What gave you comfort?

Music, on occasion, a good story.

I don’t need it, and in fact, it is often a pleasant surprise. I hear a lyric, or a melody, or read a book, and I am pleased that somebody has seen the same thing in the world that I perceive, and sent me a message in a bottle to say I am not alone.

“Moons Over My Hammy”

Myself
I may cry into the night
But when I do it feels alright
Because I know
When my feelings show
I’ll always be there to comfort me

I’m my best friend
‘Cause no one can contend
Against the self that’s deep inside

My mind may be broken
And my heart may be croakin’
But at least I have myself

A gesture out of character when I am having a bad day. It unusual to be touched living alone in a caring way.

I am not a hugger. Or overly touchy.

When some one I know comes up behind me to pat my shoulder or rub it a bit or touches my arm I am taken off gaurd. It is a pleasant surprise if it isn’t creepy.

I notice it with my residents too. I touch an arm or a back and their expression and stance visibly lifts.

Amazing. I don’t have to know their story or them mine. But the connection and gratitude is palpable.

Pillows. Not just physically, although I love the physical comfort of pillows. I can’t really explain it though, like the mental side of it. Say I’m sad or upset, hugging a pillow comforts me, or when I’m happy, I like sticking my face in the pillow and shouting, or making noises. The best I can do for an explanation is that it’s like when you’re a kid and you have a stuffed animal. But I don’t even need to feel anything in particular to feel emotional comfort with pillows. They’re just there, being all awesome and soft.

I had a doll named Mary Tie Tie when I was little. Don’t ask me what made me name her that. I haven’t a clue. I also had a teddy bear named Archie. They gave me comfort.

Now my pets, a dog and two cats, do but my husband has them. We are divorcing but I get to visit them. I miss them though and I know they miss me.

My bed and my pillows and a cup of tea. (Some times a chill pill).

My precious pillows. Just snuggling them makes me feel a lot better. I especially love the big orange fuzzy pillow. I don’t know what it is about pillows that makes them so comforting. Maybe it’s just that they’re soft and warm and squeezable..

Quiet a while ago now, thankfully, going through a particularly painful divorce, two things comforted me: my kids and music.

My kids are fantastic at comforting me when I’m in physical pain. They are adorable about it. If we’re walking through the grocery store and my body starts to give out, I use the cart as a sort of walker and am all hunched over it. One of them invariably starts rubbing my back as we walk. They also pull on my arms and legs to stretch out the tendons for me. It’s all very matter of fact for them, just usual life stuff, but it pains me to know that they’ve never known me as a pain-free person. It touches me that they care.

My husband’s touch – a hug, holding my hand, laying his hand on my hip while lying in bed – brings me a lot of emotional comfort, too. He brings a feeling of safety, protection, and love to my mind. I settle in and go, “Ahhh”.

Music, literature and other people.

My cozy little home.
It is really a haven and I have it decorated in a very aesthetically appealing manner. Last night I was sitting on my huge, vintage, Odabashian persian wool rug in my living room, wrapping gifts. I have a fetish for mood lighting and had all my cool lamps turned on, some with green party bulbs, others with stained glass bulbs, an asian lamp with a red bulb. The effect is charming and makes my house look so inviting and cozy.
There’s no place like home. :-)

When you give condolences to someone that has lost a loved one. When I lost my father I was hurt, pissed and angry at the world. I got so many kind words from others. I even got a hug from my industrial arts teacher. Probably get him fired today. Those kind words have stayed with me ever since. Someone loses a loved one reach out to them.

When my first husband died I couldn’t sleep until I could be in a place big enough to sleep with my 3 kids. (4,6 and 8.)
Because of the circumstances that took a while. I ended up drinking myself to sleep.

My stuffed penguin that I sleep with every night since the separation. (Sad but true.)

My new apartment gives me comfort. My husband is a pack rat and he saved everything. Even old newspapers. He had over 1,000 pig figurines up on the walls. I am not kidding. I lived like that for 15 years and now we are divorcing and I have a new apartment that I have decorated my way and it isn’t cluttered with useless stuff. I have it looking very nice and for the first time in years I feel like at peace in my own home.

@JenniferP Isn’t it great?
I divorced 10 years ago and man, I love my house, I even have a girly garage with pretty area rugs. haha There is no way I am EVER living with a man, ever again. They can stay for up to 3 days, then out you go. lol

Yeah, I like it. I miss my pets and that is about it. I doubt if I will get remarried.

Driving, especially with my two closest friends, whilst listening to my favourite music. I have always found driving therapeutic, I think things through when driving and it helps me to make sense of whatever is bothering me.

My cat, Chaos, when Asher died. He stayed with me at night, which he almost never did. He was a good cat. :)
When Chaos went missing I never really cried. I guess part of me knows that something happened to him, or he would have come home like he always did. But I’ve also found comfort in not knowing for sure. So I can picture him with a family who will love him, and he’s happy. Safe from harm. :)

Chocolate usually does it for me when I’m alone, but a hug is better.

(((hug))). There do you feel better?

^^^Virtual is better than nothing, but real is better. I appreciate the gesture.

Fascinating answers. It makes me want to try to comfort you. But I honestly have no idea what would comfort me. I’m not sad about that. I mean, I could be, but it wouldn’t change anything except to make me sad. And then maybe I’d do something stupid to find comfort. Better not to need it. Better to be happy with what I’ve got.

@burntbonez Would a hug work for you too? (((hug))).

Group hug!

Pile on! ’‘jumps’’

I’m afraid I’m not really a touchy-feely kind of guy. Thanks, anyway.

You just need to get in touch with your feelings.

I am fine with being in touch with my feelings. Hugging people I don’t know is something else entirely.

Well, of course it isn’t literally touching. I would be pretty uncomfortable with that too.