I’d like to share the deeply personal journey behind my latest project, the Mapping Your Breath Personal Workbook. This journey is not just about a workbook but about a transformative experience that reshaped how I perceive and interact with the world around me.

A few years ago, as the pandemic was waning, I found myself at a pivotal point in my life. I was homeschooling in the Sonoran desert of Arizona, a place I had called home for over twenty-five years. However, during this time, I struggled with asthma and a persistent cough every evening. Breathing, something so fundamental, had become a daily challenge. Seeking a change, my husband and I moved our family and pets to the high desert mountains of northern New Mexico. The impact was immediate and profound – the clear mountain air brought a noticeable difference in my breathing.

One day, while catching up with my friend Rich, who had recently retired from the EPA, I shared my experiences and how different life felt simply because I could breathe more freely. Rich, a Participatory Mapper, suggested I “Map it!” which sparked an idea that would grow into a passionate project. Over six months, I mapped my breathing – at home in the mountains, while traveling, in cities, and through various emotional states. I took notes, created watercolor paintings, and made audio postcards to document my experiences.

Rich and I met over Zoom regularly, discussing our findings, creating soundscapes, collages, drawings, and having hours of conversations about this concept. This wasn’t just a project but an exploration of creative play, keeping my creative muscles working and helping Rich embrace his retirement. We realized that our playful venture had uncovered some genuinely helpful insights. It was then that we decided to share our findings, leading to the creation of the Mapping Your Breath workbook.

This workbook is more than just a guide; it’s an invitation to embark on a journey of self-discovery and transformation. It’s a tool to help you build a relationship with your breath, which I believe is a superpower. By understanding and regulating your breathing, you can navigate through life’s varied situations more effectively, using your breath as a compass.

In Mapping Your Breath, you will find various exercises, reflections, and creative prompts to help you observe and map your breathing patterns. You’ll learn to notice how your breath changes in different environments and emotional states and how these subtle shifts can be powerful indicators of your overall well-being.

The workbook encourages you to create your unique breath map, using art, writing, digital tools like support bots and audio recordings. Whether you’re a seasoned meditator or just beginning your journey of self-exploration, this workbook is designed to be your companion, guiding you toward a more mindful and centered state of being.

I invite you to join me on this journey. Map your breath, explore your inner world, and discover the profound impact that mindful breathing can have on your life. Remember, every breath you take is a step towards understanding yourself better. So breathe in the possibilities, exhale the doubts, and start mapping your breath today.

Additionally, if you are playing in the space of Generative AI and have a paid Open AI ChatGPT4 account I have created a GPT that will be public in 2024 but, for now can be interacted with from this link: https://chat.openai.com/g/g-f3sKeEiik-breath-mapper