Welcome back!
Have you experienced the pleasure of J.P. Cormier’s music? I owe a debt of gratitutde to my best friend for introducing me to Cormier’s album Another Morning. In the title track, this Canadian folksinger portrays a day in the life of an 83 year old man, declaring “…the days are growing longer, and I am much too old for anyone to hold.” This beautifully sung ballad prompted me to delve into the origins of its writing, discovering J.P. Cormier’s liner notes: “…I have seen the elderly left behind; by their families, by the deaths of their spouses, by life in general. We, the younger generations, should never let them feel alone. They are the ones who rocked us in our cradles, helped us take our first steps, and paved the way with their sacrifices for us to go about in the world trying to make our own small differences. They should always be remembered and respected for what they have done. This song is for them…”
I passionately believe that nobody is “too old to hold!” We may be focused on massage benefits for our infants and young children, but touch is not just for the young and beautiful. Our need for human connection certainly does not decrease with age. On the contrary, healthy touch is a vital part of our lives, absolutely necessary for optimal well-being. I began studying the effects of touch before the birth of my first child, realizing that infants will fail to thrive, even when all other needs are met, unless they are regularly held. I believe this same principle applies to people of all ages. Although it is possible to live with little physical contact, we cannot thrive without it.
A favorite hospice patient of mine lamented the lack of touch in his elder years. I realized that one of the first things the elderly lose is consistent human touch. Isolation, decreased mobility and the loss of cherished friends and family members can make prolonged skin to skin contact a rare event. Certain illnesses, like dementia, dramatically decrease the ability to spontaneously reach out and connect with other people. This is tragic, as research proves that physical touch has a dramatic effect on both our psychological and physical well-being.
I believe there is great cause for hope. I have the highest regard for skilled massage therapists, and I recognize that each of us, trained or not, has an innate capacity to share the warmth of our hands and touch of our skin in life affirming ways. Did you know the magic of our touch can do all this?
- Decrease anxiety
- Improve immune system functioning
- Increase relaxation
- Relieve pain
Want more? Stay tuned for Part Two on Healing Touch tomorrow!
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