HOPE E. TREMBLAY
I recently bought a new comforter. I’m the type of person who gets attached to my bedding. Every five or so years, though, I decide it’s time for a new comforter. I typically look for weeks before I find one I like. It has to “feel” right – warm, but not make me hot, lightweight and heavy at the same time and usually a solid color so I can mix patterns with sheets and pillows. My last one was a white down alternative and ridiculously cozy, but it was time to put it down, so to speak.
I started my search, thinking I’d go to a good 8-10 stores before I found one.
So, I was very surprised when I came across one at the local “box store” of all places. It’s grey, comfy and king sized despite my queen size bed (I may or may not have a husband who is a blanket hog, but you didn’t hear that from me).
I bought new sheets – grey with a white pattern – and made my bed. It was very, well, grey. So, to liven it up I went back to the store and got new curtains – shades of grey with a paisley/floral sort of pattern with just a bit of yellow.
And then I spotted the pillow.
It was rectangular and featured grey ticking on the back with ticking piping and a yellow front with the word “grateful” in white in a farmhouse-y style lettering. It was perfect.
I put up the curtains and placed the pillow on the bed and carefully placed my super soft fluffy throw blanket across the bottom in a way that looked like it was casually tossed there but somehow landed perfectly.
I stepped back and was happy with the result. So, every morning I make the bed and it doesn’t feel complete until I place the pillow in the center between two pillow shams. And every morning I step back and look and have a few seconds of calm. At first, I thought it was just that it’s nice to have the bed made. But then I realized that the pillow was more than just a pretty accent – it’s a subliminal daily affirmation. It’s a reminder that I am lucky to have this nice bed with new bedding in a warm house.
And it starts my day in a calm, grateful state. And most days that state doesn’t last long, but when I make my bed in the morning and when I lay down in it at night, it reminds me for a few seconds to be grateful. Who knew that a $9.99 pillow could do that? How do you find your daily calm? And if you don’t find it, might I suggest a new pillow . . .
