Finding Comfort

I just lost my father two weeks ago. I was with him while he made the passage. His memorial service turned out to be a peaceful family gathering. Now, I am back in my daily life, and the feelings are so deep that sometimes I don’t even know what I am feeling.

What I have noticed is my need for comfort, simple comfort throughout the day. Little doses. Morning tea. Prayer. A soft sweater. Laughter. An afternoon walk. Making dinner. An evening bath. Again and again, I have found that little doses of comfort have a cumulative effect. When a moment will bring on a release of tears, I feel held in the embrace of comfort.

Last week, I facilitated a comfort circle for people who minister to those in grief. One of the participant’s described comfort as an embrace. I liked that description because true comfort can be found in the fusion of the interior recognition of comfort with a particular form of comfort.

As I say in my new book, Comfort & Joy: Simple Ways to Care About Ourselves and Others:
“It simply takes our mindful attention to connect to the comfort inherent in eating a warm bowl of soup, or holding hands with someone special, or walking in the park. Yet, it is not only the warm bowl of soup that gives us comfort but also our willingness to notice and appreciate the healing and restorative gift offered to us in this very simple experience.”

Can you notice the quality of comfort being offered in your simple, daily rituals?