"Too much stimulation; not enough touch

I write this for you, those I care about and connect with. A friend and I agreed the other day that there is just too much stimulation in this world of ours. I'm sure if you think about it you will agree. With the constant flow of stimulation flooding our senses constantly, like the drip of a leaky faucet; cell phones, text messages, emails, traffic noise, airplanes overhead, people talking, horns blaring,construction noise, our to-do list ticking away in our heads, the constant chatter of our minds, it's a wonder we can ever quiet ourselves, even for a moment.
Perhaps we kid ourselves into thinking that it's almost the weekend and then, by gosh, then we will relax, yes then. But the weekend comes and we have errands to run, shopping to do, phone calls to make, emails to answer, cleaning, social engagements, etc., and even when we finally sit down with a glass of wine in the evening light, we fail to realize just how 'turned on' to the world we still are.
But the power of touch has the power to change all that. The safe and soothing touch of a massage or reflexology treatment, or even the gentle energy of Reiki can transport us into a place in which we can come home to ourselves. Often when clients leave, they smile at me and I know that they have found peace in themselves, if only for a little while. This peace can reveal itself to us in other ways, through meditation or yoga, for example, yet the nurturing power of touch has in itself certain qualities of healing that are unique.
Yesterday a woman at work gave one of the men a friendly rub across the back and he laughed, making a joke of it, saying it was a long time and I suddenly realized that he meant, sincerely, that it had been a long time since anyone had touched him, at all, in a caring and loving way. In our society, we have such taboos about touch, and yet all of us crave, long for, and truly need, whether we know it or not, caring and nurturing touch, the type of touch that makes us feel safe, protected and connected to the world and ourselves. I've encountered a number of women and men who have told me that they hate to be touched, and that makes me sad, because I know they have lost connection to a part of themselves that is necessary for a healthy mind and spirit to grow and thrive.
So for you, my friends, clients, and family, I am happy and proud to be part of such a great profession that allows me to nurture you, relax you, ease your pain, and show you your most glorious self. Love and light.
R