I am reminded of a quote by Booth Tarkington as I write this essay:
“Cherish all your happy moments; they make a fine cushion for old age.”
Mr. Tarkington and I have probably understood the miracle of a cushion in our lives.
A cushion is something you need when you lean on something. While we are familiar with the aesthetics and physical comfort a cushion brings, we must also realize that we have other kinds of cushions too.
The emotional cushions, as we may call them.
A song could be your cushion after a hard day at work.
A slice of pizza could be your cushion after a tiff with your parents.
A glass of something cool could be your cushion after a setback at work.
A two-hour movie you’ve watched a hundred times before is your cushion when you feel a little lonely.
Your favorite book is your cushion when reality feels exhausting.
Looking at old photographs is your cushion when you’re feeling homesick.
Sitting on the balcony with a hot cup of coffee is a cushion when you miss the good old days.
A chat with a friend is a cushion when you feel unloved.
A dance routine you always turn to when you’re too much in your head.
A rap song you sing verbatim when you’re feeling demotivated.
An hour with your favorite sport brings you back to life again.
Becoming a part of a community where you share a common interest or goal can be a cushion when life feels worthless.
Even a small contribution, a kind gesture, an offer of help, can remind you that you have a purpose after all.
All these are the cushions we keep in our lives and take out as and when we need them.
Some may just be lying around, like cushions in your living room, catching your sight and comforting you unknowingly.
Need Of Bigger Cushions
A vacation. A Vipassana break. A retreat. A sabbatical. Or a reunion with our favorite cousins. These are some examples of bigger cushions, when the shock is bigger. We need more time to lean on and find comfort in our cushions to recuperate.
Why We Need To Stitch New Cushions Every Now And Then
We also need to build a habit to stitch and find our new cushions. You see, we have new emotions, newer shocks, newer issues to ponder upon.
The older cushions may not fulfill all our needs. Hence, we find new cushions based on our new requirements, yet not abandon the older cushions. They all serve a purpose, they all provide comfort this way or other.
Learning a new skill like knitting or taekwondo.
Starting a blog like this.
Finding a new way to exercise.
Seeking a spiritual guide, or even a new faith.
Taking breaks from people and jobs to build a new home within yourself.
Instead of children, we may choose pets and plants to care for.
We may become part of a community that helps the disadvantaged.
This list is long, and it should be long.
Why We All Should Become Cushion Collectors
Cushions come in different forms and sizes, depending on the emotional need they help with. One cushion can’t serve all needs. Nor can you carry the same cushion everywhere.
That’s why you place them in different corners of your life, so they’re always within reach.
You never feel the rush to run home for comfort, because there’s always a cushion nearby.
This list of cushions should be a work in progress, always growing. Life will not tire of throwing new setbacks and shocks at you. So you must be ready with your cushions to handle them better.
Let your life look like a cozy room, full of your favorite cushions.
And may you find the fluffiest one, in your favorite color, very soon.
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