Awareness of breathing is fundamental to Buddhist-style meditation. The breath is your constant companion and if you're not breathing, becoming enlightened is not going to be your top priority! Breathing is also happening now and will help to bring you into the present moment and into your body as it is now. You will taste the sense of being a living, breathing human being (rather than a human “doing,” which you may be most of the time). Every breath you take is colored by your emotional experience and so familiarizing yourself with the process of breathing helps you to monitor your emotional state and to intervene early if anxiety or other distressing emotions arise. When you breathe, allow the process to be natural. Don't try to breathe a “meditative” breath, whatever that might be for you. You will probably find that your breathing will slow naturally and that is fine. If it doesn't that is also fine. Just notice the breathing that is happening now.