Reflections

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  1. sparrow51014
    sparrow
    3 weeks ago

    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. ♥

  2. Ose
    Ose
    3 weeks ago

    Presence of friends can be comforting. I am happy if this sometimes is possible. Running water in a brook might do also

  3. Linda72766
    Linda
    3 weeks ago

    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.

  4. Brian
    Brian
    3 weeks ago

    Afternoon sunlight on water and wind flowing through trees/shrubs (e.g., bamboo) are a sight and sound that I find comforting.

  5. Barb C
    Barb C
    3 weeks ago

    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.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 weeks ago

      It’s heaven,
      isn’t it,
      dear Barb,
      to come home after being away? ♥

  6. Charlie T
    Charlie T
    3 weeks ago

    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.

  7. pkr29022
    pkr
    3 weeks ago

    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.
    🕊️♥️

    1. Michele
      Michele
      3 weeks ago
    2. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 weeks ago

      I too,
      love to hear the Canada geese flying over,
      dear PKR,
      and will often go outside to watch them. ♥

    3. Barb C
      Barb C
      3 weeks ago

      A lovely list. Yes to all of these.

  8. Yram
    Yram
    3 weeks ago

    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.

  9. D
    Drea
    3 weeks ago

    Birds. Clouds. And, since I’m in the city, people dressing artfully, looking unique, expressing themselves through clothes.

  10. J
    John
    3 weeks ago

    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.

    1. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 weeks ago

      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. ♥

    2. Yram
      Yram
      3 weeks ago

      Nothing better. I can still smelly grandma’s crusty bread and the anticipation of melting butter and a bit of honey.

  11. Ngoc Nguyen
    Ngoc Nguyen
    3 weeks ago

    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!

    1. L
      Loc Tran
      3 weeks ago

      My Ngoc, I hear you listening to piano music too. That’s very calming.

  12. Patti
    sunnypatti
    3 weeks ago

    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!

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      3 weeks ago

      Another wonderful list. Yes to all of these!

    2. pkr29022
      pkr
      3 weeks ago

      Yes Sunnypatti, the Moon. Love looking at the moon too. 🌕🌙

  13. Laura
    Laura
    3 weeks ago

    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.

    1. Barb C
      Barb C
      3 weeks ago

      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!

      1. Michele
        Michele
        3 weeks ago

        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.

  14. L
    Loc Tran
    3 weeks ago

    Ngoc’s natural sweet voice and long hair.

  15. Joseph
    Joseph McCann
    3 weeks ago

    The winged beings. The clouds. The wind and or breeze through trees. Water seeking its level. My lovely wife Cheryl. Peace and love.

    1. Michele
      Michele
      3 weeks ago

      I love winged beings, also known as Halloween butterflies – good ol bats! 🦇

    2. sparrow51014
      sparrow
      3 weeks ago

      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. ♥

      1. Joseph
        Joseph McCann
        3 weeks ago

        Yes, the displacement of space between the big birds and my ear drums is a gift in its self dear Sparrow.

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