MUSINGS and other writing by Mark Kolke

. . . . . . there is no edge to openness

TODAY'S MUSINGS

ARCHIVED COLUMNS

ARCHIVE SPRING 2023

ARCHIVE WINTER 2022-23

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2022

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2022

ARCHIVE SPRING 2022

ARCHIVE WINTER 2021-22

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2021

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2021

ARCHIVE SPRING 2021

ARCHIVE WINTER 2020-21

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2020

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2020

ARCHIVE SPRING 2020

ARCHIVE WINTER 2019-20

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2019

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2019

ARCHIVE SPRING 2019

ARCHIVE WINTER 2018-19

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2018

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2018

ARCHIVE SPRING 2018

ARCHIVE WINTER 2017-18

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2017

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2017

ARCHIVE SPRING 2017

ARCHIVE WINTER 2016/17

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2016

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2016

ARCHIVE SPRING 2016

ARCHIVE WINTER 2015/16

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2015

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2015

ARCHIVE SPRING 2015

ARCHIVE WINTER 2014/15

ARCHIVE AUTUMN 2014

ARCHIVE SUMMER 2014

ARCHIVE SPRING 2014

ARCHIVE WINTER 2013/14

CONTACT

GASPING
Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019
 
 
What takes your breath away?
 
Surprise gasp, or gut punch – most surprises fall short of that in terms of pain/pleasure surprise of fear/amazement … coming over a ridge to a magnificent view, rolling over to bump into amazing experiences, or confronting something dramatic (or, having it confront you like a whack to the forehead) – the blow might be hard or soft, but the gasp equally dramatic.
 
A punch to the gut isn’t likely after we’ve left our childhood playgrounds.
 
A punch in the gut is: getting fired, being left, being foreclosed, being homeless, being broke, losing your keys, falling when walking in the dark, landing on an icy street, having your brakes fail or being in an uncontrolled skid – these leave bruises, physical or emotional, and take your breath away.
 
Not all breath-taking moments are sad or negative or tragic.
 
Some are inspiring – watching your child being born, standing in front of great art or magnificent nature, looking into a microscope or a telescope, having (or living) a splendid dream.
 
Gasping for breath is something I’ve seen many times – when someone it gut-punched and cannot get their breath when someone old/COPD patient (both of my parents) struggle for breath as they did in their final years. And my daughter Krista, as a child with asthma … scary moments of rushing to emergency rooms in the middle of the night for treatment, for oxygen, for drugs and doctors.
 
To gasp.
 
To be left gasping – ecstasy of one kind of gasp, desperation of another.
 
This is a cruel paradox for one word to endure, or for any person.
 
Gasping is often something we can’t do out loud – we can’t express our surprise or our awe, or so we tell ourselves. We should all gasp a little more, more openly, and more fully, to show our joy or our pain to those around us may not share our feelings, but who will better understand us and support us in acknowledging our feelings.
 
 
 
 
Reader feedback:
 
MAKE THE COMMITMENT
Thanks Mark....you "hit home".  I have printed the "reminder" and have pasted it to the front of my "thoughts - ideas - to do's" book – 2020 edition. Best wishes, TL, Calgary, AB



Find this and other articles by Mark Kolke at Medium



sign up to get Musings free daily



 
Mark Kolke, Realtor, MaxWell South Star Realty

Link to all my contact coordinates + links

Comments are always welcome - please contribute to the discussion.  

Reply to: kolke@markkolke.com

Copyright - all rights reserved - Mark Kolke, © 2003-2023 - MaxComm Communications

 - this site is updated daily - last update - 2023 / August 10