The power of touch

Excellent post on the power of (nonsexual) touch over at Parse today.

Across television screens trudge health care workers in hazmat suits protecting themselves from Ebola. Holding patients, disposing of bodies. Carefully encased to prevent touch. It is, perhaps, one of the most tragic dimensions of this dreaded disease, that (because of the threat of infection) in the last days of life, a dying person cannot feel the gentle hand of a loved one, the warm touch of a caregiver...

Despite our need for human touch throughout life, our culture lacks practices that provide this kind of intimacy beyond sexual relationships...

Even as our culture increasingly embraces bodily indulgences of sex, food, and other appetites, we are actually turning away from one another socially. Our lack of physical contact is related to increasing isolation, anomie—the sense of normlessness—leading to depression and suicide, and a lack of social cohesion.

That's just a selection. Read the whole thing. And put it into practice! Reach out and touch someone—physically. It's good for both of you...