Just Breathe

A few years ago on the first warm day of Spring I felt compelled to stand in the middle of my garden barefoot, eyes closed, face toward the sun and just breathe. I later found out this is called grounding. I haven't really researched what grounding actually involves. All I know is I do this often and it gives me peace.

I was searching through Pinterest and one link led to another and I ended up on something telling one how breathing exercises can help PTSD. I honestly have no idea how I got from can your own catsup to PTSD. It was actually an interesting read. Here I am sitting in bed trying this breathing exercise. You take several normal breaths then when you inhale, a normal breath not a big one like when you go underwater, hold it for as long as comfortable. You really want 15-20 seconds. I had 11. It freaked me out at first but the writer said theirs was 7. I also had been battling a cold.

Here I am breathing and counting and I fell right to sleep. Whether it was from relaxing or lack of oxygen I don't even care. I slept great.

With warm days more frequent right now I take every chance I can to get outside barefoot. I do keep this practice in my yard where I know there is no broken glass or dangerous things. If barefoot isn't your thing don't worry. But I would encourage everyone to learn to breathe. Try to be mindful of when you are getting stressed and how your breathing is different from when you are relaxed.

I know I said I keep the barefoot business in my own yard but my feet in the above picture are actually in Mansfield, Missouri. It was taken at the home of Laura Inglals Wilder where the Little House on the Prairie books were written. My hubby took me there 2 years ago and I couldn't resist walking around barefoot just like Laura did.