Breath

Life begins

That perfect first breath

The power of its softness shrouded in my cries

I am held

I am safe

My breath slows down

Then life comes as the swaddling unravels. I am thrust ahead. Alone.

I breathe in the wild winds. And run. And run.

Sometimes gasping for air.

Grasping for life

Love comes.

Breathing faster with excitement.

Life spinning.

Breathing faster.

Holding onto the precipice by my fingernails

Trying to dance on the bleeding edge

Driven by some invisible force

Breath

Our friend. Our fear. Our truth.

Our connection

Our Lie detector

Did I wake?

Was I unconscious?

Holding my breath?

Dying. To live my truth

Waiting. For the moment I was safe enough to breathe again

Longing. To connect with the purity of that very first breath

You. Are alive.

And breathing.

Safety is perception.

So, you are safe

Breathe

In

Out

In

Out

In

Out

You woke me up

I can breathe

And now.

You.

Are in my every breath.

Until, one day,

alone,

and free,

and safe,

I take that perfect last breath.

_

Zoe Kalar, is a visionary tech entrepreneur who has built four transformative businesses over the last 35 years including NY based Standard Media Index, the world’s largest media data business powering decisions for the biggest companies in the industry including Disney, WBD, Spotify and NBCU. As founder of WeAre8, Zoe is shifting the power of big tech back into the hands of the people. She has built the future of social media through a tech enabled ecosystem that inspires people, encourages conversation, enables collective action and protects citizens from harmful content through a transformational AI engine. Most importantly,  the money from advertisers is shared with citizens into a centralized wallet every time they choose to watch an ad. Zoe's mission is to inspire, empower and enable a billion people to make a positive impact every day through a revolutionary social experience, while redirecting the $500bn ad market to people, publishers, nonprofits and planet projects. WeAre8 is the future of social - one that connects, inspires, and serves humanity.