Air.  Curious, how we carry our emotions safe and secret, through this invisible veil.  It gives us life and all that we are, but yet we never fully live, instead we hide behind it.    I hadn’t thought much about it until a recent hot day, when I was reminded by someone that the “air” was hot.  Okay, so was the front porch I was standing on, my glass of water without ice and me in general (menopause aside it was indeed hot.)

Think about it, we have seasonal air, that  smells like fall, winter, spring and summer and countless variations, the air is crisp, there is rain in the air or the air is so thick I could cut it with a knife.  There are emotional versions:  Airing out dirty laundry, a still in the air, sadness or joy in the air, magic in the air, a silence in the air, romance in the air and air of authority, an air about them, and a chill in the air (Snap! No snow falling with this one!  If you are in a relationship of any kind you understand.)

Physical air exists too:  Stale air, conditioned air, heated air, fresh air, night air, blowing air and even dead air (I have a connection there, but will leave it for now).  Why is it then, we can communication in an instant to another person, exactly what the air presents as it sets a common ground, but we can never really express our emotions more than a few times a day honestly if at all?

With all this air around us, you would think we would be at our oxygen best to tackle relationships, goals and commitments right?   Wrong.  Most of us become air heads at the worst possible time and either become full of hot air or become deflated never getting out what we want to say.  Somewhere out there in the great book of books, human photosynthesis never really sunk in, as we took our place in the emotional food chain of life and journeyed along together.

If you hold your breath theoretically you are suppose to turn blue and die, but it is impossible, as we have a built in escape clause which won’t let us self destruct (at least physically).  However, when it comes to relationships, we destruct, crash and burn or just suffocate one another on a regular basis.  I like to imagine each encounter with someone no different than visiting a new planet.  The first thing you do is test to see if the air is okay to sustain life. No difference really from man’s best friend, who goes right up for a meet and sniff.

This is however where it gets tricky, especially if the air is hostile, angry, unforgiving, cold, hot or silent.  It may sustain life, but you could be annihilated just the same.  So remember the next time you have one of these close encounters of the communication type, take a deep breath, let the air give you the life it is meant to and live the moment.  Reach deep inside, use the air figurative (as we describe it) and literally, make something wonderful happen!  Air out a difference with someone or move past hurt feelings, disappointment or pain.  Celebrate life by sharing laughter, love or thoughtfulness with those around you and you will never regret it.  Our life in this world is too brief for anything less and we need to remember it all begins when we take that first real breath.