10 Breaths of Life

Every evening that summer at dinner my Bubba asked my brothers and I the same question. “What were your 10 breaths of life today? Later this was shortened to “Your 10?”

We spent our dinner hour sharing the opportunities that had come our way to serve a little; often not ten and seldom big ones, but valid in her eyes and ours nonetheless.

“I put the grocery cart back in the rack.” Tom would report. “I put the newspaper up on Mr. Brook’s front porch” I’d share.

Soon the dinner game changed to something else because the idea of 10 breaths had been internalized. It was habit to look for the ten ways to serve each day, and we could return to doing these goodnesses in secret.

All good summers come to an end and soon school days arrived. As all good teachers, probably everywhere in the world do Mrs. Palmer assigned the expected that first day of school. “Write an essay to tell us what you did this summer, and what you have decided to do this Fall.”

I wrote the story of the linen table cloth laid out flat on the beach to reveal its story in full. I told how I learned it is best not to keep your most important treasures hidden in dresser drawers for safety but to take the risk that they might get dirty, or trampled a bit in order to share them.

Life is full of opportunities to breathe life into the world. Commit to giving ten breaths of life into the world each day even when you’re asked for only five. Never count the cost or wonder whether anyone notices. As our world warms we need the refreshing breath even more. In times of war and division 10 breaths of life offered by strangers can bring peace and unity.

Ideas for Engaging Your 10 Daily Breaths of Life

1. Write a letter to a prisoner in your local jail. Their names are registered on the web site. Keep it simple and encouraging. Tell them about a few things happening in town. You do not need include your address.
2. Pull weeds from a neighbor’s sidewalk or yard.
3. Pick up trash on your daily walk.
4. Put your own grocery cart away and someone else’s too.
5. Read to a child.
6. Make an extra serving of your meal and take it to someone you know.
7. Put a few special tea bags in an envelope and mail it to a friend with a note.
8. Stop and help someone when their car runs out of gas or their battery dies.
9. Bring a bit of research to a colleague or help a student by proofing a paper.
10. Write a thank you note to someone who has blessed your life or send an email to someone that has accomplished a special, but seldom noticed feat. A second grade teacher told me one day she had received a note from a grandmother thanking her for her work and congratulating her that all 21 students in her class could now multiply!