What everyday sights or sounds do I find comforting?
Ah yes,
reminded by John,
the smell of baking bread . . .
new mown grass,
salt sea air upon my lips,
pine needles underfoot.
The sound of rain,
contented purring,
waves crashing upon the shore,
snow falling at night when the world is quiet,
fire crackling in the hearth.
Looking into my husband’s eyes,
watching a sunrise or sunset,
seeing the results of my hard work,
basking in the dappled light underneath my katsura tree,
amazement that I can see at all.
The touch of a loving hand
(or paw)
upon my face,
the sensual pleasure of clean sheets after a bath,
the smoothness of a rounded stone,
the taste of a strawberry on my tongue.
I find comfort in a field of cows and their newborn calves,
where once I couldn’t bear the sight.
Nowadays
I find comfort
where there was none before . . .
I am good with that. ♥
I love the trees outside our windows–they are rooted in the ground as we are in our home. My husband’s smile when he sees me. My nieces and nephews playing together and screaming their delight.
Birds twittering outside in the morning.
The little chugging sigh the coffeemaker gives as it finishes making my husband’s drip.
The hollow swooshing gurgle of the plunger going down in the French press as he makes the coffee he brings me every morning.
My striped tabby Tiggs leaning into my hand as I skritch his chin, his eyes closed in apparent bliss.
Looking out my window at my garden beds, full of abundance now. Later they won’t be as lush as they are now, but still home to insect life over the winter.
My corner of our sofa with the end table next to it full of books I’m reading or planning to read, my everyday journal, gardening journal, pens and highlighters, and my computer I use to respond to these questions.
This question is especially timely as I’ll be on vacation for two full weeks and won’t have these everyday sights and sounds in my days for a while. My journey starts Friday Sept. 26. I return Oct. 11 and recuperate Oct. 12, back to the familiar routines and jet-lagged.
Give me anything that’s quiet and gentle, a light breeze, water flowing, people talking and laughing, birds and bugs communicating, and I can find comfort.
Birds singing in the morning.
Sunrise. Clouds, any time of day.
Wind rustling through the trees.
Watching the leaves starting to fall as autumn announces her arrival.
Seeing the moon in any phase & the stars.
Classical music in the morning.
My daughter’s voice.
A cat’s purr…
Hearing Canadian Geese flying overhead & squawking, any time of day but especially as the sun sets.
Cello music.
🕊️♥️
A cell phone ding that our friend is alive today.
My husband’s walker sliding on the floor.
The cars passing.
The flags fluttering in the wind.
Seeing the posts of those here.
Red tomatoes on the vine.
One new sight and sound in my life: my wife has recently taken to baking bread. And while I do not have a sense of smell, the touch and. warmth and seeing of a freshly baked loaf is comfort food in it’s own way. And all this BEFORE I even cut it. Then the bread knife slices gently through this soft, and warm food. A slice is ready for the butter or jelly or… even nothing. Again, comfort food before the eating.
Your response,
dear John,
reminds me of an episode of M.A.S.H
where Major Winchester becomes obsessed
with what happens in the last moments of life . . .
he finds a soldier who is dying from his wounds in the hospital tent,
and asks him about his experience of dying.
The soldier’s face relaxes
and he almost smiles
as he says, ”Bread”,
and exhales his last breath. ♥
I hear that most people find comfort in a quiet workspace when they study or work. For me, simulated sounds help me focus when working on challenging assignments. While the sounds are not directly from nature, they’re still worth it. The sounds of ocean waves, rustling trees, library backgrounds, and typing really help. Have a fun weekend, everyone!
Birds singing their morning songs. Looking at flowers on our walks and seeing the butterflies and bees. Sun shining through the trees, making patterns on the ground. Sunbeams peaking out behind the clouds. The moon… always the moon!
Feeling the gentle heat of my morning tea. Watching the finches and cardinals tussle with one another at the feeder. Gazing at the majestic tree canopies against a blue sky background. Hearing the voices of my kids.
We don’t have cardinals in my part of the world (Pacific NW in the US). We do have Steller’s jays and scrub jays for a flash of blue, American robins and towhees for red. I think I saw a cardinal once visiting my brother in Virginia years ago. Beautiful bird!
We have cardinals and blue jays here in Western Coast of Florida, but do not have robins – I get excited seeing them again when I visit Philly. (we also don’t have lightening bugs/fireflies – really miss them.) We do have love bugs though, just saw some driving home – usually will see twice a year.
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What everyday sights or sounds do I find comforting?
Ah yes,
reminded by John,
the smell of baking bread . . .
new mown grass,
salt sea air upon my lips,
pine needles underfoot.
The sound of rain,
contented purring,
waves crashing upon the shore,
snow falling at night when the world is quiet,
fire crackling in the hearth.
Looking into my husband’s eyes,
watching a sunrise or sunset,
seeing the results of my hard work,
basking in the dappled light underneath my katsura tree,
amazement that I can see at all.
The touch of a loving hand
(or paw)
upon my face,
the sensual pleasure of clean sheets after a bath,
the smoothness of a rounded stone,
the taste of a strawberry on my tongue.
I find comfort in a field of cows and their newborn calves,
where once I couldn’t bear the sight.
Nowadays
I find comfort
where there was none before . . .
I am good with that. ♥
Presence of friends can be comforting. I am happy if this sometimes is possible. Running water in a brook might do also
I love the trees outside our windows–they are rooted in the ground as we are in our home. My husband’s smile when he sees me. My nieces and nephews playing together and screaming their delight.
Afternoon sunlight on water and wind flowing through trees/shrubs (e.g., bamboo) are a sight and sound that I find comforting.
Birds twittering outside in the morning.
The little chugging sigh the coffeemaker gives as it finishes making my husband’s drip.
The hollow swooshing gurgle of the plunger going down in the French press as he makes the coffee he brings me every morning.
My striped tabby Tiggs leaning into my hand as I skritch his chin, his eyes closed in apparent bliss.
Looking out my window at my garden beds, full of abundance now. Later they won’t be as lush as they are now, but still home to insect life over the winter.
My corner of our sofa with the end table next to it full of books I’m reading or planning to read, my everyday journal, gardening journal, pens and highlighters, and my computer I use to respond to these questions.
This question is especially timely as I’ll be on vacation for two full weeks and won’t have these everyday sights and sounds in my days for a while. My journey starts Friday Sept. 26. I return Oct. 11 and recuperate Oct. 12, back to the familiar routines and jet-lagged.
It’s heaven,
isn’t it,
dear Barb,
to come home after being away? ♥
Give me anything that’s quiet and gentle, a light breeze, water flowing, people talking and laughing, birds and bugs communicating, and I can find comfort.
Birds singing in the morning.
Sunrise. Clouds, any time of day.
Wind rustling through the trees.
Watching the leaves starting to fall as autumn announces her arrival.
Seeing the moon in any phase & the stars.
Classical music in the morning.
My daughter’s voice.
A cat’s purr…
Hearing Canadian Geese flying overhead & squawking, any time of day but especially as the sun sets.
Cello music.
🕊️♥️
I love deep dark cello music.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k68thGEDlx8&list=RDk68thGEDlx8&start_radio=1&t=1087s
I too,
love to hear the Canada geese flying over,
dear PKR,
and will often go outside to watch them. ♥
A lovely list. Yes to all of these.
A cell phone ding that our friend is alive today.
My husband’s walker sliding on the floor.
The cars passing.
The flags fluttering in the wind.
Seeing the posts of those here.
Red tomatoes on the vine.
Birds. Clouds. And, since I’m in the city, people dressing artfully, looking unique, expressing themselves through clothes.
One new sight and sound in my life: my wife has recently taken to baking bread. And while I do not have a sense of smell, the touch and. warmth and seeing of a freshly baked loaf is comfort food in it’s own way. And all this BEFORE I even cut it. Then the bread knife slices gently through this soft, and warm food. A slice is ready for the butter or jelly or… even nothing. Again, comfort food before the eating.
Your response,
dear John,
reminds me of an episode of M.A.S.H
where Major Winchester becomes obsessed
with what happens in the last moments of life . . .
he finds a soldier who is dying from his wounds in the hospital tent,
and asks him about his experience of dying.
The soldier’s face relaxes
and he almost smiles
as he says, ”Bread”,
and exhales his last breath. ♥
Nothing better. I can still smelly grandma’s crusty bread and the anticipation of melting butter and a bit of honey.
I hear that most people find comfort in a quiet workspace when they study or work. For me, simulated sounds help me focus when working on challenging assignments. While the sounds are not directly from nature, they’re still worth it. The sounds of ocean waves, rustling trees, library backgrounds, and typing really help. Have a fun weekend, everyone!
My Ngoc, I hear you listening to piano music too. That’s very calming.
Birds singing their morning songs. Looking at flowers on our walks and seeing the butterflies and bees. Sun shining through the trees, making patterns on the ground. Sunbeams peaking out behind the clouds. The moon… always the moon!
Another wonderful list. Yes to all of these!
Yes Sunnypatti, the Moon. Love looking at the moon too. 🌕🌙
Feeling the gentle heat of my morning tea. Watching the finches and cardinals tussle with one another at the feeder. Gazing at the majestic tree canopies against a blue sky background. Hearing the voices of my kids.
We don’t have cardinals in my part of the world (Pacific NW in the US). We do have Steller’s jays and scrub jays for a flash of blue, American robins and towhees for red. I think I saw a cardinal once visiting my brother in Virginia years ago. Beautiful bird!
We have cardinals and blue jays here in Western Coast of Florida, but do not have robins – I get excited seeing them again when I visit Philly. (we also don’t have lightening bugs/fireflies – really miss them.) We do have love bugs though, just saw some driving home – usually will see twice a year.
Ngoc’s natural sweet voice and long hair.
The winged beings. The clouds. The wind and or breeze through trees. Water seeking its level. My lovely wife Cheryl. Peace and love.
I love winged beings, also known as Halloween butterflies – good ol bats! 🦇
I love the ‘winged beings’,
dear Joseph . . .
the Canada geese,
especially at this time of year.
Sometimes
I can hear the beating of their wings. ♥
Yes, the displacement of space between the big birds and my ear drums is a gift in its self dear Sparrow.