Remember to Breathe

Each year, as we prepare for Seminole Days, life can get pretty hectic. There are a lot of phone calls, e-mails, and letters being sent, lots of traveling back and forth to make copies, buying trophies, and trying to make sure enough food is bought that will feed everyone. Add to this life and the inevitability of Murphy’s Law. Of course, if something can go wrong, it will go wrong. This year, amid all of this, I decided to do something that I, sometimes, forget to do – breathe.

It might seem simple, but it is something that can easily be forgotten when a tense or stressful situation arises. This year I truly learned that, even though I may not be able to control other people’s actions, I can control the way I respond to them. And I decided to handle everything that was thrown my way with wisdom and grace. But before I did any of that, I had to clear my head and breathe.

When I breathe and refocus, I am able to see the reason why the Seminole Indian Scout Cemetery Association is so important to me and our many members and friends. I am able to see why we work so hard to preserve the legacy of those who came before us and why we are making sure that the ones that come after us are as passionate about our history as we are. I am able to see that it doesn’t help to sweat the small stuff; instead, I just inhale and exhale a few times and take in the peace that comes with this exercise.

As First Lady Michelle Obama so eloquently said, “When they go low, we go high.” This is the best response for anything in life. Always take the high road. Always remember that the one shouting the loudest isn’t necessarily winning the argument. If you can’t think of anything else to do, do the first thing that you ever did – breathe.

I hope that no matter what you may be facing that you will remember this simple but powerful act. Being able to calm yourself and being able to assess a situation before reacting or, even worse, overreacting is so important.

Seminole Days 2016 has come and gone, but this year was a learning experience. I learned a lot about myself in the planning of this event, and I feel that I became a bit stronger and am now ready to focus on the goals that I’d like to accomplish as president. I believe that I have found a secret weapon that will allow me to combat anything that threatens my path, and that is the simple act of breathing.
 
Note: This blog was published as an article in the 10/06/2016 edition of the Kinney County Post.