Breathe...

The word suffocation has several definitions. It can refer to a sudden and often fatal lack of oxygen to an organism, or it can used to describe a complex, stressful, and frustrating situation in a person's everyday life. "I feel suffocated!", exclaimed the weary business executive, despite looking sharp and proper in a black designer suit.

Ironically, we don't realise we are suffocating until we actually take in a breath of fresh air. Of course, that wouldn't apply to a fellow who has a pillow stuffed into his face, but for most of today's working folk in our modern society, it would be most rewarding to take a step out of their gas chamber and fill their lungs with the sweet air of appreciation.

Yes, appreciation. Which of the following do u hear most often; a friend lamenting about how everything in the world seems to be working against him, or a buddy doing some serious reflection and counting the blessings in his life. Personally, I feel that the former has, sadly, a much larger piece of the pie in most conversations. I admit, I too bitch alot about life. I have colleagues who use violence to solve minor issues, I have love handles which would look at home on a 50 year old when I'm only 20, I have a cat who acts like my evil little brother... Yes, I'm guilty as charged, suffocating myself UNKNOWINGLY, by revolving my thoughts around all the negative issues in my life. But I did something today, which allowed me to take a very overdue breath of fresh air.

I haven't slept a wink for the whole of last night and early this Sunday morning. Ops at 3.30 in the morning saw to that. I had just dropped my colleague off at the MRT station, and was on my home, with my brain in status lock and my body crying out for my bed. It was 6.35am. That's when I noticed that the sky was slowly getting brighter. Sunrise! Should I drive down to East Coast to watch the sunrise? Instinctively, my mind began focusing on how tired and lethargic I was, and how I have not slept in.... how many hours? In doing so, it conveniently left out 2 very important factors. Watching the sun rise is something that I've procrastinated for quite some time now, and secondly, I was in possession of a gem. I had TIME. Time to spare! Precious time, in my insanely packed work schedule. And so, I drove down to the park, and plonked myself down on my favourite breakwater, where I first kissed my girlfriend.

In that moment, with the beautiful clouds in the sky being illuminated by the orange and yellow rays of the sun behind it, along with the cool wind blowing in my face, I realised I haven't had a breath of fresh air in a long time. And so I inhaled. A good long whiff of air being sucked through my nostrils. It felt good, to sit there and feel like there's nothing to care about in the world, other than to sit there and watch the sun rise. It's moments like these, that u really start to appreciate and cherish the wonderful things in your life.

So, the first thing i did, was to pick up my phone and sms my gal. I told her exactly how I felt, and what I wanted her to know. And by god, it felt good, to take something wonderful in your life and admire it. That was when i realised how suffocated my life really was. I decided to stop breathing, by focusing on all the grime and grease of my life. Taking the time to just enjoy a quiet moment alone in a beautiful place was exactly what I needed, a breath of fresh air.

And so, boys and girls, do remember to breathe. Do remember, to take all of the wonderful things in your life, hold it in your hand and admire it. Cherish it. Appreciate it. Just my 2 cents worth...