Mamakat's awesome prompt: 3.) List 5 things that bring you comfort.
It's been a hard month, at least as far as work goes. We started out two people short, and in the usual wisdom of management, someone decided that two of the other people in our office didn't need to have contracts. Both of those people found better paying jobs where they will be shown much more appreciation. They were my practicum students, and then my interns. For those who've never mentored a person in your chosen field, it's a rewarding experience, but then you have to say goodbye when the 'young padawans' fly the coop. I don't do well with that sort of thing--I get all teary and blubbery. It's downright embarrassing, but it's not like I can help it. I am sad and happy at the same time, while completely freaking out about who is going to do all the work of the people who left.
I really need my comforts right now!
1. My prayer shawl. When I was pregnant and in a doctor's office at least once a week, I started a prayer shawl. It's purple, my favorite color, and every single stitch in it is a prayer. I would sit in the doctor's waiting room and pray while I crocheted my little heart out. I finished it in the hospital after my son was born, and I've been wearing it around the house ever since. It's a very simplistic design, just row upon row of double crochet, but I love it. It is soft after so many washings, but it is warm and reminds me of my boy.
2. A purring cat. If the sound of a cat purring doesn't relax you, that is a darn shame. If I sit still for longer than five minutes, there is a cat near me, and they are purring. Pounce likes to perch on the arm of my chair, next to my ear, and she will purr constantly. Zena likes to sit either on my lap or next to me, and she will purr as she is getting herself comfortable, and the purring just melts the tension away. Purring seems very similar to the chanting that Buddhist monks do, or maybe the same frequency. It certainly puts me in a meditative state!
3. My favorite chair. I have a nice big comfortable chair. It has a fluffy cushion on it, one that has been warped a bit by Zane's tendency to sit on top of it instead of against it. The cushion seems to hug around me, which I love. I will sit back in my chair, put my feet up on the ottoman, and just let go of whatever was bothering me. If Zane sits next to me in the comfy chair, then that is even better. He and I have sat in that chair many days, just the two of us, and I think that we are both less stressed because of it.
4. My jammies. I don't have nightgowns. I don't have thosw fluffy, diaphanous, barely there nightie that they show women wearing on the television shows. No, I have jammies. Plaid flannel pants and a t-shirt that have been washed so many times they are as soft as a whisper. I feel comfortable in them. Hell, I feel comfortable just thinking about them! They don't look pretty, and I'm no underfed Victoria's Secret model. My jammies get the comfort job done, however, and that's all that counts in my book.
5. My family. In times of stress and strife, I don't head for the hills. I head for home. Spending time with my husband and my son, whatever we are doing, comforts me. My husband fusses at me for staying up too late, and Zane fusses at me because I forgot to put the right kind of cheese crackers in his lunch, but it's all good. My batteries get recharged, at least enough to face the next hurdle. Or the next ditch. Or mountain. Whatever. With family backing me up, I can handle it.
How about you? What items comfort you?
It's been a hard month, at least as far as work goes. We started out two people short, and in the usual wisdom of management, someone decided that two of the other people in our office didn't need to have contracts. Both of those people found better paying jobs where they will be shown much more appreciation. They were my practicum students, and then my interns. For those who've never mentored a person in your chosen field, it's a rewarding experience, but then you have to say goodbye when the 'young padawans' fly the coop. I don't do well with that sort of thing--I get all teary and blubbery. It's downright embarrassing, but it's not like I can help it. I am sad and happy at the same time, while completely freaking out about who is going to do all the work of the people who left.
I really need my comforts right now!
1. My prayer shawl. When I was pregnant and in a doctor's office at least once a week, I started a prayer shawl. It's purple, my favorite color, and every single stitch in it is a prayer. I would sit in the doctor's waiting room and pray while I crocheted my little heart out. I finished it in the hospital after my son was born, and I've been wearing it around the house ever since. It's a very simplistic design, just row upon row of double crochet, but I love it. It is soft after so many washings, but it is warm and reminds me of my boy.
2. A purring cat. If the sound of a cat purring doesn't relax you, that is a darn shame. If I sit still for longer than five minutes, there is a cat near me, and they are purring. Pounce likes to perch on the arm of my chair, next to my ear, and she will purr constantly. Zena likes to sit either on my lap or next to me, and she will purr as she is getting herself comfortable, and the purring just melts the tension away. Purring seems very similar to the chanting that Buddhist monks do, or maybe the same frequency. It certainly puts me in a meditative state!
3. My favorite chair. I have a nice big comfortable chair. It has a fluffy cushion on it, one that has been warped a bit by Zane's tendency to sit on top of it instead of against it. The cushion seems to hug around me, which I love. I will sit back in my chair, put my feet up on the ottoman, and just let go of whatever was bothering me. If Zane sits next to me in the comfy chair, then that is even better. He and I have sat in that chair many days, just the two of us, and I think that we are both less stressed because of it.
4. My jammies. I don't have nightgowns. I don't have thosw fluffy, diaphanous, barely there nightie that they show women wearing on the television shows. No, I have jammies. Plaid flannel pants and a t-shirt that have been washed so many times they are as soft as a whisper. I feel comfortable in them. Hell, I feel comfortable just thinking about them! They don't look pretty, and I'm no underfed Victoria's Secret model. My jammies get the comfort job done, however, and that's all that counts in my book.
5. My family. In times of stress and strife, I don't head for the hills. I head for home. Spending time with my husband and my son, whatever we are doing, comforts me. My husband fusses at me for staying up too late, and Zane fusses at me because I forgot to put the right kind of cheese crackers in his lunch, but it's all good. My batteries get recharged, at least enough to face the next hurdle. Or the next ditch. Or mountain. Whatever. With family backing me up, I can handle it.
How about you? What items comfort you?
Good God! No mention of FOOD????????
ReplyDeleteWell, they specified. 'things', not food. Food could be an entire month of blog posts!
DeleteI know all about practicum students and interns. It is rewarding knowing you have students and interns that are excited to learn and grow from some expertise we've gathered. It's always a hard thing to see them go. But that's the nature of the line of work (mine... Extension agent). Don't work so hard!
ReplyDeleteI agree, home is a huge comfort for me as well. After being gone for a few days, I absolutely love opening my door and smelling HOME! Nothing better. Other comforts - faith, food, hot chocolate, snuggling up in a blanket in front of the fireplace on a cold afternoon.
We decided not to have a fireplace, but there are days that I miss one!
DeleteWhat a 'comforting' post. I don't have night gowns or jammies. I like sweat bottoms or yoga pants and a big tshirt. Soooooooo comfy!
ReplyDeleteWouldn't it be great if we could wear our comfortable clothes to work?
DeleteGood list! I'm with you on the cat purring being comforting. On my list, too.
ReplyDeletePets really are a comfort!
DeleteI am in my jammies too, when I have my night time tea. I stay in those things all day sometimes. I have a drawerful of flannel jammie pants and t-shirts.
ReplyDeleteFlannel is just a little slice of heaven!
Delete