4. List 7 things that bring you comfort.

I feel like “comfort” could mean a broad range of things to many people. So here’s my list with explanations:

1. Blogging! I like expounding on my ideas, my thoughts, and my fears for many random internet strangers to read. Why? Don’t know. I just know if I am going through something or if I’m in a funk or stressed, if I type it out, it somehow makes me feel a whole lot better.
2. My heated blanket. We all typically associate the word ‘comfort’ with being your ideal temp and for me, I’d rather be warm. So comfort here involves being under said blanket, in my chair, playing some dumb little twitch game on my tablet. Added bonus for: all kids are in bed and it is quiet.
3. On the same note as above, I’m comforted by being the first one up in the morning. Lately, it’s still a bit dark out at 6 but by then, my downstairs lamp has come on and I pad downstairs once my son is in the shower, turn on the coffee maker and hit the bathroom, passing by the Christmas tree in the sun room. It’s a wonderfully quiet time of my day that I cherish. Soon, Elliot will be down there banging around, putting his cleats in his bag, making some kind of breakfast/lunch and depending on mood, whining or simply silent (he’s 15.) Then I have about 25 minutes between his departure and when my next child will be coming down and need something.
4. Having a buffer of money in my bank account. I think we can see this as self explanatory but I am a planner and I look ahead each month to budget so knowing I have a decent cushion is very comforting.
5. Christmas music. The most comforting though, is the slow kind, not the jaunty fun songs, even though those are fun too. I like the slow traditional ones best. They just bring me such a warm feeling.
6. Making lists. We leave out tonight for a trip to Texas (by way of Pensacola first) and I have been making multiple lists in the last few days so I can get all my ducks in a row. Admittedly, sometimes I don’t make them and then have a moment where I think, ‘Wow, I really need to write stuff down!’
7. Knowing all members of my family are home/safe. These days, we tend to all be in different places. Friends’ houses, school, extracurriculars, etc. So it’s nice to sit down on an evening and know they’re all either in the house or someone safe. I know it sounds kind of silly but it brings peace of mind, which is comforting!