According to previous expirences, I believe touch remains the most unique and endearing sense. Touch physically connects people and animals with anything to provide a raging sensation that without, can alter a life to loneliness, sadness, and solitude. On the other hand, a life full of postitive touch can correlate with a life of happiness, fulfillment, and love. Concerning massaged babies, Ackerman explains, “The touched infants, in these studies and in others, cried less, had better temperaments, and so were more appealing to parents (73).” Indeed, touch provided comfort and love through out my childhood and even today.
Like any child, I feared the dark and the things, monsters perhaps, that hid within it, especially when I was alone. My crazy imagination always played tricks on my senses into thinking there was something there with the intention of harming me. More times than I can count, I leaped out of my bed during the night and ran frantically down the staires nto my mother’s arms. At the time, I did not know, and quite honestly, did not care as to why my mother’s touch seemed to secure me against anything or anyone. Now, I have come to the conclusion that touch affirms true love and security. I find, too, that with a lover, my sense of touch becomes more aware and senstitive to the perception. Thus, when one might touch my hand, stroke my hair, or give a kiss, I cannot help but feel that butterfly sensation in my stomach, the pounding of my heart, and the overwhelming sense of love and security. So, anthropologically at least,a kiss on the mouth, especially with all the plunging of tongues and the exchangeing of saliva, is another form of intercourse, and it’s not surprising that it should make the mind and body surge with gorgeuouse sensations (Ackerman114). Sure, a loved one can express their feelings through words, but touch says it all with out a single word while providing a wonderful sensation that everyone wants to last. In fact, Berman notes, “since oxytocin spikes in response to touching, the more you touch, the better you feel and the more you want to touch (1).”
Whether humans ever answer life long questions such as “Why am I here?” or not, I believe it can be agreed that the need for love and care is a dream, goal, or hope at any age which can fulfill those empty voids many experience at one point or another. So, touch becomes essential in fulfilling needs of love and care. Without touch, our lives would be empty and at a distance.
Ackerman, Diane. A Natural History of the Senses. New York: A Division of Random House, 1993.
Bermanm Laura. The Six Sense of Sex, Part 2: Touch. 2007. 9 October 2007 .
nozochka said,
October 11, 2007 at 6:07 pm
Laura! I liked your blog essay. I liked that you underlined the importance of mother’s touching for children which is very significant for any baby. Moreover, I loved how you described the touch of lovers when you feel “butterfly sensation in stomach”