when an infant enters this life
she begins her journey
with her first breath
inhaling deeply with her tiny lungs
and making her presence known
in this world

it is this breath that keeps us going
feeding our bodies 
with the oxygen that fuels our blood
it is the breath that unites us
with all living beings
from humans in nations we will never see
to the smallest animals 
burrowed in their nests

we all must breathe to live
yet we somehow forget 
this essential strength
as we go through our silly motions
with shallow sips of air
lost in the monotony of our days
held captive by worry and need

if only we take time to rest
and breathe deeply
simply stop 
and exist in the present moment
let the past go
you are forgiven and free of it
don’t worry about tomorrow
it hasn’t arrived yet
there is just the here and now

you are extraordinary 
and you are connected to your breath
and to all that are living
while walking on this earth
remember that it was breath
that brought you into this world
and it will be your final breath
that takes you out of it
if we are all connected by this
amazing gift
let’s use it to love ourselves
close your eyes and breathe
then open your eyes and love others
until the breath ends

this is why we were made