Yesterday was my birthday. I began my fifth decade on this earth (that does not mean I’m 50 years young, look it up). When my husband asked what I wanted for my birthday, I told him I wanted a day to spend exactly the way I wanted. And bless him, he gave me exactly that. He had the day off, so he got up and got the kids ready for school, then took me out for coffee. We walked around our little town (accompanied by our 3-year-old because I wanted to bring her), shopped a little (he bought me a lovely beaded necklace), and picked up sandwiches for lunch. (We took them home to eat because my daughter was tired by this time.) That afternoon, he helped me hang birdfeeders (two for songbirds, two for hummingbirds) and plant strawberries. Then he made me taco salad for dinner and we ate ice cream cake with the kids.

Who could ask for a better day? I’ll remember it every time I put on my necklace or look out at the birdfeeders or (hopefully) eat a strawberry from my plant. And with every memory I’ll take a moment to breathe and be thankful for what I have.

This is a great time for us to remember to breathe. All you have to do is look at the news to see why breathing every day is important. The tragedy in Japan jolted me from my complacency. The horror over there is something I cannot escape. And it’s a reminder that we are never guaranteed tomorrow. Whether you’re one or forty-one, tomorrow is something you can’t totally count on.

Take a moment today and breathe. Hug someone you love, smell a flower, watch a sunset, listen to the rain. And breathe.