We all have our own bundle of experiences/things/people which gives us comfort. Comforts are the nest we seek out or retreat to in these tumultuous times (senseless protests throughout our country and a city taken over by insurgents intent on toppling a democratically elected government while breaking the economy.) I’m free to wear a mask; free to go to restaurants; free to avoid crowds and interact with others who care about their fellow man.
My comforts include:
- Stepping outside first thing in the morning, taking in a deep breath of the cedar-scented air.
- The gallery wall in my office of family photos I’ve taken.
- Music from better days or time playing the piano.
- The reassuring melodies of the returning spring songbirds in my backyard.
- Curling up with an engrossing novel.
- Wandering the forest trails.
- Observing and taking photographs of the observed.
- Flipping through old photo albums plus the newer photo books.
- Thick, homemade biscuits straight out of the oven with a generous spread of butter.
- Wrapped in a blanket, getting lost in a captivating movie.
“As the years pass, I am coming more and more to understand that it is the common, everyday blessings of our common everyday lives for which we should be particularly grateful. They are the things that fill our lives with comfort and our hearts with gladness — just the pure air to breathe and the strength to breath it; just warmth and shelter and home folks; just plain food that gives us strength; the bright sunshine on a cold day; and a cool breeze when the day is warm.”
Laura Ingalls Wilder
What comforts you?
calm places with calm people
Much like others, reading, family and friends, and being outdoors are great comforts, as is my spiritual practice. But sometimes just the routine of daily tasks – making my morning oatmeal, feeding the cats, picking up the pine cones in the yard – provide a comfort as well.
How interesting that our minds seem to wander in similar ways. I recently wrote a post about “life Essentials’ but when I read your post I realize that the essentials are really things that comfort us.
Great photos to accompany your examples of comfort! The greatest example of what comforts me is cooking, followed by planting (propagation) as a close second.
Posts like this one comfort me. It’s easy for me to get swept up in someone else’s idea of what makes for a good life. This gentle reminder to stay grounded in what is best for me, as only I may know, is a great comfort!