The Magic of Touch in Relationships

Do you give importance to the sense of touch in your relationships?

I wonder how many couples put a considerable amount of effort in making sure that there is “touching” in his or her relationship or how many take this act for granted.

Growing up in a not-so-affectionate family, I’m not accustomed to any sort of, er, physical showing of affection. I had lived almost three decades of my life aversive to touch, particularly from men.

No cause for worry. It’s nothing drastic. I was just built that way. My close friends know that there’s this invisible sign I’m always wearing that says “Do Not Touch”.

I guess I never realised that I had this somewhat unquenchable thirst for that human touch, which I found wonderfully soothing and amazingly satisfying until I truly felt the emotion behind such an act. The simple hand-holding, softly caressing of the cheek, playing with the hair, putting an arm around my shoulders or waist, and my favourite, that long tender hug.

It feels wonderful. It amazes me how much I feel lighter afterward. It, sometimes, beats hearing a thousand words of endearments [though, I admit I love them, too!].

I’ve heard that if you rear your child in a touch-filled environment, he or she will grow up psychologically and emotionally healthy. Is it true? I reckon I need to do more reading on it. For now, it’ll stay as a speculative statement. However, I can’t help but think that there’s magic in the human touch.

Don’t you agree?