50 Comforting Things

Appears in

Well Fed Weeknights

By Melissa Joulwan

Published 2016

About

IN NO PARTICULAR ORDER...

the cool side of the pillow
the movie you’ve seen so many times you know the dialogue by heart
changing into your pjs
your favorite snuggly blanket
a steaming cup of tea on a cold day
the smell of cinnamon and vanilla
a fresh snowfall waiting for you to make footprints
a brand new box of crayons
deep, rhythmic breathing with your eyes closed
a just-opened jar of Sunbutter
having someone play with your hair
the weight in your lap of a warm, purring cat
savasana, a.k.a. lying flat on the floor on your back
the song you sang in the car with your best friend as teenagers
jumping into a cold pool on a hot day
the sound of rain when you’re napping
a sip of icy cold water after a hard workout
a baked potato with just the right amount of salt
the scent of a loved one on a piece of clothing
waking up without the alarm
a full-contact hug that goes on as long as you want it to
the adoring gaze of your dog
walking barefoot on soft grass
taking a shower after playing outside
massaging lotion into your hands
cat head-butts
t-shirts with no tags at the back of the neck
a good cry
a walk on the beach
stargazing on a blanket in the backyard
the scent of a fireplace on the winter air
a long soak in a warm bath
a steaming mug of bone broth
crossing the last item off a to-do list
a refrigerator full of paleo food
waking up to the smell of coffee brewing
falling asleep in the backseat to the murmur of people talking in the front seat
driving your car with the windows down and the radio up
reading a children’s story out loud (I recommend Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day or Hug Machine.)
spending all day in squishy clothes with your favorite book (I recommend Jane Eyre or The Night Circus.)
flossing and brushing your teeth before bed
when someone scratches the itch you can’t reach
the re-run of that one TV show you love
the crunch of leaves under your feet in autumn
lighting a candle with a match
the feel of sunshine on your back
when your hiccups stop
getting the shower water temperature just right
taking a nap with somebody else (or a kitten/bunny/dog)
a spontaneous dance break in the kitchen