In one of my favorite TV Shows The Good Wife, there is a “breathing scene”. The main character, lawyer Alicia Florrick, is in her office with her investigator/lover Jason Crouse. Alicia, as usual, has had a tough day and wants a drink. Jason suggests that she focus on her breathing as an alternative. Here is their dialogue:
“Alicia: Do you think I drink too much?
Jason: I don‘t know. Do you?
Alicia: I was going to break this bottle if I couldn‘t get the cork out. That might be a problem.
Jason: Then, here. (He takes the bottle and glass out of her hand.)
Alicia: Wait, no.
Jason: No, seriously, you don‘t need it. Let‘s just talk.
Alicia: Jason, come on.
Jason: You don‘t need it. (He stops her from reaching the bottle)
Alicia: Ok, yes. But I want it.
Jason: Hey, wait. Just try something for me. Close your eyes, just close them…. Take a deep breath… slow it down.
Alicia: If this doesn‘t work, do I get the glass?
Jason: Schhhh. (Alicia sighs). Just listen to yourself breathe.
Alicia: I don‘t mediate, Jason.
Jason: Ok then, we won‘t call this meditation. Just listen.
Alicia: To what?
Jason: My breathing.”
Then there’s a wonderful moment in which we see her collecting herself, before he kisses her and they make love, of course.
Often, when we’re too wound up, it seems impossible to focus on breathing, to collect oneself. It’s much easier to focus on something outside of ourselves, the sound of the wind, a piece of music or, as in this case, someone else breathing. In a way breathing is never completely inside or outside of oneself or of someone else, it’s where we come together.
Source: The Good Wife, Season 7, Episode 15