February 2, 2022

Millarville, Alberta

Life and respiration are complimentary.  There is nothing living which does not breathe nor anything breathing which does not live. – William Harvey, 1653

One of our regular readers sent me a book recommendation after the last episode (thanks Holly).  Breath Taking digs deep into one of the most overlooked functions of the human body.  Michael J. Stephen, a doctor specializing in pulmonary medicine, examines in detail a task we perform 7.5 million times a year, but rarely think about – breathing.

Stephen explains that “breath” and “life” have been used interchangeably, in almost every culture on earth, since human life began.   In ancient Egypt, Greece and Zulu cultures, breath was equated with the soul.  In eastern religions, harnessing the breath is considered the path to Nirvana.  Jewish and Christian texts refer to breathing as a life-giving spirit.

John 20:22: And with that he (Jesus) breathed on them (Disciples) and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit”.

We recently lost an aunt to lung cancer, and I have a cousin suffering from a debilitating lung disease.  Drawing our next breath is not to be taken lightly.

Which is why it astounds me how much push-back there is to wearing a mask during an airborne viral epidemic.  A mask is a filter, it protects our lungs and helps them function better.  You wouldn’t dream of driving your car (or your Peterbilt) without an air filter, why would you allow contagious particles to pass through your lungs? 

In Breath Taking, Dr. Stephen explains that ancient warriors would deface statues of conquered heroes.  The theory being, without noses, these icons would lose their life potency, and their power to influence would die with it.

All the bitching and moaning we hear about mask mandates, and the sheer volume of them littering street gutters, is evidence of how vilified masks are. 

Masks have also become political weapons, which seems breathtakingly stupid to me.  What does pulmonary health have to do with political allegiance?

So, here is an exercise for you, take a deep breath and let it out slowly – give your lungs a short rest.  On your next intake of breath, think about the fact that your lungs will expand and contract 6 million more times this year.

This is true whether you lean to the left, to the right, or …

 … stand on your head.