Suffocation
Inspiration not only means to influence but also to breathe. To inspire can literally mean to breathe life into something. Ideas and breathing have been closely linked for much of human history.
It’s no wonder my pen has been silent during the last two weeks. I can’t catch my breath. I’ve had asthma for most of my life, but the last couple weeks have been worse than most.
Two weeks ago a mesquite fog drifted into town—smoke from a series of coastal wildfires. I did my best to stay indoors, but it wasn’t enough, and since then I’ve been huffing and puffing through my days and nights.
Every moment of every day is spent managing the variables that can affect my asthma. How close will I be to home in case of a terrible attack? Do I have enough medicine with me? Should I go downstairs for a glass of ice water and have to trudge up those steps, lungs heaving?
At times like this writing takes a backseat. It’s not from any conscious determination not to write. But when the unconscious aspects of life take concentration, creativity seems to abandon me. Right now writing seems like a luxury my body will not afford me.
I also have asthma. I know how smoke can irritate the symptoms. I hope your air quality improves and you will be able to write more.
As a child my father worried about me not being able to manage my breathing without medicine and enrolled me in yoga. It was well worth the private yoga lessons at age 7. Now if I have an attack, I center and focus on my breathing until I can get to a rescue inhaler. I’m almost 40 now and I have occasional attacks but instead of panic controlling my breathing, I am in control.
I wish you the best.
Hello Everyone, Dale Thank you so much for your devotion to the art of writing and for sharing your story with all of us today. Because of your story I was able to share mine: I am Alright today too! I am wishing you the best possible outcome with your battle with a deadly disease.
Enjoy Life!
I struggle with the same thing, though in a more figurative sense. I haven’t been able to “catch my breath” for months now and writing has taken a back seat. Though I’m sure the sense in which I mean that I can’t catch my breath sounds like a pure luxury to you. I do not envy the asthma.
I do hope you can get your asthma controlled soon. It must feel awful! I don’t have asthma, so I can’t even begin to understand what you must be going through.