As I start my journey learning about massage therapy, I have realized that human touch is an amazingly powerful tool of healing that we are in danger of losing. I think we have lost a bit of the meaning and helpfulness of the the human touch. It seems to me that today's society is encouraging more electronic socialization and less face to face contact and thus less touching between family and friends.
There are two other things that I think are contributing to less touching. The first is that we live in such a litigious society. Professional people such as teachers, especially males, are afraid to give a crying child a pat on the shoulder or a hug for fear of it being perceived as something perverted. To me it is a shame that a child in need of comfort is denied the very thing that helps so much, a simple touch of the hand or a little hug. God, people are so uptight these days. Yes, there are some real sick people out there, but the majority would never touch A child inappropriately. Does that mean we should all stop?
Second, with adults especially between the sexes, there is the thought that if a man and woman touch it has to be sexual. Well from my point of view it isn't. I have gotten very comfortable giving hugs to my friends both male and female. It is a simple thing that can be so reassuring especially in a support group. It is a wonderful feeling to hug a friend and feel their warmth and caring. Or a simple touch of the hand conveys the true emotion and support of the other person.
The simplicity of a hug reaffirms our humanity. We are social beings and to deny that is to deny our history and possibly the quality of life in the future. We need each other, we crave human contact. We need the support of others and to show our own caring to them. We must do what our instincts tell us and that is to hug someone, it will help you, and them, feel great.
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