My Gen X Playlist: Breathe (2 AM) – Anna Nalick

I’ve been pretty consistent about getting my annual physical. My health has been generally OK, but at my last physical, a few symptoms emerged and my doctor recommended I see a cardiologist. Uh oh. My cardiologist ordered a number of tests and asked me to track my blood pressure daily – twice in the morning and twice in the afternoon. I had gained some weight since COVID began and my stress level was high because of new clients at work. My blood pressure was tracking high and I didn’t look forward to the daily readings. One morning, my blood pressure was unusually high – it hit 175/90. Wow. I took the second reading and it was even higher – 195/95. Yikes. It had never been this high before. Of course, I googled high blood pressure and these numbers were serious. In a panic, I went to the emergency room. Fortunately, my numbers had come down and I was able to return home. This incident scarred me and every day testing brought anxiety. Anxiety right before a blood pressure reading can only lead to disaster. My numbers would spike, triggering more stress and causing the second reading to be even higher than the first. What a vicious cycle. I needed to relax.

I did a lot of research and discovered breathing exercises were a good way to calm the nerves. It took awhile for me to find the right rhythm, but eventually I got the hang of it and I could feel my heart slowing down. I began losing the spike as the anxiety lessened. Breathing didn’t cure my blood pressure issues, but it at least stabilized it. Medication has brought my blood pressure within a normal range.

This experience taught me the power of breathing. I’ve incorporated breathing exercises when insomnia hits, in stressful situations or if beating myself up for missteps or mistakes (real or perceived). I also try to begin my day with a few deep breaths as well. There are many ways that I’ve become more resilient with age, but now accept there are other ways I’ve fallen off. For the first time, I’m listening to my body instead of shaking things off and expecting my body to recover after a good night’s rest. Better to understand this now, before it’s too late. In Anna Nalick’s Breathe (2AM), she sings

And life’s like an hourglass, glued to the table. No one can find the rewind button. So cradle your head in your hands. And breathe… just breathe

Just breathe. Take it from me. These are definite words of wisdom.

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For a complete playlist, please click here.

For the Spotify playlist, please click here.

2 AM and she calls me 'cause I'm still awake,
"Can you help me unravel my latest mistake?
I don't love him. Winter just wasn't my season."

Yeah we walk through the doors, so accusing their eyes
Like they have any right at all to criticize.
Hypocrites, you're all here for the very same reason

'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button, girl.
So cradle your head in your hands
And breathe... just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe

May he turn 21 on the base at Fort Bliss
Just today he sat down to the flask in his fist,
Ain't been sober, since maybe October of last year.

Here in town you can tell he's been down for a while,
But, my God, it's so beautiful when the boy smiles,
Wanna hold him. Maybe I'll just sing about it.

'Cause you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable,
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table.
No one can find the rewind button, boys,
So cradle your head in your hands,
And breathe... just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe

There's a light at each end of this tunnel,
You shout 'cause you're just as far in as you'll ever be out
And these mistakes you've made, you'll just make them again
If you'd only try turning around.

2 AM and I'm still awake, writing a song
If I get it all down on paper, it's no longer inside of me,
Threatening the life it belongs to

And I feel like I'm naked in front of the crowd
'Cause these words are my diary, screaming out loud
And I know that you'll use them, however you want to

But you can't jump the track, we're like cars on a cable,
And life's like an hourglass, glued to the table
No one can find the rewind button now
Sing it if you understand.
And breathe, just breathe
Whoa breathe, just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe,
Oh breathe, just breathe.