Sunset over the Mediterranean Sea
Awhile back I bought a book called The Happy Book by Rachel Kempster for me and my daughter. It is essentially a journal with prompts; you can draw, tape pictures, or just write about things that make you happy. In the future, it can be used as a reference to look back at happy things and make you smile on the days where a smile is hard to find. Recently with the advent of some mixed health news, I put it in my car and started. The very first entry was to list everything that makes you happy. My list currently has about 85 things listed and is not finished. I have to say while writing all these ‘happy’ things, I had a huge smile on my face. So, this weeks topic for my blogging group is ‘breathless’ which I thought tied into things that make me happy because some of the things that make me happy are also things that take my breath away. Today I was left breathless when the doctor told me that the extra ‘something’ that was seen on my optic nerve was NOT cancer, just some nerve bundles, normal tisue. There are the small things that make me happy or take my breath away too, like chocolate cream pie, or just a really good candy bar, obviously a new lipstick, and even a hug from someone I love can leave me breathless. Then there’s the big and beautiful things like rainbows and sunsets and the colors of a flower in bloom; or even my kids laughter or watching them sleep. Then there are not so happy things that knock the wind out of you leaving you breathless. Things like hearing the phrase “you have cancer” or “the cancer’s back” or “yes, it’s back again,”; or when you get robbed or when your child is sick, etc. Both instances, good and bad, leave your heart racing and your mind turning in different directions. Both though, the good and the bad give you more life. They allow you to feel something and that’s how I want to live. I want life to take my breath away.
What is it that takes your breath away? For me, life leaves me breathless; the good, the bad, and the ugly. I read this quote last week and it has left an imprint on my mind because this is how I want to be…passionate, daring, and always a dreamer.
“When we focus our energy towards constructing a passionate meaningful life, we are tossing a pebble into the world creating a beautiful ripple effect of inspiration. When one person follows a dream, tries something new, or takes a daring leap, everyone nearby feels that energy, and before too long they are making their own daring leaps and inspiring yet another circle.”- Author Unknown
Today I wear Fresh Sugar Lip Treatment in Passion. This is a tinted lip balm with SPF 15 which comes in 5 sheer colors. I love these tinted balms because they’re packed with vitamins, have great color, and are not sticky (they’re just a little pricey). I chose Passion because I love the name but also, this one is the sheer candy red color…I LOVE it!!!
Anna's Lipstick Journey 
Life should leave us breathless, Anna. I love your positive attitude!
Take care!
Thank you Linda!
If only life could always be so exhilarating and leave us breathless, what a life it would be!!
Kathy
http://gigglingtruckerswife.blogspot.com
So true…I guess we have to have some mundane in between each breathless moment!
My post, though not finished is similar, yet different…again, we are on the same page. Our time here is so short and living a breathless existence seems right to me. Time to enjoy, time to play hard, time to sleep, time to love, time to work. All things that can leave you breathless and having a friend who gets that, bonus!
Beautifully done. ♥
I find most things give me more breath rather than take it away. Hyperventilating through terror is not fun. 😉
http://joycelansky.blogspot.com/2012/07/gbe2-breathless-or-breathmore.html
I’m with you Joyce! Would rather inhale joy than be punched in the gut gasping for air!
Thanks Jo! Why can’t we figure out that life is short when we’re teens and avoid the stupid stuff?
Anna, I love your take on this week’s prompt. Your outlook on life is always so positive and an inspiration to all of us. That is an amazing quote…I see why you liked it so much.
Thanks Kat!
Lovely post on being breathless. When I imagine that sensation, I think of the Rocky mountains and how they used to always tower above during my long-ago summer in Jasper. I think of how it felt to received friends at the door with gifts of food when I was too tired during chemo. I think of the excitement of meeting the love of my life.
Thank you for this reminder of the good things that leave us breathless. It’s true that the diagnosis was another sort of breathlessness . . . but not the only sort. That in itself is a relief to realize.
Catherine
http://www.facingcancer.ca
Thanks Catherine, I also remember the meals at the door and what a relief that was for my family. Good and bad, life is crazy
Great reminder about life being about feeling everything, the good and the bad. I tend to shy away from both and try to stay numb. I’m trying to learn to appreciate both. Nice write.
No no, take it all in! Don’t numb up, there’s too much out there!
Anna……I borrowed your quote and posted it to my FB page today (I apologize for not asking you first) along w/the following: A wonderful quote borrowed from a friend’s blog. Thanks, Anna, for all that you do, all that you say and all that you are. You’re making a difference in so many lives. ♥
No problem on the quote, anytime! Thank you for continued encouragement!
I loved the quote particularly “When one person follows a dream, tries something new, or takes a daring leap, everyone nearby feels that energy” – we are all connected.
Thank you Suzy!