Breathe....Rise.....

Inspiration comes in all forms.  Over the last few years, as I focused in tighter on my personal writing, I found myself often surprised by where new ideas came from. Usually they ended up being simply great ideas to write on. But every once and a while I found myself truly deeply touched. Such is the case here. 

In January 2026, I decided to pick a motivating word or motto to guide my year, but it was a struggle.  What finally landed for me was the word RECLAIM.  It felt right at first as I wanted to reclaim lost habits that helped me grow, but looking back over the last 3-1/2 months it hasn't worked out well at.  I didn't feel any guilt or regret, just quietly accepted I needed to let it go and let this year unfold as it was meant to. 

About a month ago things shifted. I saw an ad for some simple wrap rings in silver that were imprinted with an inspiring phrase.  I was intrigued, but honestly didn't like the rings artistically.  They were boring, and the words looked stamped in a simple font, but I continued to think about the 2 phrases that drew me. One said "Just Breathe," and the other said "Rise Up."  Hmmmm.  It didn't take long for me to shorten to the key word in each - breathe and rise.

Over the following 4-5 weeks, I continued to find those 2 words echoing in the background. Then few days ago I realized they had become internal mantras for me every day.  When I woke in the morning, I would spend several minutes before rising focusing on my breathing and repeating them - breathe on the inhale, rise on the exhale.  It started my day off just right.  Weirdly it happened without thinking about it.  A new habit that arose on its own. 

Then there came other times where I found myself automatically repeating this exercise.  If I woke from a dream in the middle of the night. I breathed and repeated it until I drift off again. If I found myself stressed or my ADD brain firing up, I repeated it.  New habits are usually very hard for me to get going, so I was in awe that my heart stepped in and embedded this routine into my subconscious without me realizing it until after. 

I have come to embrace these 2 words so deeply, I have considered tattooing them on the inside of my wrists, one on each side. If you know me, you know I don't like anything permanent on my skin. I am far too changeable and know I would end up most likely removing any tattoo at a later date. So I probably won't follow through here either, but the fact that I even considered it says how deeply meaningful those 2 words have become for me. 

Over the last few days, after I realized how fully those two words were resonating deep inside me, I tried to think about why.  Many of the books I have been reading talk about the importance and strength of breath work to help us release what no longer serves and to ground us firmly in the moment.  The medical community agrees.  Deep breathes are good for the lungs and can help ease anxiety and depression, and lower blood pressure. 

The word rise hits me differently, and that is because it is an action that speaks to the whole fabric of my life.  All my traumas, all my joys, all my healing, all my self reflection have helped me to grow, and to slowly rise to fully realize who I am as born to be.  And yet I forget this so often.  So to repeat this word as a mantra every morning before I get out of bed is a great reminder that whatever steps I take today, they should move me forward and upward.  There is nothing to be gained by moving backward or marking time in the same place.  Ahead and upward is where my dreams and my purpose lies.  

Breathe and Rise are now my main focus for the rest of this year. How strange they came into my life through an ad for rings I didn't even like that much.  And know, even though they are wonderful for me to focus on, they most likely will not be the perfect ones for you. The universe is waiting for you to hear its whispers.  It is ready to give you what you need to move forward, to rise up.  And you never know where or how that whisper will come. It might even be through an silly ad.