Be a pillow

Wikipedia says there are different kinds of pillows.

Dakimakura is a hugging pillow originating in Japan.

Guling is a long hugging pillow originating from Indonesia.

Abrazador is a long hugging pillow originating from the Philippines.

A husband pillow (or boyfriend pillow) is a large, high-backed pillow with two “arms”. It is used to prop the user upright while in bed or on the floor, as for reading or watching television.

There are therapeutic pillows—neck pillows or cervical pillows—that provide a deep area for the head to rest and a supportive area to align the neck with the spine while sleeping; donut pillows  with a space in the middle to alleviate pressure on the tailbone area while sitting; lumbar pillows that support the inward curve of the lower back, filling the space created between the lower back and the back of the chair; and normal travel pillows that provide support for the neck in a sitting position.

Others are decorative pillows—accent pillows that emphasize or accent some other part of the home décor; sofa or couch or floor pillows that refer to the place where they are  found; toss or throw pillows that tells you how they are handled; and novelty pillows that are shaped like humorous objects (a banana, Tweety Bird, a human leg, a former president) that add humor to a room.

When I was growing up, my family hopped from one rented house to another like Gypsies. We had a hard time paying the rent, so it’s either we were ejected or had to move out to escape from paying the rent.

That’s why I didn’t experience a trivial luxury of sleeping with my own pillow. We had to sell our things every time we move out, so either I had to share one with any of my six other siblings or sleep on a pile of clothes or lie down direct on the bed or floor without any headrest.

Maybe that explains why until today I sleep in a fetal position as if wanting to just embrace myself because there was no pillow to hug.

It could also explain why  I have the habit of putting my legs on someone else’s body so I can feel like I have something for them to rest on. I’m glad my late husband   didn’t mind if my legs or thighs are all over him! Unfortunately my siblings and even my children hated it!

But fate now smiles at me. Today, I have pillows all around me. Five big ones are in my bed including an expensive therapeutic pillow filled with 65 million air infused microbeads that automatically adjust to my sleeping position.

Ha! The shallow person I am thinks this is already a slice of heaven!

And that’s only in my bed.

While working before the computer or driving, my neck pillow, a special gift from my son Renwick is a memory-foam type and has eased the pain of my oppressed cervical spine. My other son EJ gave me a mini pillow that I can put over any painful area in my body. As cold compress, I put it inside the freezer. As a hot compress, I heat it in the microwave oven. No need for cold or hot bags.

In the car I also keep a cheaper neck pillow for anyone who is lulled to sleep by my driving (chuckle!), a red and black beetle pillow that entertains a child who rides in my car and a square throw pillow for my Labrador dog Kaela to stop her from sticking out her neck from my car window.

A pillow is a basic thing I didn’t enjoy while growing up. It now fills my night even when there’s no body to hug or put my legs on (ha!). For two years now, my daughter has declared independence when she had her own bedroom. I did mention in my previous column here that only a bad dream brought her to my room and lie down with me (double chuckle!).

Recently, I’ve gifted a friend who’s also been suffering from cervical spine discomfort like me with the same pillow my son gifted me last Christmas Day. It’s just like telling her, “I know your pain, but here’s God’s gift to relieve you, too.”

Passing on love.

This week, I have two memory foam pillows with those 65 million microbeads delivered to my two sons in Manila. Same pillow that gives me comfort in sleep.

Passing on care.

Think about this: Be a comfort to others just like pillows do to you.

Hug others more like what you do to your pillows. Be soft and gentle just like what pillows are.

Every pillow has a surprise tucked inside. Be sure to find out what it is!

Inside you, there’s a good person inside. No matter what your past is or how weak or damaged you are.

Know that this is love—for yourself so you can also bring out this love for others.