Breath Prints

I'm currently taking a course at UCFV with a professor named Lee Maracle. You may know her - she's written a few books, some poetry, essays, short stories, and has been a professor at numerous colleges and universities. And she's got a laugh that you'll remember forever if you ever get the pleasure of hearing it.

This past Tuesday she used the phrase "leaving beautiful breath prints as you go.." in one of her lectures. It got me thinking about the definition of breath.

My Random House Webster's Dictionary defines breath several ways:

1. the air inhaled and exhaled in respiration.
2. respiration.
3. life; vitality.
4. the ability to breathe easily.
5. a single inhalation.
6. a slight suggestion.
7. a light current of air.
- Idiom. 8. out of breath, gasping for breath.
9. under one's breath, in a whisper.

To me, however, when I think about Lee's phrase, "leaving beautiful breath prints as you go..." I think of breath more as inspiration than respiration. Leaving breath prints is the idea of leaving evidence that is inspirational to those who come across it. When we 'see' our breath in cold weather - as it steams out of our mouths - it can float around us, behind us, and depending on the wind, infront of us. This movement-filled breath can become inspirational to those all around us in our lives. The wind can also blow our breath back into our own faces reminding us of things we've said or done and re-inspiring us.

Leaving breath prints is also making something that is done unintentionally - breathing to live - into something that can be thought of as very purposeful and meaningful. The simple act of knowing we leave breath prints can cause us to be more aware of what we're leaving behind and therefore make us think before speaking or breathing. It can also be surprising. We don't know which way our breath will blow in the wind so we can't always know who or what our actions will inspire.

If Lee had said 'leaving beautiful foot prints as you go' the phrasing could easily indicate something that is stuck in one place - once our foot print forms, it is either washed away, stays put, or is destroyed - it doesn't wander off again. Its use is limited to that one spot for a temporary time. Breath on the other hand is dynamic and free to roam.

An inspirational line by a beautiful breath-leaving woman.


"Leaving beautiful breath prints as you go..." - Lee Maracle