This morning as I sat down to meditate, I immediately became aware of my shallow, rapid breathing. I had been running late. I parked the car and walked quickly up the stairs, the last one to take my place in the group. I wasn't able to begin the meditation with the group. My first task was to slow my breathing and clear my mind.

That's what we do, isn't it? We're running late, or someone says or does something we don't like. Our breathing becomes more shallow, and our stress rises.

A friend sometimes tells me about her distress with our current political environment. I always say to her, "Just breathe." When we are focused on breathing, we cannot be focused on that which is beyond our control.

You write it: Pay attention to your breathing.

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