“He says “Breathe In” reminds him of holding his children as they took their first breaths. He says “Breathe Out” reminds him of holding his mom as she took her last.”
– Mike Travisano
Mike Travisano is a meditation teacher and a mindfulness coach whose new book, Refuge in Small Things, is packed with poetic musings, Buddhist teachings, fables, and personal reflections that exist within each of us already, even when life’s challenges make them difficult to recall. This particular story dives into two tattoos belonging to a man called Bob, and describes the myriad meanings, connections and inspirations two or three simple words can embody, as well as sheer depth of the fact of breath.
My friend Bob has “Breathe In” tattooed on his left wrist and “Breathe Out” on his right.
He says that they remind him that he entered the world with his first breath in, and that he’ll exit it with his last breath out, but that what matters most is what he does in between.
He says he wonders how many breaths he’s taken of which he was actually aware, and how many he’d grade as high-quality.
He wonders if he’s even breathing at this very moment.
He remembers that his daughters were reluctant to go with him to get his tattoos. He says that they’re both covered in tattoos now.
He says that he was once embarrassed about his tattoos, at least in some settings, and that he’d try to hide or cover them in business meetings. He says that he doesn’t do that anymore.
He says that any questions or glances (no matter how sideways) give him an opportunity to connect with people at a level that people don’t normally go to out of the gate.
He says “Breathe In” reminds him of holding his children as they took their first breaths. He says “Breathe Out” reminds him of holding his mom as she took her last.
He says that if he closes his eyes, he can go back to those moments and feel them as though they’re happening now: all of their joy and pain.
He says that if he stops breathing, he stops living, so his number one priority is to keep breathing for as long as he can.
He says that it sounds simple, but that it’s just too easy to forget.
He says he guesses that’s why he’s got it written on his left and right wrists.
From: Refuge in Small Things © Michael Travisano, 2024.
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I resonate with this. My head is covered with tattoos, as is the majority of my body. I get looks and glances, and it is at times uncomfortable. This makes for great mindfulness practice, and unexpected connections like the one time a woman who had recently undergone chemo therapy came up to me with appreciation and fascination, and left feeling inspired.
Thank you for this piece <3