I remember meeting a London based architect who said he had never touched anyone, or had been touched, for twenty years.
He had conducted the formal hand shake several times a day but he did not mean that sort of touch.
Touch can be:-
formal
comfort
support
affectionate
friendly
warmth
gropey
greedy
sexual
passionate
frenzied
and other words you may think of .......... or imagine.
Touch can speak louder than words.
"I was touched" can mean that an experience was deep and meaningful.
I have blogged in the past about a 'touching moment' when I was vulnerable.
When I run training courses or games evenings or developmental workshops, it is fantastic to do the sort of activities when people can touch each other in a non-threatening way. Groups seem to kick into a different depth when they can freely show sensitivity to others non-verbally.
At Greenbelt, some years ago in the heady days of 30000 people and a main-stage attracting everyone - I have fond memories of people reaching out with their fingertips and touching the outstretched fingertips of others. A minute of real communication. A big net of saying something special.
I have used this and at the same time had someone read the unique poem I created when I worked with the east end teenagers. (I will do a link to this at the bottom of the page)
The finger tip can communicate feelings.
If a big man called Misha from Russia came into the same room as me he would do two things.
1 he would lift his fingerprint and press it to mine.
2 he would give me a big bear hug
er ... I forgot ... 3 he would give me a massive big grin.
He used to be a Professor of the Moscow Officer training college during the USSR years. An officer himself. He now is the chief YMCA European leader for the Russian ymca. He is a big man. Every-way.
Research has been conducted regarding the sensitivity of the finger tip.
But we know that anyway
Touch someone today
bhp
paste this into your browser or click the box with the fingerprint in it in my website page called 'pearls of wilson'
http://www.pipwilson.com/Pages/Unique%20Postcard.html
