My Favorite Simple Comforts
The older and more settled I become, the more I realize that happiness doesn’t always come in big, flashy moments. It shows up quietly and softly in everyday things that we can tend to overlook if we are not paying attention. I am learning that a happy life is built from simple comforts. Not fancy vacations or expensive purchases (don’t get me wrong, I will still accept both of those things with glee and appreciation! )😉 A happy life comes from embracing and celebrating small, ordinary things that makes the heart feel safe and the soul settled.
Here are some of my favorite simple comforts.
The beauty and nature that exists right outside my windows. We have the priveledge of living out in the woods where we have beautiful views of the lake and lots of wildlife to keep us company.
A hot cup of coffee first thing in the morning and being able to drink and enjoy it a leisurely pace, not having to be in any hurry to go anywhere or do anything. (Most days) 🙂 If I am being honest, I am not quite human until that cup of coffee happens.
Clean fresh sheets and a warm, soft bed. Really, is there anything better than climbing into a bed with fresh, crisp sheets, a cool pillow and a comfy, cozy blanket? I don’t think so. Bonus points if the fitted sheets stay fitted most of the time. 🙂
A kitchen that smells like something yummy. A pot of simmering soup or cookies baking in the oven. Those smells feel like home no matter where you are!
Soft, cozy jammies at the end of the day. Real clothing is highly overrated. Put me in stretchy pants and a comfy shirt and I instantly become 10 times happier. If I could run my errands, go to dinner or even attend formal events in my jammies, I absolutely would!
The sound of rain gently falling on the roof, on the windows or anywhere at all. It gives me permission to slow down a little, maybe stay cuddled in bed a little longer. To stay cozy. To not feel guilty for doing absolutely nothing for just a bit. Rain is basically nature giving us permission to put our PJs on a little early or leave them on a little later.
The security and comfort of a good man. There is something deeply calming about being with someone who feels like home. Someone who shows up, a voice you trust and a presence that lets you exhale. Not perfection, just kindness, consistency, security and love.
Realizing that your adult children are good people and you genuinely enjoy spending time with them. Realizing that you truly like them as people, not just as your kids. Hugs from my grandkids. Those are not simple at all actually, they are pure magic. Hugs from adult children and grandchildren are pure comfort in human form.
Then there are our parents. If you are as lucky as I am to still have your parents, there is so much comfort in those familiar voices and in shared memories. There is something wonderful about still having parents at 65 knowing that they will still be there for me, to help me and support me no matter what! It is a gift I never take for granted!
Familiar routines, the same chair, the same toasty blanket or throw. The same TV show I may have seen 20 times. Predictable doesn’t necessarily mean boring, sometimes predictable means peace.
Perhaps the very simplest comfort of all is knowing that I don’t require an awful lot to be content anymore. There was a time in my life when I thought happiness was something that had to be chased. Always needing something bigger, something more. Now I know better. Happiness is often just a quiet afternoon, a cozy chair, a good book and perhaps a snack! 🙂
It is amazing how little you really need when you learn to appreciate the simple comforts that are all around you!
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