April 27th, 2026
Reach Out and Touch Someone
“O world invisible, we view thee,
O world intangible, we touch thee,
O world unknowable, we know thee.”
Francis Thompson (English Poet; December 16th, 1859 to November 13th, 1907)
“Touch is the first physical sense we experience as strange hands pull us from the dark realm of the soul into the cold, harsh light of earth. After the security and warmth of the womb, frigid air assaults our fragile, naked bodies until we find comfort in our mother’s arms with the sense of touch guiding our first few conscious moments. For many people touch is also the last sense we experience as we depart the world—the squeeze of a loved one’s hand. Sight, smell hearing, and taste have gone before us.”
“The first sense to ignite, touch is often the last to burn out, long after our eyes betray us, our hands remain faithful to the world.”
Frederich Sachs
“We describe our mood swings as ‘feelings’ and when something strikes a deep, sentimental chord in us we say we were ‘touched.’ When we feel alienated, fragmented, and adrift, we often refer to this estrangement as ‘losing touch with reality.'”
“…we all need to be hugged and touched, not just to thrive but to survive.”
“‘sensuist’ (someone who delights in sensory experiences, as opposed to a ‘sensualist,’ someone who is excessively concerned with physical gratification).”
“She seemed a thing that could not feel/The touch of earthly years.”
William Wordsworth (English Poet; April 7th 1770 to April 23rd, 1850)
“Let us become women who embrace our portion of earthly years with a passion by delighting in our sense of touch.”
“I am very aware how much touch is a huge part of my aliveness. I need it to remain balanced centered and well. For huge portions of my life I went without touch. Being a mother afforded me more regular dosing, However, choosing my lover and life partner was the pivot into a chronic blissful state that has been unmatched…ever. When a child, I was disconnected from touch as it was not a regular occurrence by my mother. Often perfunctory in nature and performative. My thought is that she experienced less touch as a child too. My dad was much more affectionate, but also metered. I think he knew instinctively he needed touch to remain balanced. Sometimes he would just reach out to hold my hand and at the time, I needed that too. This brings tears to my eyes as I write this…’I miss you dad.'”
–Ban Breathnach, Sarah. “Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy”. Grand Central Publishing. (1976). Kindle Page 134 to 135 of 501.
I challenge each of you on this blog series to post comments so we all can grow together.
My Distilled Life 