MARCH/APRIL 2020 | TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE 139
How many times have you
heard the phrase, “take a
breath”? How many times
have you just moved
on and forgotten about it? How
many times have you regretted the
decision that was made when you
moved on? Face it, the phrase, “take
a breath” is just an idle mention.
Early on, I learned that when
I got uptight about something, or
felt pressured by a situation, the best
thing was to take a breath. The exercise
was actually taking a deep breath slowly
while counting to five or six, and then
exhaling slowly while again counting.
You do it several times, and it does have
a physically relaxing effect that lets you
think more clearly.
That exercise can basically work anytime,
even while you’re driving, although keep
your eyes on the road. It is a version of
counting to ten. Some guy or gal comes
barreling up behind you and rides close to
get you to speed up even though you are
already over the speed limit. You know the
routine; he or she will get disgusted after
about 15 seconds and zoom around you, in
which case you edge your foot toward the
brake pedal because you know the driver
is going to cut in front of you to make a
point. The temptation is to show that guy
or gal a thing or two. Do me a favor, count
to ten. By that time, you will have calmed
down and they will be far enough away
from you that you can forget about it.
We all need to practice taking a step
back from a situation, whether it happens
in the office, at home, or on the road. We
need to get in the habit of hesitating until
we are thinking clearly. There are no great
decisions I know about that are made in
the heat of the moment, except in combat,
and you are not in combat under normal
circumstances. Taking a step back and
trying to look at things from a different
perspective will usually yield good results
that you can be proud of and not regret.
Just reacting, normally yields the opposite.
Today’s world is spinning much too
fast. Everything is immediate, so we
tend to react immediately. Remember
the phrase, “Stop the world,
I want to get off ”? Well, far too
many would love that ability, if
for no other reason than to slow
things down. Let me suggest that
you put the smartphone down for
five minutes and just get out of the
daily hubbub. You can take a slow
deep breath while counting to six,
and then exhale at the same pace.
Do that a couple of times and you
will go back to whatever you were
doing with a clearer head.
Now, if you don’t mind, I will get off
my computer and take a breath or two,
or three. I think that is what is called
practicing what you preach. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Dick Crippen, a staple
in Tampa Bay broadcasting for more than
40 years, is a senior adviser for the Tampa Bay
Rays, and works extensively with the military.
He is active in the world of charity fundraising
and sits on numerous boards for nonprofit
organizations.
COMMAERNTTARY
TAKE A BREATH
By Dick Crippen
Dick Crippen