Comfort

The word comfort often elicits emotions when being defined by some. References to both physical and emotional responses validate its effect. Memories long forgotten are brought forth. There is a longing for that feeling again. When this state of being has been absent for long periods of time, things feel out of order. 

During a recent trip to Virginia Beach, I longed for comfort.  The timeshare was too small.  I couldn’t relax enough to read one of the many books I’d brought with me.  And I found myself itching to go out every day, for as long as I could. I was restless and couldn’t relax. No longer a sun worshipper, the idea of lying on the beach was not as inviting as it once was for me. As a result, I became extremely stressed.  

Around the third day, I looked up and noticed the sky. It seemed to tell its own story and I began to watch. The clouds blanketed the sky and seemed to suggest confusion, darkness, covering. Later that day, the clouds broke and danced into new formations. Eagerly watching, I noticed pictures, shapes, letters. I searched for meanings in their message and purpose for their presence. Colors accented the painting announcing their residence, drawing me in to the overall beauty of what I was witnessing. In a year filled with heartache and disappointments, I welcomed this pause. 

I continued to watch as the days continued. Sunrises slashed the dark sky with a burst of orange evoking excitement, energy and a signal to move on. My heart lifted. Sunsets pulled the shade on the day reminding me to let go and just be. I exhaled. I realized that I’d found comfort by just noticing the sky.