SOMETIMES words just don't do. No matter how powerful the written or spoken word is, there are things we want to say to others that would be difficult to express through letters and scribbles. Perhaps cooking for them can help, maybe even just going for a drive with them. A quiet but potent way of making your emotions known is also through touch.
I remember this one time I was watching TV at my parents' home. My Dad was walking around the room where I was in, fixing some of his things. Before leaving the room, he went over to me and patted me on the head. It was one of my favorite moments. We have a quiet relationship, my Dad and I, and even if he doesn't say "I love you" out loud as much, I know that's what the pat on the head meant for him.
I remember my late grandfather, a military man with a booming laugh. He wasn't demonstrative, but that didn't stop me from giving him a kiss on the cheek and one-way hugs. That's why when he reciprocated one time with a strong pat on my back, I was pleasantly surprised. Soon after that, when I'd tell him I loved him, he'd say "I love you" back with those strong pats on my back.
I remember a time when my Mom was recovering from a gall bladder operation. She was very much in pain and called for me to be at her side. While she lay in bed, I smoothed her hair and lightly stroked her forehead, the way she did when I was sick as a child. It calmed her, she said. I watched the pain in her face disappear as she drifted off to sleep, to the rhythm of gentle caresses on her forehead.
With the right person, in the right situation, and with the right intention, touch effectively expresses so many thoughts and emotions that words just can't. Maybe it's because that with a touch I am made to feel "You're alive, I'm alive. We're alive together!" -- less alone, comforted, more loved.
"It's the first sense we experience in the womb and the last one we lose before death," it says here. Perhaps that is why touch therapy is very important for babies and for the sick.
Maybe it's because sincerity can be felt most in a touch. Words can be abused and taken advantage of, but touch could be less gullible.
Quiet and potent, that is the beauty of touch.
When was the last time you sincerely and quietly touched someone? When was the last time you were sincerely and quietly touched by another?
A quiet touch
SOMETIMES words just don't do. No matter how powerful the written or spoken word is, there are things we want to say to others that would be difficult to express through letters and scribbles. Perhaps cooking for them can help, maybe even just going for a drive with them. A quiet but potent way of making your emotions known is also through touch.
I remember this one time I was watching TV at my parents' home. My Dad was walking around the room where I was in, fixing some of his things. Before leaving the room, he went over to me and patted me on the head. It was one of my favorite moments. We have a quiet relationship, my Dad and I, and even if he doesn't say "I love you" out loud as much, I know that's what the pat on the head meant for him.
I remember my late grandfather, a military man with a booming laugh. He wasn't demonstrative, but that didn't stop me from giving him a kiss on the cheek and one-way hugs. That's why when he reciprocated one time with a strong pat on my back, I was pleasantly surprised. Soon after that, when I'd tell him I loved him, he'd say "I love you" back with those strong pats on my back.
I remember a time when my Mom was recovering from a gall bladder operation. She was very much in pain and called for me to be at her side. While she lay in bed, I smoothed her hair and lightly stroked her forehead, the way she did when I was sick as a child. It calmed her, she said. I watched the pain in her face disappear as she drifted off to sleep, to the rhythm of gentle caresses on her forehead.
With the right person, in the right situation, and with the right intention, touch effectively expresses so many thoughts and emotions that words just can't. Maybe it's because that with a touch I am made to feel "You're alive, I'm alive. We're alive together!" -- less alone, comforted, more loved.
"It's the first sense we experience in the womb and the last one we lose before death," it says here. Perhaps that is why touch therapy is very important for babies and for the sick.
Maybe it's because sincerity can be felt most in a touch. Words can be abused and taken advantage of, but touch could be less gullible.
Quiet and potent, that is the beauty of touch.
When was the last time you sincerely and quietly touched someone? When was the last time you were sincerely and quietly touched by another?
1 TrackBack
TrackBack URL: http://blogs.inquirer.net/cgi/mt/mt-tb.cgi/2735
[...] Toni Platon-Tiu talks about the importance of touching in Happy [...]----- -------- Read More
This is sooo true! I'm on a work-related assignment away from home and it's driving me nuts that I can't hug and kiss my kids anymore due to the distance between us. :( It was my favorite thing to do at the end of the day after the stresses at work. Can't wait to get back home and give 'em tight hugs and lots of kisses again. :(
When I'm home, I also go to the spa a lot to get my regular dose of swedish massage. It does wonders to my overall outlook in life! :)
Thanks for this post! :) **hugs ya tight**
A quiet touch...no words spoken...looking at each other's eyes speaking the language of silence...dostet darum!
Having lived in Afghanistan for quite some time, I sometimes find myself in embarassing situations where I throw an arm to a male Afghan colleague (forgetting that I am in Afghanistan) like a brother or very close barkada. It is a spontaneous reaction on my part. I tell you, our culture of welcoming hugs and touch (as long as you do not feel violated) is wonderful. I am missing it a lot.
Oh!im touch about this,through touch i express my love to my children,but now,i gonna cry, i miss them so much,hugs and touch of my friends here can alleviate the feeling,so touch,hug the one you met,its comforting...you are a blessing
it's quiet true..a touch could bring so much happiness and love to the person being touched..i have a niece who's about a year and six months..such a very loving and sweet little baby..she love to be hugged and kissed by everyone in the family...i always give her that..and by doing so, i also get some hugs from her...it's something that makes me so happy..it feels like i'm being touched by a little angel.. ;)
Good Afternoon!!! blogs.inquirer.net is one of the best innovative websites of its kind. I enjoy reading it every day. I will be back.
This article reminded me about the saying 'Silence is golden' Its true how doing can be effective rather than saying, we should express, share and talk but its better to express by putting our words into action then to be termed as lip service. What's the use of saying a dozen times to our near ones that we care if we are not practically showing them how much we care. If we think carefully and look around there are so many ways through which we can touch the hearts of people specially those who live with us, we just have to get involved in the situation and think about the person who needs our care.
Seven Hills Luxury Real Estate