Liz Strauss at Successful Blog

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February 17, 2007

Change the World: One Touch on a Shoulder

ME Liz Strauss wrote this at 8:53 am

Skin Hunger

Change the World!

At my mothers’ funeral, I watched my 3-year-old nephew sit beside his father, touch him on the shoulder, and say “There, there, Daddy.” The words said little. The said, “I love you. I’m here.”

That scene made me watch. I thought of how many ways we touch in times of crisis and high emotion — handshakes, hugs, pats on the back, high fives, even bumping heads and bottoms. Somehow putting ourselves in touch with one another lets us know we’re not alone on this gigantic planet. That’s an important feeling. We have need to be a part of something more than ourselves for our lives to have meaning.

I read about skin hunger — the need to be touched in a caring manner, a touch that is safe and appropriate. We don’t realize how touch is essential to human survival.

One study I read 20 years ago said we need 16 touches every day and that without them we will unconsciously start bumping to people to fulfill the need to satisfy our hunger.

It’s something to think about the next time someone accidently bumps into me . . . that it was important.

Now, I look for ways to a shake hand or touch a person on the shoulder.

Reach out and touch someone.

We can change the world — just like that.
–ME “Liz” Strauss
______________
If you’re ready to change the world, send me your thoughts in a guest post. Feel free to take the gorgeous Change the World image up there that Sandy designed back to your blog. Or help yourself to this one.

Change the World!

Email me about what you’re doing or what we might do. Let’s change the world one bit at a time together. Together it can’t take forever.





Filed under Successful Blog | 31 Comments »




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31 Comments to “Change the World: One Touch on a Shoulder”

  1. February 17th, 2007 at 2:19 pm
    Mike said

    Liz,

    I think you hit upon the only drawback to blogging relationships (although if you’re really inside of my computer each keystroke is a unique touch; so with this message you should be set for the next week!)

    Mike

  2. February 17th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Mike!
    I really do live inside your computer, and yes, your computer and I are very close. :)

    But I disagree a bit . . . we can touch people with our words. I’ve even made myself cry.

  3. February 17th, 2007 at 9:54 pm
    Mike said

    Yes, but “I pinch myself REALLY, REALLY hard” doesn’t count!

  4. February 17th, 2007 at 9:55 pm
    Mike said

    No, wait! That was uncalled for. I was preparing a post of my own in that very vein. So once again, we resort alike.

    Mike

  5. February 17th, 2007 at 10:08 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Mike!
    I think pinching yourself is an option actually and I hear it works really well when you want to wake up from a bad dream.

    But I really like our blogger sychronicity. :)

  6. February 17th, 2007 at 10:10 pm
    Mike said

    Liz,

    I just published that pinch. Great to know you’re there in the computer when I need you.

    Thanks,

    Mike

  7. February 18th, 2007 at 8:01 am
    Karin said

    Must really be ‘THE week’ of deep and philisophical thoughts ;-)

  8. February 18th, 2007 at 8:04 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin!
    I think a lot. It’s the bain of writers. Writing is thinking on paper. You just can’t separate the two.

    I have friend who says I like to live on the 17th layer of the onion. :)

  9. February 18th, 2007 at 8:07 am
    Karin said

    Sometimes I ‘speak’ better on paper than out-loud. Strange, not?

    P.s. hope the onion doesn’t make you cry ;-)

  10. February 18th, 2007 at 8:08 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin,
    That’s the beauty of a metaphorical onion — it won’t make you cry. :)

  11. February 18th, 2007 at 8:15 am
    Karin said

    Good. Was just over at Mike’s ‘pinch’, can you lend me your methaphorical onion please?

  12. February 18th, 2007 at 8:18 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin,
    Here’s one for you

    http://lettingmebe.blogspot.com/2006/01/genius-that-is-you.html

  13. February 18th, 2007 at 8:26 am
    Karin said

    Wow

    Been there indeed, some years ago. Warm blanket was offered. World became even rounder. Now able to offer blanket to those who fall.

    Was something my ‘mentor’ mentioned this week that brought this back (part of it I’ve posted on Mike’s ‘pinch’, no neeed to repeat).

  14. February 18th, 2007 at 8:28 am
    ME Strauss said

    Karin,
    You are one in a million and one of the best things the blogosphere has brought to me. :)

  15. February 18th, 2007 at 8:31 am
    Karin said

    Am honored (I think ?, not sure why I ‘deserve’ this) but also know: vice-versa.

    Thanks

  16. February 18th, 2007 at 10:21 am
    ME Strauss said

    Sorry, Karin, I got interrupted writing this comment. So much is happening today! :)

    You are the genuine article — a decent human being. :)

  17. February 18th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
    Mike said

    Liz,

    You are Karin are both one in 6 billion!

    Mike

  18. February 18th, 2007 at 1:16 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Mike,
    You’re a special one yourself. So together does that makes us 3 in 18billion??? :)

  19. February 18th, 2007 at 2:28 pm
    Mike said

    Actually, together we’re one in 18 billion!

  20. February 18th, 2007 at 5:58 pm
    Mike said

    I USED to have an MIT degree, but they might take it away based on that last calculation. It’s actually one in 18 sextillion!

  21. February 18th, 2007 at 6:59 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Mike,
    I won’t tell if you don’t. :)

  22. February 19th, 2007 at 4:40 am
    Karin said

    Hi you two.

    A new day, a new week, a new philisophy? ;-)
    Enjoyed both your posts on this topic, and think genuinity is shared all around here.

  23. February 19th, 2007 at 7:58 am
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Karin,
    Sorry to be a bit late for you this morning.
    So much to attend to with the conference. :)

    What would you like this week’s philosophy to be? :)

  24. February 19th, 2007 at 4:42 pm
    Mike said

    Final full disclosure: I am SO disappointed in myself! The actual number is that the three of us are one in 216,000,000,000,000,000,000. As numbers go, that’s pretty impressive, but not nearly as impressive as y’all!

  25. February 19th, 2007 at 4:44 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Oh Mike,
    I should have told you from the start, that in the comment box qualitative numbers are okay. :)

  26. February 19th, 2007 at 5:18 pm
    Mike said

    Wow! I feel so free now!!

    If only I could get to that point in my day job…*sigh*

    By the way, I added a small measure of levity to my otherwise deeply philosophical post of this morning. My irreverent side felt neglected…

  27. February 19th, 2007 at 5:43 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hi Mike!
    You could tell them to talk to me. . . but I suppose that they might get lost in one of my stories. :)

    We always have room for your irrevent productivity here. :)

  28. February 19th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
    Mike said

    Liz,

    Love the story post, and I don’t really have a lot to add to what you said except that now just seeing the three words “Famous Canoe Analogy” makes me chuckle! ;-)

    Mike

  29. February 19th, 2007 at 5:46 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Hey Mike,
    When the group who was there gets together that same phrase makes us chuckle too. :)

  30. February 19th, 2007 at 5:57 pm
    Mike said

    Have a great evening; I’m off for a bit of pre-Lenten irreverence. Thanks again for the specificity of your comment this morning. As you know, to a writer that means so much!

    Cheers,

    Mike

  31. February 19th, 2007 at 6:13 pm
    ME Strauss said

    Mike,
    You make it easy. :)

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