What Nurtures You?

One of the coolest chicks in the blogosphere suggested that we all come up with twenty things that nurture us. Everyone who has taken this challenge seriously has approached it in a slightly different way, which is one of the things that makes blog communities so cool… the differences within the similarities.

For me, I must define. Nurture - to care for and encourage the growth or development of

Since really only humans can care for and nurture other humans, what we’re really looking for here are twenty things that inspire us to nurture ourselves.

Here we go:

1 – The scents of my woman

Which makes me think of the feel of her skin, which makes me think of other nurturing things I will not bring up…

2 – “Hey Dad,” as I walk in the front door at night

If those two words don’t ease my soul, nothing will.

3 – Golf

The last seven years of my life would not be the same without those long walks and the man-bonding previously missing in nearly my entire adult life.

4 – The smell and feel of a brand new, electronic gadget

When you first open that seal and the solenoids, microchips and freshly pressed plastic give off that virgin blast of chemicals and powder coating, I’m in heaven.

5 – Long, lovely conversations with my lady

From our first days together, fifteen years ago, we’ve enjoyed great, hours-long conversations. And to this day, I can’t wait to hear what she has to say.

6 – Writing

All of it. From underwriting memorandums at work, to poems, to novels, short-stories, blog entries, blog comments, e-mails… even f’in tweets. I love it all. It is the most joy I can have solamente.

7 – A hug from any of my sisters

They are the best four huggers in our entire family, maybe in the whole world. A hug from one of those ladies literally makes the stress in my body evaporate. I think they might be mystical witches or something.

8 – A big, home cooked meal

I’m talking about the meat and potatoes kind. Meat loaf or pork chops, spaghetti or chili. It’s the kind of meal you smell from the street.

9 – Cuddling with the kids in my chair

If I had known how good this was, I would have used it more to my advantage when I was a kid. Dad, I’ll cuddle with you after dinner if I can have some ice cream.

10 – My brother’s laugh

So full, so rich, so genuine. When my brother is laughing, my heart is happy.

11 – Driving, alone, on a long trip

It’s close to my only meditation, and I love it.

12 – Seeing confidence in my children

We want them to be safe, we want them to be happy and then we want them to be confident.

13 – A heavy nap in my chair while my family spins around me

I could sleep in a hurricane. And they are all so patient with my unconscious state of mind.

14 – Many ounces of porterhouse, black on the outside, dark red on the inside

Oh, ‘ell, man, if you are going to eat a steak, eat one with some personality. No steak has more variety of taste than a full-sized porterhouse.

15 – Pine trees on a dusty trail under a hot summer sun

The combination of scents is almost intoxicating.

16 – Strong female vocalists

Norah Jones, Terri Nunn, Melissa Etheridge, Ann Wilson, Markéta Irglová, Alicia Keys. I love them all.

17 – Sun is out after a hard rain and the birds in the front yard are chorusing

One of the most vibrant expressions of life I experience.

18 – The treadmill

Okay, this is another meditation after driving. I have never spent time on the treadmill and not been happy about it.

19 – Caring about a character in a book I’m reading

I recently was reading a wedding scene and I started to cry. I’m a ten-year old girl.

20 – Family trip to the coast

Let it all go and camp out on a Nor Cal beach for a couple of days. That will cure anything….

and nurture much.

Cheers,

SLC