Breathing in Convict Lake

This place. It forces me to breathe. In my little sea level life I take sips of air, just enough to move forward, get me to my next target. But not this place. Here swimming in the mountainous beauty I am caught off guard—swimming suddenly feels like drowning. Not enough oxygen throws me into a panic. Time speeds up. It’s not enough. It will never be enough. Nothing will ever be okay again.

Convict Lake, CA

Calm. Expand my breath. 1...2...3... Ground.

Icy air warms as my chest fills. I push the light into my feet. Time slows. The world focuses. Colors sing and snow crackles. I will be ok.

I stand in the shadow of another teacher.