Comfort…

Once again, I had a different plan for today’s blog. I find it interesting how often events or people come into my life and steer me in a different direction. That’s how I feel when my blog ideas change. I still have the other blogs (unfinished) that I planned and hopefully will publish them later.

Anyway, today’s blog is about comfort. This is flooding season here and again my basement has water. It isn’t as bad as last year … yet. The solution put in last Spring is helping things but there is a lot of snow and I’m in a low lying spot so…. Last night I was thinking about comfort. My immediate thoughts included making comfort food, snuggling down on the couch with a feel-good movie, and going to bed early. All of those tend to be my comfort go-tos.

To whom or what do you turn for comfort? Sometimes I go to a person (usually my son or mom), sometimes to food (homemade mac and cheese is my favourite comfort food anytime of year), and sometimes it’s creating a comfortable place (pjs, blanket, couch, and a good movie). I’m not looking for an answer to a problem or even someone to hear out a vent. I’m looking for a warm hug. Sometimes that’s all I need.

Comfort can be in a routine that you follow. I like my Saturday mornings to be alarm-free (even if I often still get up very early), with my newspaper, cup of tea, and music. I like it to be different from my work days which are quick and efficient mornings so that I can “get at it”. I get comfort from relaxing and reenergizing. I get comfort from sitting at my kitchen island (which is still a joy and wonder to me) and writing my blog on Sunday mornings. Those are routines that work for me. Making my bed each morning is another one. It’s not like there’s anyone around to see the bed – it’s for the end of day. It’s a comfort to climb into a made bed ready for sleep after a long day.

I’ve been doing a lot of sorting of items lately. I’m really trying to get to what I need and want and eliminate those items that never get looked at or used. In the process of doing that, I’ve discovered that there’s comfort to be found in certain possessions. I don’t often go into what I call “memory bins” but I do find comfort in owning one or two. Those are storage bins with the tangible reminders of days past. Most of what I have in those bins relate to my son. There are newsletters from his school in kindergarten (with him in some of the photos), the magazines from the years they won the Minor Hockey (huge deal where we lived and his first years of playing hockey), special art projects, etc. I’m not ready to get rid of all of those things but I am doing a pretty good job of sorting through and selectively choosing what to keep. I’ve also been sorting through my clothes and other belongings and really questioning whether I need to keep all that I have. The truth is, I don’t wear it all and I don’t use everything in my cupboards. So why keep all that stuff? I’m getting some comfort from giving them away. I know the clothes will be appreciated by others. I know the kitchen items can be used by someone else. I’m deriving comfort from that knowledge.

Here I am, surrounded by many things and routines that give me comfort. A good thing, in my opinion. So why do “we” talk so often about getting outside of our comfort zone? Why is it considered a good thing to do? Why is being inside your comfort zone given an almost negative connotation? It’s considered by many that the only way to advancement, growth, learning, whatever you want to call it, is by getting outside of your comfort zone. I definitely held that opinion in my earlier career days. Now, I’m wondering if this is yet another example of how I’m changing. I’m not sure how I feel about it now. I see a friend who has a countdown to her retirement. Nothing wrong with that. So, is it okay for her to not want to embrace the idea of moving out of her current situation? I would say yes. What about another colleague who isn’t looking to move beyond her current role and still has many years until retirement? Should I or anyone else be trying to push her towards something that would be new, perhaps life-changing, but doesn’t suit her needs? Why do we have this need for advancement? And maybe “we” don’t. Maybe it’s only some people who are “plagued” by this notion. I certainly have been for many years. And it’s still a valid question for myself. Do I need to move outside of the familiar, comfortable spot I’m in, in order to find happiness?

Today is a day where I feel the need for comfort. I know it’s because of the water/flood situation. I’m happy I’ve improved the situation from last year but also know that I need to do more. I also know, having dealt with this last year, that’s there is nothing a friend or professional can do right now that will help. That’s where the need for comfort comes from, I think. There isn’t anything to be done until Mother Nature dries things out. I’m doing all that can be done – I have the sump pump working, I’ve moved the drain pipes even further out, I have a dehumidifier on concrete going nonstop. I don’t feel good about it, though, because it’s an invasion of water. It’s scary. So, comfort is what I’m craving and need to feel safe.

And maybe at the end, that’s what those who don’t long for “advancement” are looking for – a safe haven. I’m starting to better understand how important it is. Maybe for me, it’s about figuring out what comfort in my next phase of life looks like. Retirement, when it arrives, is an unknown. I don’t know how long it will last or what it will hold. [I guess the truth is, we don’t know that about any time in our lives.] I’m going to plan for living. It’s not the end, it’s the opportunity to move into pure enjoyment. I’m blessed to have a good pension and the ability to make time for doing what I want and not only what I need. My bills will be paid, provided I don’t go crazy, and I can spend time on what speaks to me. What a great blessing!

Each year on St. Patrick’s Day, I bake soda bread and gift it to friends.

There was something very comforting about being able to go out again for St. Patrick’s Day this year. Good food, great company (my mom), and live music. It’s been a long two years!

There’s nothing quite like the comfort given by your dog.

It’s a comfort (and a relief) to see new blooms - a reminder that Spring is coming and the land will dry!