Comfort drawer

 

True comfort is allowing yourself to rest without guilt or reason

In her book L'Art de la Simplicité (How to Live More With Less, English version), Dominique Loreau talks about her vanity case where she stores her medicines, beauty products, jewelry, toothbrush, sewing kit, nail care kit… and she uses it not only for trips but also every day at home; she carries it from room to room so that she always has everything on hand.

She is a French essayist who has lived in Japan since the 1970s.  So she is deeply influenced by the lifestyle and living environment of her adopted country.  A lifestyle based on "less is more" philosophy, applied to all areas, from the material to the spiritual.

At that time, I found it was a great idea but finally I really don't need all those things every time I change rooms.

Since I am mostly at my desk, I just use a drawer where I put all the things I need.  What a surprise when Sarah Ban Breathnach introduced the idea of a comfort drawer in her book Simple Abundance!  She is a pioneer of self care and the practice of gratitude.

But she also introduced the Comfort Drawer ritual to break the cycle of bad days and restless, worrisome nights.

But it can be much more than that: a sanctuary for gloomy days, a place where lots of little things that bring comfort are stored, such as small objects, souvenirs, photos, favorite books, little treats...  In short, a place to accumulate little pleasures throughout the year, and above all a little cocooning corner to retreat in, pause, relax...

So in my Comfort Drawer, there are my essentials of daily life:

• Candied Ginger (a small piece after each meal)
• Fresh fruits (when I think about it): banana, clementine, mandarin (easy to peel)
• Food suppléments: vegan multivitamin, iron
• In cold season: mittens and socks
• Medecines: pain reliever, eye drop, anti-emetic medication (treating temporary nausea and vomiting not accompanied by fever)
• Nuts: roasted almonds, cashew nuts
• Small kit containing 2 nail clippers and a file
• Sweet: some biscuits, mochi (from time to time)

=> I stopped eating 70% dark chocolate, my favourites because according to a new study, the heavy metal content, specifically cadmium and lead, in dark chocolate bars far exceeded the maximum heavy metal levels recommended

On the desk, left side:

• Box of tissues
• 1 big bottle of isotonic* thermal spring water mist; since I don't often think about it, I only use it in the morning and evening

* isotonic water has the same osmotic concentration as normal physiologique fluid or biological cells; its mineral content is close to that of skin cells

On the chair:

• A thick warm beige scarf

In the kitchen, next to the kettle:

• moringa tea
• thyme, rosemary for infusion

On the computer and on the blog (so it's always within reach)

• Funny images (and wallpapers too)
• List of funny quotes
• List of favourite quotes
• List of funny comments from internet users
• List of favourite books
• List of favourite music (songs, singers, bands, lyrics, styles...)
• List of favourite recipes (comfort food recipes / gourmet meal platters)
• List of wellness activities
• List of favourite works of art