Sandee Sez: The importance of touch
- Sandra Ahenakew | January 29, 2015
“Reach out and touch somebody’s hand,
make this world a better place if you can.”
There is very little written about the importance of touch. Some dictionaries list up to 60 different meaning for the word touch. Author Desmond Morris says, “Something special happens when two people touch each other physically, whether by hand shake, a pat on the back or a slap on the face.” One thing is sure; touch establishes communication and what is transmitted has more meaning than words. Touch communicates involvement. It means you care that you are really supporting the other person.
From the moment we are born, touch is the way we first become acquainted with the world. Messages the baby picks up through the skin are enormously important. The way the parent holds the baby, the caressing, the cuddling, influence they way he or she grows and develops. Without touch stimulation, humans cannot function properly. Those of us who have not received enough touch stimulation early in life quite likely can’t establish ‘good contact’ with others. They “rub” people the wrong way.
Touch is a means of communication so critical that its absence retards the growth of infants. It was Aristotle that attributed touch as one of the five senses in humans, next to sight, hearing, taste and smell. Humans are born with an innate need for human touch. From infancy, touch is vitally important to emotional and physical health and well being. And considering that communication plays such a vital role in everyday relationships from birth, it makes sense that the human touch would also play an important role in how we communicate. Touch is one of the best ways of communicating your feelings to another. The touch of a hand, or an arm around someone’s shoulder, can send a more vivid and direct message that a bunch of words could not convey.
There is a great deal of research on the importance of touch in healthy relationships. Studies have shown that by simply holding hands or rubbing someone’s back, you can lower stress levels and lessen anxiety. There are noticeable changes in mood and even health when we are exposed to simple human kindness in the form of touch. Some people need their personal space, while others loved to be touched. Even Facebook gives us the opportunity to “poke” our friends and family.
With today’s fast-advancing technology, instant communication is everything and a very efficient way to get your message out there. In less time than it takes to tie a shoe, a person is able to communicate with another person half-way around the world, or without even batting an eye. And while many of today’s technological tools are a great way to keep in touch with relationships, be they personal or professional, there is one significant piece of the communication puzzle that is missing, and that is that much of today’s communication lacks that all-important element humans so desperately need–the human touch.
There are simple ways of bringing human touch into today’s communication, beginning with setting aside the gadgets. Understand that communication is the key element in maintaining healthy relationships, it should certainly begin and end with both big and small and very personal gestures that give communication a more human feel such as: Having face-to-face conversations, maintaining eye contact, offering a firm handshake, offering someone a pat on the back, a handwritten letter, a phone call (rather than a text-message), touching someone’s hand or arm during a conversation, and above all things, taking the time to listen. Not only will these simple gestures add a human touch, but they will go a long way, including the extra mile when it comes to experiencing more effective and meaningful communication.
Helen Keller said, “I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”
There is nothing better than a warm hug from a good friend, family member or lover. Let 2015 be the year that you share warm hugs and kindness. Be good to each other because it is something that we can all do.
Keep your letters and emails coming? Send your questions or comments to: Sandee Sez c/o Eagle Feather News P.O. Box 924 ST Main Saskatoon, SKK 3M4 or by email.
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