#33
February 2007

You were very pleased with the last issue on abortion. Many of you forwarded the newsletter to your daughters, sisters, co-workers, mothers, and even priests. Many of you said that it helped make sense of your own miscarriages and abortions. I'm glad it was helpful.

You had comments on "Become a Master of Perspective" also. I'm saving those until the next issue.

How are you doing with your breath and water practice?

Do you remember when I first suggested this practice? Breath and Water #1, back in December 2004? Here's what I said:

Some of you may remember the following suggestion I gave in my classes. Drink 8 glasses of water a day and breathe for 15 minutes twice a day. Do that for 6 months and your life will change in ways you never dreamed of.

In all the years I suggested that, only 3 people took me up on it and completed the entire six months. Each of them experienced amazing changes in their life — in employment, in attitude, in relationships, in income — everything.

I myself never managed to complete 6 months of the regimen. But I’ve started again, and I’m hopeful I can make breathing for 15 minutes twice a day and drinking 8 glasses of water a part of my daily routine.

Would you care to join me? We can have a club.

This month I offer encouragement to keep with your daily practice. Or return to your daily practice. I just spent three weeks on the beach on the Gulf of Mexico. The ocean brought me right back to my practice, which I admit I had let slip for a while. Now that I'm away from the ocean, intentional breathing allows me to re-connect with that remarkable force.

Remember the benefits you've gotten from intentional breathing and staying well-hydrated? Maybe you remember this comment from #11:

*Yeah, I haven't wanted to admit it to myself or to you that the seemingly simple addition of this Breath and Water practice to my living has transfused it.

Please review the daily practice and the additional possibilities to add to it. Read through it. If you're like me, you'll see things you'd forgotten about.

Let me know how you're doing. I always want to hear from you.

THE BREATH AND WATER PRACTICE

BREATHE
15 minutes of intentional breathing twice a day. Intentional breathing means breathe with awareness — no effort, no rules, no shoulds. Just enjoy your breath.

DRINK
Enough water to stay well hydrated. 8 glasses of water a day.

SLEEP
Get a good night's sleep.

EAT
Practice intentional eating for one meal a day.

Then there’s:

GRATITUDE
During your breathing time and during your day, practice filling yourself with the energy of gratitude.

GENEROSITY, THE MANIFESTATION OF GRATITUDE
Practice generosity of body, mind, and spirit.

I WILL DIE
Know, as completely as you can, that your death is the one knowable truth. Know you will die, know that now you live. Understand that all else is mystery.

I DON'T KNOW
Recognize what you think you know so that you can stay with the truth of what you do know.

VULNERABILITY
Open up to your birthright.

CONNECT TO YOUR CENTER
Originate your movements from your center.

CHANGE YOUR PERSPECTIVE
Become a master of perspective.

The List of options:

Alternate nostril breathing

Reverse breathing

5, 5, 5 -- During your 15 minutes of intentional breathing, practice 5 minutes of gratitude, 5 minutes of breathing, 5 minutes of some other quality you want in your day.

Imbue and imbibe

Hug your heart breath

Open your chest

The breath of wonder