Have you been touched today?

So yesterday I had a staff retreat/training/day out of the office.  It was just a time to spend some quality time with my department and coworkers and friends and it as actually a really good time.

We discussed how to not email rule out lives, which was very helpful

We went over Verna’s top ten list of being a professional

We discussed how to have “difficult conversations”

We did an activity about who we would take to the moon – very interesting conversations and I found out my coworkers would leave children…tsk tsk tsk.

But the last thing we did was one of the best things I have done with my department.  We all sat in a circle with our backs towards in the inside and closed our eyes.  In groups of three we would stand up and get into the center of the group and the facilitator would say “Reach out and touch someone who has made a difference in your life” or “Touch someone who makes you laugh” or “Touch someone who you can be yourself around” or “Touch someone you love”.

Now before I go any further let me explain something about myself.  I need touches.  I read a study once that said the average human needs 7 significant touches a day to stay mentally/physically healthy. I think significance can be different from person to person, but I need the hug or the hand on shoulder or hand holding and it something that I don’t get here that much. I had a moment last semester when I just broke down at a friends because I wasn’t getting any hugs.  I know it sounds odd, but that is just something I need.

Now back to the activity.  So we are sitting around a circle and people are walking around and placing their hands my shoulder and before I know it I am crying…not because I am sad or anything but because it was wonderful thing.  Not only was I getting those touches but I knew exactly what the meaning behind them were.  I have had a hard time feeling lonely here, it just hasn’t been an easy 6 months, but this activity validated what I am doing here.  I am making a difference and am a comfort to these people and I had no idea!  I have felt so invisible but I am not! It was just a relief!

So I just want to challenge you, have you been letting the people in your life that have made in influence know it?  Are you creating the relationships with your peers that are significant?

Reach out and touch someone this week…believe you will both feel better.

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