Jesse, our first grandkitten - all photos courtesy of our amazing daughter Abby
Breath - The New Science of a Lost Art by James Nestor is an excellent read about how our breathing - the rate and depth and quality of it - affects our wellbeing so much more than we probably ever considered.
Jesse and his beautiful toes
My cat allergies had just ramped up as I found the book, so I was definitely way more invested in the author’s findings than I otherwise would have been. However, I believe it would be a fascinating read regardless of how easy your breathing is.
And I hope your breathing is SO easy, as God intended. I hope you are in a position to say “huh, I never really thought about breathing!” For me it has become an unfortunate obsession of late, and this book has some solid answers.
Marge and Jesse, our amazing grandcats belonging to Abby and Max <3
James Nestor is a journalist, not a medical professional, which honestly makes his book a more interesting read than a dry medical text on our (or dogs’ or cats’ or cows’ or whatever) respiratory systems would be. He cites doctors and researchers and follows the science so well that the book becomes a complete and compelling tale in which you accidentally learn so much.
Marge and Jesse contemplating stuff
Skip three sections. You will see them coming. If a paragraph starts with something like, “This story about turtles will make you cry your eyes out, but reasearch done…” SKIP IT. There are no stories about turtles. Just skim past the research stuff if you - like me - are too tenderhearted to bear it.
Jesse is not yet 21 so he gets the box, not the beer, what a good boy! Look how wide-eyed he is!
You know what would be a good career for someone who cannot handle anything sad about animals? I was gonna say veterinarian, but the correct answer is probably writer or something, huh? Shoot. Well, next life maybe.
Jesse can make ANY pose beautiful :)
This book is amazing, and I loved it. It is written in a fast paced story format with so much great information you can apply to your life. Rare. And I have. And it has helped.
Marge striking some gorgeous poses
Never throw your inhaler (or inhalers or epi-pen or oral medications or nasal spray or new injectable medication or immunotherapy protocol or safety measures) out the window. And keep avoiding cats. Unless you are Normal, which I very much am not.
Jesse being cute
But this breathing stuff? It is legitimate. The information in this book is a mix of ancient wisdom and new scientific discoveries and ongoing cutting-edge medical information that will change your life from the first page to the last.
Marge and Abby <3
I highly recommend Breath. I cannot wait to hear what you think.