One snowy day as a kid I was sledding with my family. Atop the large hill at our local park, a mother was struggling to place her toddler on a snow saucer. Slipping and sliding, she lost her footing and managed to grab her son while losing the sled. Directly downhill from the mishap, I positioned myself to catch the runaway saucer before it skidded across the park. As helpful as I meant to be, I had obviously underestimated the velocity of a heavy sled having quickly gathered speed down the steep hill. The collision occurred directly in my center, knocking me flat and rendering my ten-year-old lungs unable to obtain oxygen. I thrashed in the snow, agonizing and gasping for several minutes.
"You've had the wind knocked out of you." I've always thought this phrase was interesting. If we consider a sailboat; a seacraft that utilizes the power of the wind, harnessing each gust to optimize its nautical progression. When observed in that light, I guess the phrase makes a little more sense. A blow like that halts an individual's ability to proceed further without first pausing to catch their breath.
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