April: Breathe.

Breathe.

It requires a pause. And an awareness of the simple need to breathe.

I was riding in a boat out in deep waters of the Caribbean when I captured this shot. It was a clear day, breezy moment. Relaxation. Simple. Ease. Standing on the beach, I looked at the boat and all the water I had to wade through and then the acrobatics needed just to get into it safely. Had I panicked and stayed focused on all that ocean, I would've stayed onshore and missed out on the experience that unfolded. I prayed, accepted that I might stumble or look silly at first, leaned in, took my time, and moved forward. I chose to breathe.

Why do we at times only care about breathing that's medical related, like for sleeping or running or exercise, or perhaps lung and respiratory issues?

Recognize the level-up that comes when one breathes before entering a room or space. Or a new opportunity. Or even a trigger. Or in the middle of chaos. Or when overwhelmed.

That pause that gives us time to evaluate whether one's future is worth sacrificing for a moment that doesn't really matter at the end of the day.

That pause that allows us to keep holding on when we want to give up.

From our brain to our feet, our body cells need oxygen to function. So when we don't breathe or have limited capacity, we can't function as intended. We switch into survival and automatic mode or that backup generator that may not has much fuel left over from the last crisis. Have you ever watched a flower try to grow without the things it needs, like soil, water, appropriate containers, or even love? Without proper care, the flower wilts. For us, we choke up, and it's hard to fully bloom and appreciate all that's around us.

So let's re-regulate our systems by breathing intentionally. By pausing. So we can see clearly. And understand fully. Not be so quick to anger or so busy. Embrace that calm. Take that moment. Release the tension. Stop and blink. Pray, wait and listen to be able to receive. Clear out the clutter. Reset the mind. And finally be free.

April is home to many themes and observances: National Month of Hope, Stress Awareness Month, Earth Month, Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and among many others, it's also National Jazz Month! Music is so rich in that we have many diverse instruments, voices, and rhythms that are used dynamically in combinations that feed the soul. Consider some of these songs for your playlist: Norah Jones' "Come Away with Me", "Winelight" by Grover Washington Jr., Miles Davis' "Blue in Green", explore Sarah Vaughn's "After Hours" and her other velvety-voice classics, or CeCe Winans' "Goodness of God". What's on your playlist?

This month - and every day granted to us - we are breathing!

Until May,

Stefany