Breathe Magazine Issue 011 Back Issue

We’ve been puzzling the past few weeks here at Breathe. Puzzling as to
how to communicate without words; puzzling how not to compromise
the self while still helping others; and puzzling, well, about puzzles.
We’ve discovered that while solutions to many of life’s big questions are
rarely straightforward they always require patience. And this is a good
thing. It encourages a slower pace, healthy self-awareness and sometimes
a reassessment of how the seemingly mundane can be mindful.
Let’s go back to communicating without words. We wondered, for
instance, if it would be possible for an English-only speaker to follow
a Greek-taught Tai Chi class in Athens. Thankfully, the answer is yes.
A teacher may have to give different or exaggerated visual cues for the
postures but the language of movement is shared and brings with it
effective non-verbal communication as well as opportunities to make
new friends and to gain exciting insights into different cultures.
A closer look at exactly how much should be done – or how much ground
should be given – to accommodate others’ wishes is equally as revealing.
Helping friends, family and colleagues is laudable, but if exhaustion,
frustration and self-doubt are regular visitors in the middle of the night,
the time might have come to stop worrying about pleasing others lest
they decide they don’t like you (they won’t) and to allow your unique self
to shine. After all, true friends cherish you for who you are, not what you
can do for them, and that demands no compromise.
All this debating led the Breathe team to retreat into the wonderfully
mindful world of puzzles. From mathematical riddles to word teasers
they provide respite from the everyday, keep the mind ticking over and
have the potential to deliver big highs on the personal achievement front.
We invite you to join the fun in our special puzzle section.