Comfort Zone

Once in a great while, I find myself with some free time, in my car, with my camera, and no husband or child to direct my path.  It's usually at night after I've met with friends.  If the stars align just right and the weather cooperates, I more likely than not will feel a magnetic pull to a certain beach about a mile east of our home.

I have a history with the beaches of Chicago's Northside at night.  It's where I've gone on so many other nights during a particularly tumultuous time in my life.  The sound of the waves gently lapping against the shore, again and again, creates a cadence so calming and comforting to me, a sound so primally familiar like the sounds of the womb.  Lake Michigan stretches as far as the eye can see, a black expanse holding up an equally black sky, the sequins of stars dimly visible in the urban haze.  The wind whips my hair to an fro, and I hug myself for warmth, legs dangling over the breakwater.  I breathe deeply and slowly and let the universe wash over me with all the love and tenderness and wisdom I'm able to hold in my empty hands. 

I often feel like I need to push myself out of my comfort zone, to do something Fresh!  Original!  Conceptual!  Challenging!  Scary!  It's an important learning experience, for sure, to be able to step out into unknown territory.  Lately, however, I am realizing the gift of knowing where my comfort lies, and feeling free to return there to rest and wallow in the contentedness of familiarity, whether it's simply listening to an old 80's song or watching my daughter play.  This little beach at night is a symbol of that familiar place within me, and I return to it as often as I can.

Where are your comfort zones, literal and figurative?  Share with us today your images that evoke in you the feelings of comfortable familiarity.

Comments

[kaytee]

my comfort zone is always taking photos of my family. it just makes me feel so secure =)
http://missredphotos.blogspot.com/2009/09/slowing-down.html

[Marcie]

Quite unexpectedly - I've found myself taking great comfort in early morning walks with my dog:
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=908
http://marciescudderphotography.com/index.php?showimage=911

[Katrina Kennedy]

My comfort zone is me in my garden hands dug into dirt just being in that lovely space. http://ianck.blogspot.com/2009/08/snapshot-saturday-3.html

[kristin]

water, i am always drawn to the water. lately i am in he blurry mood. feeling slightly off balance myself the blur fits my mood. took this last night. sun dancing on the ripples of the cold ocean.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/14811117@N02/3890878365/

[susa]

returning home to the breath is always a source of comfort.. a place I can return to no matter where I happen to be.

this is a lovely post.. such beautiful writing!

[camerashymomma]

river was sitting on my lap as your photo pulled up. we both let out an audible sigh. then he said "that looks pretty" :)

i was just thinking this yesterday, how i gravitate towards the similiar, the familiar, and often repeat myself in photography. i was down and thinking it all had been done before, there was nothing more to see that was new. then i realized i was missing the point of what gave me joy. and so i began shooting the things that make me smile, images that i may have taken last year or the year before, but there's something that just feels right about it.

and i'm glad where i've landed. it's my comfort zone :)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/camerashymomma/3891249726/

[Donna]

oh this is a wonderful exciting shot! I love the water and my place where I receive strength and wanting to push myself out of my comfort zones is on the water and in my canoe. Water gives me courage and shows me that you can stretch yourself wide sometimes and always come back to your best comfort place.

here is my comfort zone shot taken by my 22 year old son Tom. http://www.kirkville-acreage.blogspot.com

[georgia]

i actually gasped when i saw this photo. it is so neat! so magical!

i live about an hour northwest of chicago, and one of the things that has comforted me through some painful times over the past eight months is to drive around in the country and take pictures. it is so peaceful and quiet--so opposite the busy hub of every day life.

here are some shots from one such drive/walk.
http://itsjusthowiseethings.blogspot.com/2009/08/get-away.html

[Leanne]

I love this post - love this photo - love the idea of comfort. Yet find myself sitting here for over 1/2 hour trying to figure out where MY comfort is. What's frustrating right now, is that . . . I don't know. I've been in that overwhelmed state for a few weeks and honestly can't come up with that comfort feeling. If anything, though, I am continuously inspired by the stories told here, and gain motivation regularly from every word/thought written. My goal for now, to find that comfort zone within myself. Take time for that to come out. And savor every minute of it. Thanks for helping me through that!

[Missysue Hanson]

my comfort zone is in my bedroom, wrapped in my quilt...with the light coming in from the window. nothing is better to me than breathing in all the safety i feel there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/missysuephotography/3862282889/

[Grace aka blackbelt]

I gasped at your pic, too. Something so often seen, but helping me to see it in such a new way. Isn't that the gift?

It's funny how many of us spend our whole life trying to find our comfort zone only to find a way to stretch ourselves. I guess it's a dichotomy. I guess in a way, though, it's only when we have a comfort zone, a safe place, that we can stretch ourselves. I play a little music. When I know my basics, am comfortable with the piece, then can I stretch myself to an interpretation. I draw a little. Maybe when the basics of form and shadow and light are strong within me, then can I reach beyond and really create. Maybe I can dare to be on a bike, far in the woods, alone, peering into someone else's life of poverty and voyeur a bit a beauty:

http://myexurbia.blogspot.com/2009/07/galaxie.html

[summer]

lovely photo...makes me long for a real life fix of the great lakes again...sigh.

I find comfort in going to our neighborhood cafe...life has taken us a lot of places but this cafe was my husband and I's first date local over 10 years ago and now feeds our family of four...heart and tummy.
This photo serves a dual purpose as coffee is my other comfort for maybe somewhat obvious reasons?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sufferingsummer/3894257632/in/photostream/

[Littlepurplecow]

Beautiful, Sarah.

[cmv]

that picture is gorgeous! you really captured the mood and beauty of the lakeside (i grew up around there too and thus can especially appreciate it)

strangely enough, as a big city girl now, i find myself most comforted with the strong diagonal lines of the city- especially these, right outside my urban home.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23061481@N06/3089961817/in/set-72157614559392281/

[Char Baiz]

I feel very similar about a certian beach in my city. I love how you said it. I can relate 100%. Thanks for sharing.

[djbeat]

the water draws me in - the edges - the gifts that it leaves lying between tides - the sometimes gentle music. i love to sit & watch alone with my family it makes everything fresh again.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/djbeat/3866241919/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/djbeat/3866239737/?editreplace=1

[kosenrufu mama]

my confort zone is always my family, we all together, sharing our life, joy and happiness.
http://esterdaphne.blogspot.com/2009/09/cosa-si-ritrova.html

[Jen]

This is a beautiful shot! I love Lake Michigan, however I'm on the other side of the Lake. It's beautiful.

[Julie Alvarez]

My comfort place is always my home.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/juliealvarez/sets/72157607293028973/