Catch one bad cold and suddenly breathing through your nose feels like a luxury upgrade.

Working systems are invisible to the person using them. You do not notice breathing until it gets difficult, and then a completely ordinary function feels like something handed back to you. The relief fades fast, and within a week the nose is unremarkable again. Appreciation usually needs either loss or deliberate attention, and only one of those is up to you.

You can sometimes get there without the illness. Once today, take one slow breath and notice that it worked. It is a small thing and it will feel slightly silly, which is fine.