Take a Deep Breath

The doctor rests her stethoscope against my back saying,”Take a deep breath.”  It’s a routine part of my physical.

Not now.  Nothing’s routine these days, so I’ve rescheduled my annual physical and cancelled my membership in Weight Watchers. Until I rejoin, it’s up to me to practice social distancing from the refrigerator and pantry.

As for taking a deep breath, I never gave breathing much thought, until recently.

There’s nothing like a crisis to increase gratitude or grumbling,  and I’ve done both.

Still,  it feels like there’s something churning for good, not so  much a  yearning for yesterday as a longing for something better to emerge.  Cracks come  and some assumptions crumble.  Light enters and Hope says,” anything’s possible.”

We hear stories of people  doing what they can with what they have. They’re making music, waving  behind windows,  sewing masks,  applauding healthcare workers, for Goodness sake.

Some days hope comes with a laugh from family or friends.

1.A sign on a church bulletin board: “Wash hands and do not touch face” Hygenesis 24:7

2. A friend’s daughter observed this in a supermarket.  A man stood in the aisle, cart overflowing with toilet paper.  Upon seeing it, a woman berated him for hoarding and selfishness.  When she paused to take a breath, the man calmly said. “I agree it would be selfish but now I need to finish restocking the shelves.”

3. Have you wondered where all the toilet paper went?  “The roll was called up yonder.”

4. A piece of advice suggested, “to protect yourself just wear a mask and gloves when you go to the grocery store.”  Someone wrote back,”You lied.  When I got there everyone else had on clothes.”

Laughter, like hope and kindness, is highly contagious.

Lets spread some.

I’ll start.

Did you hear the one about?

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