the other day i heard someone reference that quote, we have two ears and one mouth so we can listen twice as much as we speak — take in twice as much as we put out with whatever senses are available to us. witness twice as much as we contribute?
this reminded me that a somatic therapist once told me that when you feel like you can’t breathe in all the way/ experience shortness of breath, you’re actually not exhaling all the way. she shared that to steady (lengthen) your breath, you can concentrate on extending your exhales.
[inhalation and exhalation during a restful state is called ‘tidal breathing’, which feels soothingly appropriate, or true. i wonder if relief is one way i register truth, fond recognition another. an exhale.]
one connection between these pieces is humility — which affords its own share of relief, of breath.
a community member taught me that the etymology of humble has something to do with being close to the ground. what happens when i regard or heed who is around me more often than i insert myself. am i exhaling with enough focus and care to receive — to be present. inhalation and exhalation continue through the right amounts of pressure at the right times. vacuum and squeeze, squeeze and vacuum. carrying us in the changes.