Cozy

I have been enjoying this book for a couple of weeks, picking it up here and there, whenever I was feeling the need to indulge in something without conflict or plot for a few quiet minutes. The entire book is dedicated to the things that make this author feel cozy. Why hadn’t I thought of writing that book?

We all need a bit more cozy in our lives right now. Gillies encourages the idea of finding cozy in the days of our lives, rather than waiting for the idyllic snow storm or the perfect cup of tea. Sure, those things are cozy for her, too. But so is jury duty (really). And the nurses’ station at the hospital. And so she seeks the feeling of cozy in the craze of her days, in whatever setting she finds herself in.

I think I adopted her way of thinking a while back, because I can name many cozy things I give myself in a day. And I sense them deeply when I have them. These are likely the things that get us through, I suppose. At home, I know my kids will mosey into my room each morning with their hair askew and blankets in hand. That is cozy. I know I will have two cups of coffee each day before I have to “do.” That is cozy. My makeup-removing wipes are incredibly cozy each night, as is the act of turning out the last light downstairs. Cookbooks are cozy. At school, reading my plan book in the morning in a dim classroom, lit only by my desk lamp, is cozy. Watching the tree outside my window change from season to season is cozy. An overstuffed closet of snow coats, boots, and gloves is messy, but cozy too. In the car, opening the moonroof on a cloudy day is cozy. So is listening to Death Cab for Cutie and driving on 17th Avenue from my school to my kids’. In life, seeing Jason’s name on my caller ID is cozy. Same for Mom and Dad’s.

Yesterday, it was 98 degrees here. We closed the blinds and the curtains and put on the 1984 version of Ghostbusters that Jameson was dying to see. That was cozy. I did a little journaling and listing while the other three curled up and laughed at Bill Murray.

Harper says “cozy” means snowy days, cocoa, fireplaces, warm blankets, reading and drawing, puzzles, writing, and the color blue. Jameson’s cozy means movies and popcorn, snuggling, brownies, having fun, and the dark. Jason’s cozy means fire, hoodies, creamy chicken soup, family movies, cinnamon, and a phone call from yours truly (I swear we didn’t coordinate that. Aren’t we cute? Altogether now, “Awwwwwww!”).

Below is your dose of cozy.

Enjoy.

Wishing you bits of cozy woven into your day today, tomorrow, everyday.

(Isn’t Google Images wonderful? Also deserves a spot on my cozy list.)