There was a zoom call the other day that I missed, on the subject of 'comfort', and what it might mean to each of us. So I decided that I would just take some time and figure it out for myself. It's been kind of running in the back of my brain all weekend as I go about my tasks.
We have all become aware of comfort foods. What they are for each of us, and probably why they have become that..... and what they can do to our waistline if we get too carried away! But what else comforts us?
I have come up with my own fairly long list of comforting things... many of them foods that bring up fond memories of where I have eaten them before, but fortunately not all. Hugs are comforting. Smiles can be if they are genuine. They both connect you to other people who are showing you they accept you. These days, with all the push to divide us into left or right; black or white or brown or yellow; mask wearers or non-wearers; believers (in the philosophy of the moment) or non-believers - that can be really important. It makes a connection.
There are also all of the soft cuddly things that replace hugs and smiles when not available, such as furry cushions; favourite stuffed animals; down comforters; soft and warm blankets; clothes one can wrap themselves into that are warm and soft; your favourite tea. These comfort me because the sensation of warmth and comfort is there ... the reminder of how it feels. They connect me to memories that the brain signals the body to feel again as though they were present time.
But, the biggest area of comfort for me comes from being out in nature and paying attention. The birds still sing up the morning; the ants still carry the grains of sand to build their nests; the breeze still blows the dust and the pollen to settle in new environments; the clouds still move the moisture around the planet; the rivers still move towards the oceans; the waves still lap at the shore. These are the most settling comfort for me. Despite whatever may be going on in my own personal sphere of influence, Mother Nature is still going on about her business in the usual ways. This steadies me. This grounds me. I get the bigger picture and remember that I, myself, am only one small being in a world of billions of creatures and a myriad of systems, all working together. That gives me faith, and faith in the continuation of natural processes gives me comfort.
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