Childhood Comforts

But as this column has demonstrated, picture books are not the only thing from our childhoods that stick with us; there are so many little things that do as well.

Pointe is probably the greatest illusion I have ever encountered in my entire life. I remember expecting the entire experience to feel as beautiful as it looked. Instead, I was greeted by the fact that my foot looked as flat as a block in pointe shoes and my ability to balance in them was nonexistent.

I didn’t really know how to respond; I don’t think I really responded at all. I simply noticed the peculiar, pleasant sensation coiling in the bottom of my stomach. I hadn’t meant to attract the attention of all my classmates, but I did. And I liked it. A lot.

The point is, however, that being so engrossed with beauty can be a dangerous force when manifested within every corner of a person’s life. 

To me, love means remembering the details about a person, because those details hold so many personalities, secrets and values

Shame exposes us, and it puts us in very vulnerable positions. Oftentimes, it can feel as if one is being thrown into oceans to drown and into fires to burn. However, in the same way, I believe that shame is the liferaft or fire extinguisher that prevents us from suffering from our mistakes; it cannot be denied that as much as it feels like it’s causing harm, there are moments when it’s saving us as well.

In my heart, however, I would explain that the best sleep-provoking scents smell like the warmth of a blanket and the sweetness of a mother’s touch; like the freshness of cool sheets and the lightness of a goodnight kiss.

Love can feel like it is not being given to you, even if it is, which is why it is so crucial that we take a step back and spot it in the many forms it comes in.