Touchstone: “something that serves as a standard or basis for comparison.”

It is more than that.

For me, a touchstone is larger than a simple benchmark or point of reference.

For me, a touchstone grounds me; it brings me back into myself; it reminds me of how small and temporary I am; it calms and comforts and soothes and claims me; it battles my ego; and it encourages me and inspires me to do better.

• A traditional recipe handed down through generations, perhaps tweaked to reflect a tiny-little-small bit of myself.
• A familiar song or record that always and forever moves my head, heart, and hips.
• A good book.
• A long walk, outdoors.
• A family meal.
• An unexpected laugh.
• Service to others.
• Serious, respectful communication.
• A sense of wonder.
• An appreciation for darkness.
• A thoughtful passage, well-written.
• A job well done.
• A literal stone to touch; one that's been embedded in the earth for hundreds or even thousands of years.

These are my touchstones.