Author: Renee Umsted

Students and visitors in the Northwest section of Washington D.C. this week shared some information about their comfort objects, which are objects that help people feel safe.

Dana Foley, 19, from Durham, Connecticut, attends American University and is an orientation leader for the summer.

Her favorite book–and also her comfort object–is The Thornbird by Colleen McCullough.

“I regret not having it now,” Foley said.

Since receiving the book from her parents as a Hanukah gift when she was in eighth grade, Foley has read it innumerable times. Every time she reads the book, she uses a new bookmark. However, she does not recommend McCullough’s book to others.

“It makes it less personal by sharing it,” Foley said.

Will Lee, also an American University student who is from Tenafly, New Jersey, is spending time with his friend who works in the library on campus. His comfort object? His black Lenovo G50 laptop that he’s owned for two months.

Lee described his laptop as a “really good way to unwind.”

He received the laptop as a gift from his father when his old laptop broke. Lee uses it at home for about one to two hours at night after work.

“Everybody loves their laptop, come on,” Lee said.

Tenleytown visitor Kelly Wyndham, from Fort Mill, South Carolina, graduated from American University in 2013 with a major in accounting.

When she was born, she received a white blanket and a Curious George stuffed animal from her grandmother, Lenora, who passed away in 2012.

“I’ll never get rid of them,” said Wyndham, who keeps the two items on a bookshelf in her bedroom.

High school junior John Belisario was born in Baguio City, Philippines, but now lives in Washington, D.C. with his parents and younger sister.

Belisario wears a necklace with a green charm that contains a crab and a silver chain. His best friend, Bilig, gave the necklace to him before he left the Philippines. The gift reminds Belisario of his native home.

When the original thread broke, Belisario kept the charm in a box for about a month. He started wearing it again when he found the new chain. He selected the chain because he could not find anything else, and it appeared sturdy.

Belisario wears the necklace daily. If people ask about the necklace, he will tell them the story behind it.

Tenleytown visitor Isabelle Davidowitz did not identify a particular item as a comfort object, but instead a particular setting: nature.

Davidowitz, who has resided in Frederick, Maryland for six years, enjoys an active lifestyle filled with bicycling, running, hiking, skiing and kayaking. The outdoors in general make her feel safe, but she specifically enjoys the woods.

C.J. Clemente, 16, from Manassas, Virginia, attends a one week ID Tech Camp at American University.

He identified his cell phone that he received from his parents as a Christmas gift as his comfort object.

American University graduate Terrence O’Connor, 21, is looking for jobs in the metropolitan area.

O’Connor began watching the television series Game of Thrones after being introduced to it by his roommate and seeing an interview on The Daily Show with Peter Dinklage, who plays Tyrion Lannister, a character on the show.

In addition to watching the show, O’Connor listens to the Game of Thrones soundtrack because it makes him feel “empowered.”

For O’Connor, watching the series brings back memories of enjoyable experiences and of the moments where he played it originally.

He watches it “more for nostalgia.”

However, O’Connor also enjoys being outside, reading the newspaper, and running in the morning. These activities are included in his daily routine.

It “gives me benefits,” said O’Connor.