Today I Love the Human Touch - Slice of Life 2014 - Day 29

Thanks to the good people at Two Writing Teachers for sponsoring the Slice of Life Story Challenge. Today is Day 29 of 31.  As we near the end of this month long foray into technological connections, it is dawning on me more and more each day how important the human connection is as well.

Today I Love the Human Touch

     It was Crafty Day at our church again today.  We've decided, a few of us, to get together once every couple of months to feed our inner muses and sew or scrapbook, knit or crochet.  We explore the gifts God has given each of us and try to create something beautiful for others.  We bring a snack or two to share, we chit chat, we listen to music, we take a break from everyday obligations, and a good time is generally had by all.  

     Unfortunately for me, Ruler of the Queendom of Procrastination that I am, today my crafting consisted of crafting answers and responses to my students' papers.  One of these days I will really will get my act together and go back to working on Running Girl's scrapbook, or begin to put together that quilt for which I have purchased all of the block kits, or maybe even make some hand made cards with all of those rubber stamps I purchased a few years back.  But today I was trying to beat the grade card deadline.  Today I was a bit...well...I was whining...a lot.  I sighed.  I harumphed.  I grumbled under and over my breath.  I was basically not fit for human consumption.  

  

       So in this "not fit for human consumption" 

state that was being exhibited today, I happened to mention that we should consider inviting someone to come next time and do neck and back massages for us.  We all laughed about that possibility, but it wasn't 15 minutes later that dear, sweet Andrea took a break from her beautiful knitting and snuck up behind me to begin working out the knots in my sore shoulders!  Andrea is a piano player and that girl has some strong thumbs!  My head thumped down of its own accord and I was jello!  I'm telling you, the girl turned my whole day around!  

     There is a lot in my life right now that revolves around technology.  Blogging, "iPadding" (oh yes, I will make up my own words!), recording grades and lesson plans, texting, emailing, and yes....gasp!...Facebooking.  There is maybe too much in my life right now that revolves around technology.  Today I was reminded how much of a difference the human touch can make.  I've never NOT known that, but it is, at times, good to be reminded.  Andrea took a break from her priorities and put my needs ahead of her own.  

A long time ago 

I read some research 

that said we needed 

four hugs a day just to survive.  

Just to survive.  

I say, 

let's help each other 

thrive.  

Reach out today, friends.  

Lay a hand on a shoulder, 

pat a back, 

grasp a handshake 

with both of yours, 

give a hug when you can. 

Be the human touch. 

You just might

make someone's day.

Today I love touch...Slice of Life 8 of 31

     I’ve known since 3:00 this morning what I was going to love today.  If you recall, I was waxing poetic over my love for sleep yesterday evening, and the lack thereof in my life these last few nights.  Teenagers, you know?  Well, at some point in the night last night, I stretched out, barely conscious, but ready to roll over and curl up as I described doing in yesterday’s post.  But, just as I curled up, the soles of my two bare feet just happened to line up with the soles of The Man’s two bare feet.  

Toe for toe…heel to heel. 

     In that briefly conscious moment, in that simple unplanned touch, every single muscle that I didn’t even realize had been tense before, suddenly let go of the tight hold they had on the day and relaxed.   I slipped right back into that sweet deep abyss, until it was a rightful and proper time to rise for the day.  

 However, just before I drifted off again, I thought to myself, “I love touch.”

      In this day of political correctness and “oh we must be careful not to offend anyone” attitudes, I truly wonder if we are forgetting this basic human need.  In our efforts not to be inside anyone’s “bubble”, and frankly, not to be thought of as someone who may show up on the eleven o’clock news, are we depriving ourselves and those around us of a requirement for survival?  I knew I had heard something years ago in my teaching career about humans needing a certain number of hugs a day for proper growth and development, but couldn’t remember the statistics.  Upon a tiny bit of research, I found this information about hugs.  I agree with the child interviewed by the author of the article…I think we all need way more than eight hugs a day!

This is a photo of My Ol' Man and his cousin Betty...big huggers, both of them, and both celebrating 8 decades plus.  We visited with Betty in Topeka at the beginning of last summer's epic Kansas adventure.  I can't imagine ending that visit with anything less than a big hug and I can't wait to return for another!

Today, I love touch.