The Places You Go To Breathe

June 22, 2009 · by Joanna Paterson · in

That’s me back from my own choice of breathing space: the  north west highlands of Scotland.  Truly, there’s nowhere quite like it.

Skyewards

Well, you did ask for photos :-)

~~~

It’s drawing to the end of this breathing space theme.  I think it’s one that’s struck a chord – maybe just because it’s something we all need to do from time to time.  Or there’s something in the air just now.

Anyway, since I started this theme, way back in late April, I’ve been gathering up links to the way other people describe their breathing places.

  • The places you go to take some time out, to breathe more easily, to refresh your spirit:
  • The space you carve for your writing to flourish and the words to flow.
  • The space you create in your mind to let new ideas and possibilities emerge.

Here are ten of the most intriguing places I read about:

The Places You Go

Ulla Hennig takes some time out to sit under the blossom: Breathing Space

You raise your head, and all you can see is – blossoms. You are sitting there, and you can smell them, watch them tenderly swaying in the breeze. You take a deep breath, and you can smell the scent.

–Deb reminds us why we need to switch off the machine: Four Reasons to Switch Off Your Computer at Punctuality Rules

Did you know, for example, that there’s this thing called the sun? And fresh air? You’d be surprised how refreshing it can be to spend time outdoors.

Bo Mackison at Seeded Earth shares a favourite bench – a place to Take it Easy

I love to sit here, settle in a bit, and day-dream. Everyone needs a good place to let their dreams wander and slowly take form. And this is as good a place as I’ve found. There’s a bit of magic in the bench under the shade tree, with the stone path curving here and there.

Amy Palko shares the experience of finding waves of kindness at the shore.  This is a beautiful piece of writing that she shared at the Calm Space – do check it out.

Standing there, on the edge of the water, the rhythmic rock and ripple of salt sea lulls me to a state I have not visited for oh so long a time.  The tension seeps from my bones, my frame relaxes, my vision refocuses, my mind retracts.

Karen Swim steps outside into the darkness of the night, and shares the relief we can feel, even for a moment, when we take the time to step away from our fears and breathe.  The Breath of Life

I stood in the air and an old song from church played in my head, “breathe on me.” I heard the gentle voices of the choir in my head and closed my eyes transporting my heart to the source of the song. Breathe on me. Transitions, questions, decisions. Breathe on me. Fear, uncertainty, excitement. Breathe on me.

The Space to Write

Jon Swanson at Levite Chronicles shares some ways to write and not write in 8 Ways to Write This Particular Afternoon

1. Sometimes it is okay to not write… 7. Sometimes your heart needs space to catch up with your life. Pay attention. 8. Sometimes you just need to start the tea.

Emma Newman at Post-Apocalyptic Publishing writes a letter to her future self with 10 Writing Lessons Learned

I gradually got enough distance from the book to be able to make dramatic edits, and tough decisions, but ultimately, it would have been impossible for me to get it into the shape it is now without the help of others. This has mostly been family and friends admittedly, but all of them said such helpful things that helped me realise what was wrong with it.

The Space to Create

Karen Wallace, editor of the Calm Space, reminds us of the need to create space to make room for new things: A Time for Space at Joyful Jubilant Learning

Whether we need to clean out the fridge, our wardrobe or the entire house; whether we need to reassess relationships to sort the good from the not-so-good; whether we need to turn down the volume a little and retreat; or whether we need to open space in our diaries, cull items from our to-do lists, ditch some obligations or say ‘no’ a little more often: creating space is about making room for living our best life.

Rosa Say encourages us to paint outside the lines – literally! Color Outside Your Lines at Talking Story

2009 is teaching us to be brave. We are finding we need to reinvent, and break out of any little boxes we may have put ourselves in.

Just One No.5 Brush by Rosa Say on Flickr

Janis Cartier invites us into the new and exciting space of uncertainty: The Principles of Uncertainty

Passion blooms. In your work, in your thrill of trying something different, or even some something from an unexpected direction. But how can it bloom if you never pick up that stick and play with it a bit?

After all if those barrista’s can do it so can we. We’re just using tiny little postcards…little bits of space to breathe upon…

Yep. Uncertainty… can you feel how lovely it can be? Roll in it, let it tickle you all it wants…it can be your friend.

How have you been gifting yourself the space to breathe this summer?

Photo Credits:

Just One No. 5 Brush by Rosa Say on Flickr, part of her Watercolor Project

Skyewards by Joanna Young on Flickr.

The photo was taken from near North Strome, looking out over Loch Reraig to the Isle of Skye.

You’ll find more photos from the north west highland holiday on my Flickr page (and if you’re on Flickr, please do add me as a contact.)

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