Letter From A Happier You
Air will save you.
I know you feel suffocated, miniscule, as if every wrong turn knocks a punch out of your chest. It hurts to grin and act yourself, and it hurts even more that no one has a clue. You feel underappreciated, meaningless, full of wrong decisions and guilt. You can’t even tell your friends, coworkers, let alone journal about your mental battles. Lacking the courage to pick up a pen is enough pain to nearly kill you. Not only have you fallen into the rut of an abyss, but a boulder has also landed on top of you. To put it simply, you can’t breathe.
But wait – you can, and you will.
I know things are tough, and the light at the end of the tunnel is so many miles away, it appears nonexistent. But what matters is that it’s there, somewhere, waiting for you. Your lungs may be telling you to give up and give in to all the crushing weight, but don’t do it. It’s always darkest before the dawn, right? Maybe dawn is in a few minutes, or maybe it’s in a few hours. But whether you’re ready or not, that sun’s coming and you will see it. It may be covered by some fog, some rain clouds, or absolutely nothing at all.
And with some of those clouds comes one of the most beautiful feelings you can experience – the wind. Gusts of air will surround you and push their way into your pores. Your tight, blocked-off self will soften, and for the first time in awhile, you will let the air in. It’s almost as if the wind pushes out a few of your worries – and the exiting of some negatives always allows for the entering of more positives. You may be walking on the street, standing in the woods, sitting on the beach, or in the comfort of your home by the window. Wherever, whenever, embrace the wind and let it consume you. Close your eyes and picture its beauty. Wind has the power to pick up items that were once hidden, out of sight, out of mind. It brings new life and attention to those who may need it the most. And right now, its focus is you.
If neither the wind nor the outdoors is your thing, rest assured the air will still save you. It’s called taking a breath. Remember that silly technique you learned about freshman year? Square breathing – inhale for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, exhale for 5 seconds, hold for 5 seconds, repeat. Your lungs will toughen up if you give them some air, and it will cure the rest of your aching body. No matter how filled to the brim with worry you are, there’s always room to breathe – you will not implode. Close your eyes, open your eyes, and appreciate this very moment and how lucky you are to be here. Mountains arise, the abyss may form, but you will move past. As long as your chest is rising and falling, you will keep going, and trust that it will be forward.
Air will save you, be it the wind or simply taking a breath.