Finding Comfort

Hello all! I am writing to you on this sun shiny President’s Day. (Well it is sun shiny in Florida, for my daughter Kimberly, it’s a snowy President’s Day!).

Our family has just gone through a health scare with one of our dogs. It is a scary thing when your pet is injured or sick, but can’t quite tell you what is wrong, how he/she feels or how the injury started. Talk about some detective work! My brain is set up to assess and treat people, but I was using my knowledge to the best of my ability. We have figured out that he has had a stroke and now are working towards recovery.

During the initial time period, we were very worried that we may lose him. We have had Dino since he was a brand new pup, this would have been devastating to both my husband and I as well as his sister Pebbles who is his litter mate. They have been together even longer than we have had them!!

During all this stress, I used my go to mode of comfort and it got me thinking about what people do to find comfort. I remember the feeling of comfort when laying my head on my mother’s lap and her playing with my hair until I fell asleep. I remember the feeling of my grandmother’s wrinkly skin on her hand being so very soft and tender and it gives me comfort to think of this now. Certain songs bring me a feeling of comfort- music is often used in hospital settings during procedures, especially with children because of its’ ability to comfort the patient.

Then there is religion that is a comfort to certain people. It often brings comfort in times of stress. Prayer, meditation and biofeedback are all ways people find comfort and attempt to decrease stress.

Then there are the more unhealthy and dangerous ways to find comfort. Those include alcohol, drugs and reckless behaviors. These may provide temporary comfort, but the lasting effects of both of these are perilous to the mind, body and spirit.

You can surely find a person to help you with meditation, a yoga studio, spiritual director or just a friend to stroke your hair when you need some comfort. Its good for your health, both emotional and physical.

Have a Great Day!!

Tracy