Finding comfort when the world feels heavy

I read a lot. I’m not very discerning about what I read - from cheesy (and steamy) romances to Pulitzer Prize winners, but I’m generally not a re-reader. Yet in times of stress, I find myself reaching for the familiar. I want to know what to expect. I can’t handle uncertainty, emotional whiplash in the storyline, or characters who suddenly betray everything I liked about them. I need something safe.

Another source of comfort: my cats

That longing for comfort and predictability has been strong again lately. South Africa feels like it’s holding its breath - political unrest, economic strain and news headlines that never seem to improve. There’s a low hum of unease in the air. In times like this, I crave something to anchor me. Somewhere for my scattered thoughts to land.

For me, a journal is that place. I have many on the go - some with themes, some following prompt lists, some that document only special trips.

And then I have my comfort journals. The ones I “re-read.” Pages I loved creating and still love looking at. Journals made with beautiful, tactile materials chosen simply to bring joy. No blank-page pressure. No demand for perfection. Just a welcoming space where even one sentence or a jumble of stickers feels complete.

They comfort me because they are filled with my favourite things - the “special” supplies I once might have saved for later. The ribbons I was afraid to use, the vintage paper I thought was too rare, the charm I only had one of. Instead of hiding them away in a drawer, I’ve given them a home where they can lift my spirits whenever I need it.

This is your reminder: the good scissors aren’t happier in a cupboard, the beautiful paper won’t become more special by being hidden, and the “too precious” things you own are meant to be enjoyed.

Use the special things. Surround yourself with beauty. Create your own soft surroundings -

especially when the world outside feels anything but soft.