The Breath Carries Me

The Breath That Carries Me

On September 18, 2026, I was asked by the licensing authority here in British Columbia to attend a medical assessment for my work as a transit operator. The doctor explained that they needed to explore my medical history because my previous lung-function test had been classified as showing moderate to extreme impairment related to COPD. They wanted to understand how my breathing affected me in everyday life when I became breathless, when I became weak, and whether ordinary activities caused me to stop and recover my breath.

The doctor carried out several tests and was genuinely surprised by the results. I was equally grateful to be able to tell my story: I do not become breathless to the point where I need to stop and regain my breath. Since my health crisis and hospitalization in 2025, I have worked patiently with my breathing, strengthening my awareness and learning to breathe with greater calm and control.

The changes in my life have been remarkable. I can walk for miles without difficulty, and during my recent camping journey I hiked the mountain trails of Vancouver Island, averaging around 20 kilometres, without becoming breathless. The medication that Laarni told me about when we were together in Cheltenham, which had been helping Daniel with his asthma, has also made a dramatic difference for me.

But my journey has been more than medication and physical training. Much of my daily practice has centred around the Sacred Breath exercises and my Samadhi practice learning to become still, present, and deeply aware of each breath. And above all, there has been prayer.

The prayers I have offered myself, and the prayers I have received from our sangha brothers and sisters, have accompanied me throughout this journey. I cannot fully explain where healing begins or where faith ends. I simply know that I have felt held by something greater than myself.

Standing before the doctor on September 18, I realised how far I had travelled since that frightening crisis in 2025. Today, I walk, I breathe, I work, I hike, I meditate and I live.

With every breath, I give thanks.

And with humility, I offer my deepest gratitude to everyone who has walked this journey with me, especially my sangha family whose prayers continue to surround me with love and light.

With Love

Alan Mc ( Just Be )