Comfort

There’s a moment in my new novel Get Lucky, when the main character, Sarah, takes a self-defense class from her dad’s new fiancé.  It’s one of my favorite scenes in the book, and I find myself thinking about it a lot.  Especially this little moment afterwards:

Then she told me there were two things in this world that every woman needed to learn about.  One was self-defense.  And the other one wasn’t covered in her class.

“What’s the other one?” I asked.

Dixie took a long, slow breath before saying, “Comfort.”

I thought about that.  “How does that one work?”

“Well,” Dixie said, “everybody’s different.  What comforts me won’t be what comforts you.”

“What if I don’t know what comforts me?”

Dixie pulled up in front of Mackie’s house.  “Well, sweetheart,” she said, kissing her fingertips and touching them to my cheek. “It’s time you found out.”

So Sarah decides to make a comfort list of things she finds soothing.  I’ve heard from many people about that list, and so not long ago I decided to make my own. I included some pictures I took in my garden (which is on my list).  It made me wish I had more photos of the things on the list.  What would a comfort list done in photographs look like?  What would your list look like?  What things comfort you? 

I’m giving away a signed copy of Get Lucky to the Shutter Sisters this month for Giveaway May!!  Post a link to a photo of something that comforts you below by midnight (PST) on Saturday, May 27, to enter.  I can hardly wait to see the photos!

Photo and words courtesy of author Katherine Center.

Comments

[Meggie(68beats)]

what a lovely post ..!!

strawberry cupcakes baked by me ..my latest comfort
http://www.flickr.com/photos/34288115@N03/4636623943/

[Marcie]

A quiet book..on a quiet day:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1159
Looking up and finding the sky:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1156
Finding something that I've never seen before to photograph:
http://www.marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=1184
Just a short visual list of what I might consider to be 'comfort'.

[giftsofthejourney (Elizabeth Harper)]

The act of creating my own words and images gives me comfort ...

http://giftsofthejourney.wordpress.com/2010/05/28/distractions-bright-amp-beautiful/

[marina]

A pastel coloured sunset:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/36167691@N03/4632692172/

Thank you for this chance to participate in the giveaway: a signed copy of your beautiful book would be the perfect present for a very dear friend!

[Vanessa]

it's like you read my mind. my Dad is having serious brain surgery today and i've just spent the last hour sitting here attempting to lose myself in images i find comforting and soothing. i can't say it's done wonders for my nerves... but it has helped. a lot. these are the images i uploaded to my flickrstream today:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4646632315/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4646635243/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/vanessa_r/4647255172/

[Diane]

Home.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mackvilleroad/4608192863/

[Kylie]

At the moment? Chocolate chip cookies. nom nom.

http://radiantreflections.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/moment/

[CDScott]

The hills of my East Tennesse childhood...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdscottphoto/4376522574/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/cdscottphoto/4376522564/

[Becky Sue]

One of my top comforts is sitting on the couch and drinking a latte while reading the newspaper with my husband on a Sunday morning.

Also,
The ocean.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/4634260908/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/4634261084/

And gardening.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rslaflam/4647382278/

Would love to win your book and add it to my summer reading list!

[georgia]

i think i'd like to make a list like that. and even more, like you said... photograph that list after i've made it.

quiet walks in the woods calm and comfort me.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/28567264@N05/4617649892/

[AnnGeeDee]

I find great comfort in music, which proves hard to capture, however, I plan to try a series of musically inspired shots sometime this year. My son finds comfort in his soft friend, Frank: http://www.flickr.com/photos/40070449@N08/4321191016/in/set-72157623122903804/

[Emma]

An hour or two at a quiet cafe, reading, drawing, writing, and sipping something soothing... =)

http://phoenixville365.wordpress.com/2010/05/02/cafe-still-life/

[Kizz]

This is a technically imperfect shot of my dog who used to comfort me. She passed away in October.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31403417@N00/3959671692/in/set-72157603969964422/

[MelanieMH]

Sunsets...signalling the end of another beautiful day.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniemh/4301597317/

Cafes on Rainy Days for the perfect pick me up. :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melaniemh/2304634901/

[jakki]

I know its spring and Ieveryone loves the vibrant greens, pinks and yellows of life begining again ( I am one who can not get ENOUGH of snapping the typical spring photo's right now) but I gotta say yes, this is a winter photo but watching their bond get stronger the older they get gives me so much comfort


http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2779/4256799114_db375bae8a_o.jpg

[Diane]

simple things give me comfort. One thing I don't have a photo of is how sheer curtains flow and billow when a breeze comes through the window.
Something else that gives me comfort can be seen here:

http://www.dianeschuller.com/blog/?p=2228

(there are 3 photos and all 3 would fall into that category but it's the MIDDLE one that really, really works)

[Michel]

I find such comfort in knowing I have a day to myself. I love being busy and I love feeling needed but I also love some alone time on a Sunday morning. My comfort is knowing I have a partner that lets me have that - because we all should.

http://www.wishfulthinkingblog.com/wishful-thinking/2010/4/25/dreamy-sunday.html

[joyjoy]

Ice cream always has a way of making me feel better...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42110335@N02/3985744347/in/set-72157622405323687/

...as does the guy behind that ice cream.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/42110335@N02/4223801157/

[Pamela]

Having a cozy place to curl up and read or more likely watch TV...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/happydog/4628580810/

[spread your wings]

this is a wonderful post. thank you. I love your idea about making a visual comfort list
here are just a few

a good book, fresh scone (made by my daughter of course), and warm sunshine - an ahhhhh comforting moment for me. http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/4591026812/in/set-72157623789859750/

late afternoon sunlight on my bed - just right for a nap after work = comfort for sure
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/4626308775/in/set-72157622732992827/

being outdoors in God's beautiful world brings a lot of comfort to me - the smells, the birdsong, motion and sound of water, everything about it is soothing
http://www.flickr.com/photos/autumnsun/4001240655/in/set-72157622438333257/

[stef]

on a walk through the neighborhood or anywhere and seeing flowers in bloom

http://www.flickr.com/photos/steffierenee/4641168290/

[cigi]

Daily walks (or hikes in nature) and photography have become essential to my emotional well-being and are especially comforting when done together:

http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/05/25/145365/

And the act of putting pen to paper has never, not once, failed to make me feel better:

http://instamaticgratification.wordpress.com/2010/05/19/135365/

[Thien-Kim]

These dark chocolate chip raisin oatmeal cookies have been comforting me lately. http://www.mycupofcreativitea.com/2010/05/perfect-excuse-to-bake-cookies.html

I love the idea of making a comfort list!

[claudia]

today I'd have to say looking through old photographs of family and remembering is a comfort to me http://www.flickr.com/photos/laurohunt/4646764416/

but now I'm definitely off to make a list! :D

[Marianne LoMonaco]

Books.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariannelomonaco/4638447125/

This kid and her happiness.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mariannelomonaco/4569509340/

[Jen L.]

I love the comfort my dogs give me, they always seem to know or sense when I need it most.

I love these furry faces...

http://cricketseyeview.blogspot.com/2010/05/201.html

http://cricketseyeview.blogspot.com/2010/05/192.html

[Gabi]

I love the idea of making list of comforting things! This is such a wonderful post.
There are a lot of things that bring me a comfort but lately I feel totally relaxed and comforted just being around my children. Being a SAHM and having the opportunity to see how their personalities develop and how the relationship between them is becoming stronger, makes me so peaceful inside.
Here is a capture of my little DD while she was enjoying playing with her big brother,
http://gabirytirova.typepad.com/lifeinpictures/2010/05/may-27th-day-147.html

[jv]

I love your writing, Catherine.
Made my own list!

http://dailydualities.blogspot.com/2010/05/comfort-list.html

[Denise]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/deniselivingston/4535341228/in/set-72157623494495744

Amen.
-Denise

[hellolovely]

great post! i love the idea of making a comfort list! i made a comfort list of my own on my blog, hellolovely. :)
here is the link to the post:

http://hellolovely14.blogspot.com/2010/05/my-comfort-list.html

[damiec]

What a wonderful idea your list of comforts is. I think I will set to making (and photographing) one this long weekend. This may even warrant a new set on flickr . . . here are a few for which I have photos at the ready:

the smell, sound and feel of the ocean
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4577963577/in/set-72157623866536677/
finding beauty in the mundane (perfect light helps)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4637740154/
and, always, flowers
http://www.flickr.com/photos/22487105@N06/4614535068/in/set-72157621295391310/

[Jennifée]

I take comfort in knowing that there are people around me who appreciate the fact that I don't follow the majority in most things and who agree that "normal" is a negative word.

Thank you for sharing your photo and words!

[Jennifée]

...oh, and my post was meant to include this photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/85057042@N00/4651245960/

[Lis]

i love your writing and cannot wait to read your new book!

this little smile always comforts me: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7724232@N03/4612895003/?edited=1

[RojasKaty31]

freelance writer