But in the shower today (a place that many of us do our best thinking), I started to breathe deeply, using the 4-7-8 method. And suddenly I realized how grateful I was to be able to take those deep breaths.

I know many who have a hard time breathing. In fact, from the time I was born until the age of 11, I had severe asthma. This was way before inhalers (albuterol, the active ingredient used to treat asthma, was developed in the 1960s in Britain, but didn’t become commercially available in the US until 1982). I was basically on my own. I know what it’s like not to be able to catch your breath.

So, as it turns out, I am grateful for something really important.