HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN SINCE YOU LAST TRULY “BREATHED”?

After this global pandemic occurred, what do we have left?
Have you ever taken the time to ponder on this?
I believe some may have, but not many. Why? That is because, after such a “world-shaking” pandemic, there comes a slew of other issues, especially on the economic front. Even though international trade is gradually picking up, the aftermath of the epidemic still goes on, leaving behind serious repercussions.

Therefore, people, after barely recovering from a grave illness, must once again summon all their strength to plunge back into the economic whirlwind. They labour tirelessly to put food on the table, to sustain daily income, to provide for their children’s education, and to afford medical care for their elderly parents, all while struggling through an already challenging life.

For that reason, after a severe illness, without being able to rest and recuperate properly, people who are already suffering continue the deadly swirl of economic constraints, of having to work all day and night to survive, to maintain their daily income, to pay for their children’s tuition fee, to afford treatments for their ill parents, to take care of their miserable, poor lives, are much worse. Moreover, they do not want to fall behind others, to blur the lines between the rich and the poor, even if it means ascending a steep ladder with immense effort.

Having witnessed so many departures worldwide after COVID-19, we have come to realise that life is incredibly precious, and health is invaluable, but without enough financial means, life remains imbalanced. Races with no finish line persist until we hear of someone passing away forever due to overwork, or someone having to be hospitalised due to unbalancing eating… There are even those who “skipped a heartbeat” when focusing too intensely while working, and you may not even notice!

The “heartbeat-skipping” I am referring to may have happened to you many times, but you were not aware of it because, at that moment, all your senses and awareness are concentrated on something else. You will not breathe for a few seconds, and because it is just a few seconds, we rarely realise.

However, if you pay close attention, you will notice that sometimes, after a period of intense focus, you will find yourself taking a longer, deeper breath. That is when we realise, “Oh, I have not been breathing.” Nonetheless, not every time do we become aware of this. We only notice the extended or intensified breath afterward.

While breathing is an incredibly important activity as it ought to be repeated many times throughout the day, even when our bodies are immersed in sleep, we still forget about them, so how can we remember what we have forgotten today, yesterday, or the day before?

My dear friend,
How long has it been since you had a truly good night’s sleep?
How long has it been since you paused for a few seconds, just to observe how hard you have worked, how many wrinkles have appeared on your face, or when did those calluses form?
How long has it been since you have cared for your body properly, or given yourself an invigorating eye or cheek massage?
How long has it been since you allowed yourself a real day of rest, putting aside all emails, Messengers, Vibers, Facebook, and Instagram notifications?
How long has it been since you noticed your stomach rebelling from too much fast food or hastily cooked meals?
How long has it been… my dear friend? Do you remember?

I believe that some people have not even had enough time to go get a decent haircut for a while now. I also believe that some have long forgotten what it means to have long nails. Or perhaps it has been a while since someone bought new clothes, shoes, or even a decent set of undergarments!

All of this is merely because of surviving in this world.

It is ironic that while we strive to survive to achieve our desires for a complete life, survival also narrows our focus on the needs of our mental and physical well-being.

We want more, but end up completely forgetting what we truly desire. We work harder, but we forget that work is meant to better serve our lives. We earn more money, thinking of taking care of our health, just to end up spending it all to treat illnesses we had from excessive working…

In the end, are we living and striving to keep pace with life? Or are we letting life unfold for us, for life to revolve around what we are attracted to?

It is hard to answer, is it not?
However, you know that life will continue no matter how frantically you work. Therefore, why not pretend to be a bit lazy? Why not take the time to listen to your mental health, to truly feel how hard each cell in your body is working, how lonely it is, and how much it needs your care and affection?

Thus, do you know that “being lazy” sometimes is a good thing, too? Being lazy with overthinking allows your mind to relax a little more. Being lazy with your tasks allows you to do only the things you enjoy. Being lazy with communication leaves a peaceful personal space for yourself. Being lazy with busyness allows your soul to be liberated, to relax, to recharge with fresh new energy.

Sometimes, one lazy day can make the next ten days twice as productive. Do not be afraid that this life will run away and disappear tomorrow, but be afraid that you will not slow down enough to fully embrace it!

Life is a repetition of wanted and unwanted events, so do not forget to “breathe” and know what we must accept and strive to overcome. That is because while we cannot change everything, we can change how we perceive them. Similarly, you cannot turn your life into someone else’s, taking what belongs to others and painting it onto yourself. However, you can surely take in and let out every breath, knowing that you are truly living, my dear friend!

Much love,
Truly Inspired®