My Teddy Bear
Jun 22, 2022
A couple of nights ago, I was camping in the mountains before leading a hike the next morning. Although dogs were allowed, this hike would have been both longer and more difficult than my little Minnie has experienced. It was a 7.1-mile canyon hike with stairs and a ladder to ascend or descend, steep and somewhat rugged terrain, water crossings, and a group for whom I was responsible for their safety. So, against her wishes, Minnie stayed home.
Minnie travels and hikes with me often, so her bed and purple teddy bear are always in my car.
After a nice dinner and laughter around the campfire, it was time to crawl into "bed" to rest for a long, fun day on the trail. My three friends went to their tents (one with an outdoor fan plugged into the campsite electric box for 'air conditioning'). My choice for comfort was car camping, so I would have very little to do "breaking camp" in the morning. Every extra minute of sleep always gets my vote. I had a thick comforter down first in the back end of my car, then on top of the comforter was a 6" thick air mattress with a soft fleece sheet and fleece blanket on top of the mattress. My Western Mountaineering Badger sleeping bag was covering me as I lay on top of all this. I also chose to bring my pillow with a fleece pillowcase and a small fleece "throw" with Minnie's picture on it. So, as you can see, I was well equipped to sleep comfortably in a camp.
Ann, one of the ladies in the group, wanted a photo of this elaborate "roughing it" creation, so I climbed in, settled under my sleeping bag, and jokingly grabbed Minnie's little purple teddy bear. After taking "evidence" photos, she left for her tent. I never moved from that position until I awakened at 6:34 AM, almost 8 hours later. Amazing!!! What made the difference? I have slept in my car many times before. I have always been comfortable, but I usually awaken every three or so hours, even at home! What made the difference? Could it be the teddy bear snuggled in my arms?
I started thinking back, a very long time now, about sleeping as a child with my little teddy bear named Timmy. I snuggled that little bear so tightly for years! All the fuzzy "fur" was rubbed off one side of Timmy. Could those subconscious memories of Timmy trigger the feeling of safety and well-being of my early childhood?
I believe the answer is yes. We all have trigger points that activate either underlying fears, discomforts, and needs or memories of love and comfort, joy, and safety. For some people, specific foods trigger a feeling of comfort. I guess my comfort food is ice cream.
I learned a lot that one night in my car in a campground in Big South Fork. I learned that memories of a little fuzzy teddy bear named Timmy can trigger my subconscious childhood memories of feeling safe and secure, warm and loved. I guess that is why we call those memories "warm fuzzies"! Thanks, Mom and Dad, for creating those 'fuzzy' memories.
Now, you think about it. What are your warm fuzzy memories? What is your 'teddy bear'?
Please share them. They may just trigger someone else's memories of feeling loved ... BIG.
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