touch freely

this thought has been brought up in more than four different contexts / conversations in the last month: 1) at our staff training meeting, 2) in a church sermon, 3) at an academic lecture, and 4) with some of my friends of both genders.

found it quite interesting, so i figured we'd further discuss here. the truth: touching and being touched is a basic human need. according to maslow's hierarchy of needs, it is placed on the same level as our fundamental physiological needs of breathing, food, water, sleep, shelter, etc. basically, if we didn't have it, we would die.

in fact, babies who are deprived of touch often do not survive, and the similar result follows for the elderly. those who have their hunger for physical touch are generally happier, more secure, more communicative, more alert, and understood. similar to our cravings for food and water, we also crave touch.

physical touch can bring healing-- emotionally, mentally, or even medically. in several medical cases, the simple act of stroking the patient could calm their spasms. mother teresa's ministry included visits to orphanages just to provide them with physical touch. and... a lack of physical touch leads to loneliness, withdrawal, depression, anxiety, and pain.

touch validates us. we need it. it gives us security that our existence matters, that we are cherished.