Touch Me
To be touched. To feel the weight of another's body leaning into yours. To feel the heat of someone's bare skin connecting to yours like a magnet..this is a need, not just a desire.
What happens if an infant does not receive enough physical contact? Severe psychological damage can occur. Skin to skin contact has proven benefits for babies. Why do we think this changes as we grow?
We all crave that contact. Other cultures allow for hugging and kissing as a part of their public culture. It isn't uncommon to hold hands with a friend elsewhere, but here in America, every bit of physical contact has been sexualized. After our childhood years of parental affection, we are then isolated. An island unto ourselves. We are required to find a "partner" to get what we need and desire after this point.
What a disaster this has become. It used to be that we didn't mess around with this important event. If you found a partner you stuck with that person, until death do you part. We stayed close to our previously large families, and had a few truly caring friends. Human contact was not an issue.
We now have a choice to try on a partner like a pair of shoes, if they don't fit, move on. We keep our families as far away as possible (another state is preferable for most), and our children spend their days in school, daycare, or a carseat. It is unusual at best to hold hands with your friend and you wouldn't dream of kissing an aquaintance on the cheek.
Wonder why depression is like the plague? Why anxiety disorders are so popular and why our youth is screaming for attention?
Give your neighbor a hug, put your arm around a good friend, snuggle with your kids and kiss someone on the cheek. We could all use a little more love and there is nothing wrong with it. Once someone knows you don't mind a hug from them, you can bet you'll get more too.
What happens if an infant does not receive enough physical contact? Severe psychological damage can occur. Skin to skin contact has proven benefits for babies. Why do we think this changes as we grow?
We all crave that contact. Other cultures allow for hugging and kissing as a part of their public culture. It isn't uncommon to hold hands with a friend elsewhere, but here in America, every bit of physical contact has been sexualized. After our childhood years of parental affection, we are then isolated. An island unto ourselves. We are required to find a "partner" to get what we need and desire after this point.
What a disaster this has become. It used to be that we didn't mess around with this important event. If you found a partner you stuck with that person, until death do you part. We stayed close to our previously large families, and had a few truly caring friends. Human contact was not an issue.
We now have a choice to try on a partner like a pair of shoes, if they don't fit, move on. We keep our families as far away as possible (another state is preferable for most), and our children spend their days in school, daycare, or a carseat. It is unusual at best to hold hands with your friend and you wouldn't dream of kissing an aquaintance on the cheek.
Wonder why depression is like the plague? Why anxiety disorders are so popular and why our youth is screaming for attention?
Give your neighbor a hug, put your arm around a good friend, snuggle with your kids and kiss someone on the cheek. We could all use a little more love and there is nothing wrong with it. Once someone knows you don't mind a hug from them, you can bet you'll get more too.
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