What soothes you?

[onehitwanda]

One of the saddest things I have ever experienced was seeing the beautiful service dog of a newly deceased icon in our community being led to the memorial to the mournful sounds of a piper. Still brings tears to my eyes.

The pipes are weird. Something in them calls to people in a way that many other instruments simply can't.

 

[onehitwanda]

it's snowing.

I grew up somewhere where we read about snow. It was only in my twenties that I first experienced actual snowfall.

I can spend hours pressed up against a window like a six year old, just watching the flakes fall and listening to that very particular sound the flakes make. It sends me straight to my mournful/happy duality.

 

[Zenith77]

The sky. I don't think we look at the sky enough. At any time of day, just spending a few minutes watching the sky soothes me. Apart from when it's blue all over...that's a bit boring.

 

[CarlyAnn]

My dog….and the fireplace seems to soothe him.

 

[12oclocktales]

Watching logs burn in the fireplace with some sultry bossa nova playing in the background.

 

[nice90sguy]

Hope that dog's over 18, CarlyAnn

 

[CarlyAnn]

Watching logs burn in the fireplace with some sultry bossa nova playing in the background.

If it happens and you get burnt, don’t Blame it on the Bossa Nova

 

[CarlyAnn]

Hope that dog's over 18, CarlyAnn

He never divulges his age but he’s so damn cute no one cares.

 

[Alitaptap]

Nothing.

I am an ever-simmering volcano, ready to erupt at any moment...

I hear you, here’s to hoping things get better soon

 

[EmilyMiller]

What soothes you?​

Not a very original reply, but being slowly massaged with incense burners or essential oil diffusers in the background and soft lighting.

Em

 

[Alitaptap]

Thank you, my dear, but I'm afraid there's been a little misunderstanding. Some of us don't want to be soothed.
We have promises to keep and miles to go before they sleep.

Ahhh, I understand. Thank you. Rage, rage against the dying of the light

 

[Emilymcplugger]

So I read this particularly good article in the NYTimes about awe and enchantment that resonated. How seeking particular things that soothe you, following personal pleasures so to speak, leads to feeling alive again, and ultimately, to inspiration:

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/27/...ytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

Thought I’d share it with all of you, and ask the question, what soothes you?

I’ll start with myself to set this off. I love watching the sky every morning, turning from cold to warm, squid black deep to navy then powder blue with hints of warm lemon on tree barks. I laugh as every day this fat Maya bird outside, bullies the rest, jumping on them, stealing their food, basically wreaking havoc as the rest go about their merry way.

And in the late afternoons, while walking my black lab, it’s the way the light filters through the trees, casting shadows on the pavement as I feel the cool wind on my skin. It’s during these times of non-thought that ideas come, so I thought to ask, how about you?

Art, comic books, music.

They speak to my soul as a poet.

Whereas writing filth speaks to my secret lascivious nature.

 

[Comshaw]

While walking to the barn this morning to do my daily chores it was 40 degrees and gently raining. The air was moisture-laden and carried the hint of the coming bust of spring. I stood for a while on my footbridge over a small stream, listening to the gurgle of the water noisily making its way to the ocean, and let the rain pat me on the cheeks as I filled my lungs with the cool clean morning air.

Calm has never put out the fire. It just dials it back to a simmer, to allow me time to heal and grow and gather my strength.

Comshaw

 

[Alitaptap]

Calm has never put out the fire. It just dials it back to a simmer, to allow me time to heal and grow and gather my strength.

Same here. These pictures you paint bring me there. I can almost see the stream and feel the coming spring, hearing the gentle gurgles as it leads to the sea. Thank you

 

[stickygirl]

Staying off Lit

 

[Alitaptap]

The other night, I was with my besties, one of them has a terminal illness which is progressing. Despite that, she was glowing, so full of life and joy, the vitality and energy just permeating from her. I have never seen her so beautiful in all the years I’ve known her. I asked her how she does it.

She said when faced with a sickness like hers, she has no choice. She can choose sadness and wait for it to take her, or she can choose life. She chose the latter, and every moment she notices everything; the taste and feel of a warm cup of coffee in the morning, seeing the unique color of the sky that day, hearing the kids laugh and play outside, smelling the food as it’s being warmed in the kitchen, and fantastic sex. Hahaha, I kid you not.

So here’s to life, love and sex! Thanks for answering this simple thread. All your answers have inspired me to live more, so thank you