Years ago the phone company had an ad campaign that said, “reach out and touch someone”. I always thought that was an interesting way to phrase it since in most cases you’re not in the vicinity of the recipient. I guess today with social network sites the ad line would read, “reach out and ping someone”. The truth be told there is nothing more powerful than touch and in person rates supreme.
I don’t know why out culture equates touch with sex (well I do understand but it’s ridiculous). Let me let you in on a little secret, we transfer energy from one to another when we touch someone. People in crisis need to be touch. People facing a health challenge need to ask to be touched. When I worked for the HIV/AIDS services program we secured funding for a massage therapist for our clients. Why? Because they need the experience of touch and not just any touch, but therapeutic touch.
Ever have someone touch you and you notice their hand is warm? You’re feeling their energy. Don’t you find it comforting? When we experience physical connection our blood pressure lowers, our breathing becomes more regulated and the body loosens its grip on itself. Having someone lay a hand on us, and not in a violent or corrective way, but in a loving and caring manner rejuvenates our self-worth and self-esteem.
Touch is about connection, real honest to goodness connection. When facing a health challenge can you think of anything more affirming than someone connecting with us on a deep and profound level? Let’s start a touching craze (appropriate touch of course, don’t want any sexual misconduct claims floating around). Transfer some of that healing energy, receive some of that healing energy and let’s keep the energy flowing like a healing river.
Pilgrim Pathway/Surviving Strong 