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As human beings we are programmed to touch
and be touched. Touch is a sense that helps create both
psychological as well as physical wellbeing. Every morning when
we wake up, we have the innate desire to overcome our isolation
and connect with others in a meaningful, life-sustaining way.
But instead of participating in those feelings, we don our
social masks and become one of the others... by keeping others
at the same distance that they are keeping us.
Many of us are walking around without being fully present in our bodies. We have lost touch with our most basic need for physical and emotional connections. Unlike the other senses of smelling, hearing or seeing, touch is our most social sense. It implies an interaction with another human being. The absence of touch causes disturbances in both the mind and body and contributes to illness on many levels. Touch deprivation increases stress and body tensions both behaviorally and biochemically. We feel more pain, have a harder time focusing and become less resilient to toxins that can instigate disease in the body. There have also been studies linking touch deprivation to physical violence, sleep difficulties and cardiovascular disease. So what can we do to get back in touch? 1. Make time for human contact. Stop being too busy. Pick up the phone and invite a friend or loved one to dinner instead of spending the night on email. 2. Recognize that non-sexual nurturing touch is a basic human need. In our culture we always think of touch as sexual. Have we forgotten that emotional nurturing with a warm non-sexual touch is also a human need? Place your hand on someone's shoulder and that person will feel support or friendship. Holding someone's hand says that you are there with them. A hug offers comfort when we are sad or friendship when we greet or leave a friend. 3. Let yourself be touched by emotion. Watch a movie and notice the feelings that it brings up for you. Do you feel sad, angry, scared or uncomfortable? Do you smile? Do you cry? Listen to a song that touches your heart and feel it open. 4. Pet your pet. Petting your pet provides two-way love and affection. 5. Dance your socks off. Partner dancing like the Waltz or the Cha-Cha integrates touch at the very heart of the dance. Touch is a language that communicates more love in five seconds than words can in five minutes. The more you get in touch with yourself and your loved ones, you will probably feel lighter, happier and more connected to people and to life. |
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In a bookstore cafe an author sits, sipping their coffee and
leafing through the local newspaper. The news is terrible.
It speaks of fighting in Iraq. Fighting in Afghanistan.
Fighting in Uzbekistan, Sudan, Haiti, Columbia..........
Each and every day that follows the grandmothers are
joined by more grandmothers, mothers, men and children.
The news begins to spread locally, then nationally, then
internationally and an amazing thing starts to
happen..........silent gatherings began to This months pick is entitled The Great Silent Grandmother Gathering by Sharon Mehdi. This heart warming gem is about peace and the power of truth that you will want to share over and over again. This is a great story for anyone who thinks that she can't save the world. Enjoy, share and watch the magic happen before your very eyes. |
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May is the month to acknowledge our mothers and celebrate women. We all come from different walks of life yet, at the same time, we all share a common mother root. Like the moon, we circle the planet earth. We are drawn to each other. We come in different sizes, shapes and colors. We are mothers, sisters, grandmothers and daughters. We seek to be whole within ourselves. We embrace an inner knowing that speaks to our hearts of love and survival.
"A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials, heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine, desert us when troubles thicken around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts". Washington Irving (1783-1859) Celebrate your Mother on May 11, 2008. |
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 Egyptians, Romans, Chinese, Greeks and Native American
Indians all relied on nature to increase and maintain good
health of the mind, body and spirit thought the use of
essential oils.Did you know that inhaling peppermint oil not only curbs the appetite, but also lessens the impulse to over eat? Come and have fun with me on May 13 at the John Muir Brentwood Campus at 7:15.p.m. where I will be giving a free class on aromatherapy and it's many uses. You can register for this class by clicking here: https://www.johnmuirhealth.com/index.php/whc_class/class_ID/454.html I hope to see you there! Blessings, Shayn |
There has got to be a better way she thinks to herself.
Suddenly, feeling extremely inspired, she picks up her pen
and begins writing a story intended for her newborn
granddaughter. It is a story about two grandmothers who have
never met, but stand quietly in a park. The community reacts in
various ways to this scene. Some with curiosity, some with
shock, some with irritation and others with a silent
understanding.
It is this love and its power that
ripples out into the consciousness of every human heart.
This May lets celebrate the women who's love lights the
world...... our mothers. Our mothers are the literally the
bridges between yesterday and tomorrow. Take a look at the
timeless concerns of a mother and imagine: safe schools,
streets and homes.....enough food, housing and
love......healthy people and a healthy
planet........ peaceful communities...... nurturing
relationships......... always looking at a way of life that
values health and wellbeing. She teaches us to sing, dance,
paint, play, write, plant, and pray. Her fruits become our
fruits. Her wisdom informs our hands and opens our hearts.