November 2025 - A Time For Thanks

MARC MY WORDS: Thoughts from Breathe SoCal's President & CEO

This is the time for thanks.  Not only because Thanksgiving is on the horizon, but also because it is important sometimes to just sit back, take stock of our life, and give thanks for what each of us have.  I am not saying everything is perfect.  Hardly.  We all have something (or many somethings) that cause us difficulty – whether it is physical, emotional, mental, social, financial, educational, or professional.  But when we take stock, most of us see that we have a lot more things to be thankful for than we thought.

Besides my family and the absolutely incredible team I work with at Breathe SoCal, I am also thankful for the rain. The rain?  Yes, absolutely.  While the rain may make it more difficult to drive in Southern California or may require us to postpone favorite outdoor activities, the rain is critical for our health. The rain keeps the ground and vegetation wet, and the air moist. That makes it more difficult for small sparks to grow into major wildfires.

Rain also means our lungs get a break from inhaling dirty air.  Rainy days clear away the smog, haze, pollen, and other particles in the air that accumulate in the Southern California basin when the weather is sunny.

So, I am grateful for the rain, because the rain clears the air for our vital, precious lungs. November is not only a good month to take stock of our lives, but also a good month to take stock of our lungs. November is both Lung Cancer Awareness Month and COPD Awareness Month. This means we need to consider the health of our lungs and the lungs of our loved ones.  

Lung cancer is the second most-common cancer for both men and women in the U.S. but is by far the leading cause of cancer death, accounting for about 20% of all cancer deaths. Despite this, fewer than 1% of those at risk of getting lung cancer in California are being screened. Meanwhile, READ MORE

Staying Informed is the First Step!

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