Real Touch: To this day, I feel the healing comfort of my mother’s hand as she stroked my fevered forehead as a child. It seemed that it wasn’t the drugs that helped me through the flu, but her gentle caring touch.
Her touch was real. It flowed from her pure compassion—it was natural healing —it wasn’t contrived in any way.
Years later, I felt the glow of love as my “boy friend” held my hand. The handholding was “no big deal,” but it informed my soul that he cared for me—and that was a “big deal.”
In this fast-paced technology fascinated world, it’s easy to forget this simple treasure that is always within reach.
Pharmaceutical advertisements encourage us to reach for drugs like Viagra to improve our love life. Perhaps the need their spin masters address is really our need for intimate contact—real touch. Intimate contact comes from loving touch not laboratory compounds.
Touch’s power comes from the intention that informs it. When the intention is one of love or comfort or compassion or caring—touch nourishes, touch heals.
It nourishes and heals in a most mysterious way. Touch may be nearly as important to life as the air we breathe.
Newborn babies deprived of touch will not thrive.
Caring touch stops irregular heartbeats some studies show.
Touch from Reiki, and Therapeutic Touch practitioners’ promotes wellness, relaxation, and sometimes profound healing.
Massage therapists remove tightness and knots in muscles and promote relaxation and healing with their skillful touch.
The elderly beam with joy when someone holds their hand.
Begin today to bring more touch into you life.
Real Touch for YOU: There’s a common adage that seems so logical, yet it’s often ignored: “You can’t give what you don’t have.”
Come home to your body. Touch yourself with respect: gently, caringly. Be with your body in pure awareness without expectation or judgment. Explore yourself from head to toe. Yes, even your genitals deserve your caring touch.
Real Touch for Loved Ones: Your caring presence is the greatest gift you can give. Make touch a part of your presence. It can be as simple as a pat on the shoulder, holding a hand, or a hug. In lovemaking, slow down: touch, caress. Intend to give and receive love through touch.
Real Touch for Pets: Pets know all about giving and receiving touch. They muzzle your hand, purr on your lap, and wait for your return home. They are a stark reminder of the innate animal need to give and receive touch.
Real Touch for Those Around You: Ask permission before touching those you don’t know. For some touch has been too absent or abusive, they may not want touch.
I recall getting ready to hug my friend’s 90 year old mother. Fortunately, I asked her if I could hug her. She replied, “Nancy, I’m not a hugger.” I was so glad I asked. She was a great teacher: some people don’t want to be touched. The reason doesn’t matter. What maters is that there request is respected.
The Main Thing
Bring more caring touch into your life. Start with yourself, then partners, family, and friends. Reach out to others too. Ask permission if you don’t know the person well and respect their wishes.
Touch informed by caring, love, and compassion is nourishing and healing. You and the person you touch will be happier and healthier too!
Watch this video to see how real touch through massage can help those with cancer.
