Our 5 senses:

• The olfactory sense (smell) is often attributed to memory recall:  like the scent of a tobacco pipe after your childhood Superintendent, Gord has walked through the halls of your building.
• Sight and sound we rely on heavily as navigational aides.
• And, taste serves double duty as both a pleasure center and detector.

But, our dear, under-rated touch!  Touch is a unique sense which allows us to be in tune with our bodies, connect and convey non-verbal messages with one another, detect different forms and textures, and holds us to our humanity; it is grounding and comforting and NECESSARY regardless of age group.  Despite all of touch’s admirable traits it is still not fully valued in Western culture.  We’ve become saturated, and in some cases, desensitized by media and real world experiences of stylized, sexualized and unwanted forms of touching.

It is said that we humans require 8 – 10 gentle touches a day.  Think of all the times in a day a parent touches their newborn child:  rubbing talcum powder on them after a diaper change, patting their backs after feedings, kissing their heads affectionately, cradling them and stroking them to sleep.  Our pets are stroked, petted and caressed sometimes more than we.  So, when is the last time you got yourself a relaxation massage or foot rub? Gave a hug to a stranger?  Held hands with your partner?  Kissed a friend?

Stay in tune.  And, stay in Touch! 🙂

The Process of Life blog posts are inspired lessons, learnings and meditations acquired for myself and my fellow growth journeyers- Coach Melanie