. Maybe I'll do something unexpected. I will stay within what is safe for my body, mind, and soul, but I hope that tonight I can be happy, live with fewer worries, and just be.

No matter what just breathe. I think that may be my new saying, or something like that. Breathe.

"Keep Breathing" - Ingrid Michaelson