Lately, I’ve been thinking about what comfort really means to me.

As summer comes to an end, there are little signs that fall is arriving. I love this time of year: the chill in the air, the beautiful colors of the leaves, and the comforting feeling of nesting at home and cooking with the bounty of local fall produce.

But deeper things comfort me, too. Feeling safe. Feeling secure. Having an underlying belief that, for the most part, things will be okay.

That is a feeling I have always taken for granted. I have always believed that no matter what was happening in the world, I could create a safe and comforting home for myself and for my children. Home has always been my refuge. It has been a place where I could feel grounded, protected, and at peace.

But lately, that sense of security has been shaken. The turmoil in our country and around the world has made it difficult not to worry about things I once assumed would always be there. I never doubted the stability of the country I called home, or the freedoms and democratic principles that I believed would endure. Today, with so much uncertainty and our democracy feeling increasingly fragile, I find myself questioning that sense of safety.

It has made me think about what I would need to feel comforted about the future. Financial security, good health for myself, for the people I love, and for all; world peace; a democracy that works; and a government that cares about people and the planet.

And then there is love. Giving it. Receiving it. Being surrounded by people you can be completely yourself with. Knowing that, even when the world feels uncertain, there are people who will be there for you, and that you will be there for them.

Perhaps comfort isn’t the absence of uncertainty. Perhaps it is knowing that whatever uncertainty comes-  love, beauty, hope – will be there to hold us. 

Happy September!