CONSIDER THIS Radio Show with Annette Petrick

Timely perspectives on life, love, friends, family, giving back, and giving thanks

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Touching

Touching
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Backstory – Touching

Just before sitting down to write some Consider This stories, I had been with someone who gave me a warm and hearty bear hug.  It left me smiling, warm and fuzzy.  I decided my first story would be about that kind of touching. So here it is.

Consider This Show – Touching

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Touching – #368

Are you one of those people who touch other people? Some of us do it so naturally.  Others would not think of making physical contact with someone they didn’t love or someone whose birth they had not spawned. 

People love and need that human touch – holding hands, a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back can create such warmth and nurturing.

The elderly in nursing homes respond so well to the visits of babies and young children they can hold. Some homes for the elderly have community pets. They find that even petting a responsive living being is therapeutic.

If you’re in the market for a new good deed, try reaching out and touching someone.  Once the thought is in your head, you’ll be amazed at how many opportunities there are each day, to convey this feeling of affection or caring. 

The physical touch actually produces a positive sensation in pressure receptors in the skin. The result can be gentle, comforting or quite loving.

Sometimes a response can be surprisingly emotional; especially when the touch or hug was badly needed.

In most cases, it’s OK to take a chance that your gentle touch will be welcome. The positive results are rewarding enough to overcome any occasional rejection. 

[Show #368]

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Thank you Annette! A gentle touch I had I find is always welcome! Even when I am working in the Hospital Gift Shop folks come in that need that gentle touch or need a hug or even a prayer. Thank you for the reminder and God bless!

  2. Hi Annette,
    Too much hugging and kissing going on for me. I haven’t liked it since I was a little kid. My mother probably smothered me with it but I don’t know that for sure. I may just take after my father’s mother who wasn’t a kissy type. I have friends that cheek kiss every time we see one another. I mean really…we see each other more than once a week!

    I do agree that touching the elderly and people in hospital is fine. I’ve learned that stroking their arm seems to make them very happy when gabbing and hugging may be impossible.

    Hope you are getting the start of a nice Spring. Pittsburgh remains cold, cloudy, gloomy.

    • You were not the first listener to respond with an aversion to hugging, Paula. As my Jamaican housekeeper used to say, “Some likes it; some don’t likes it.” We had hoped to bring Spring back to the Valley with us but that didn’t happen. We are waiting as impatiently as you are. Have a joyous vacation with your sons.

  3. This is an especially refreshing story, Annette. Betch’a it was Bill! We’re still in St Aug, as challenges with my eyes have put a delay on our trip…will head west hopefully late April. Elsie

    • We liked that you and Robert quickly became hugging friends. Seems we were attracted to you both because of the love you obviously feel for each other. It’s holding you together during your waiting period before your big adventure.