Reach Out and Touch

We’ve all heard the saying “silence speaks a thousand words.” This is because communication is 20 percent verbal and 80 percent non-verbal. Non-verbal cues give people an idea of what you really mean or how you really feel. Telling your partner you love them, but with a snarky tone of voice, lets them know you are irritated or angry with them.
As time goes on in relationships, it is easy to get caught up in busy schedules and diaper changes and forget about each other. Adding some spark back into the relationship doesn’t have to cost you anything. By simply adding more touch, you can regain closeness like before. Once you get past that honeymoon stage, the stage where you can’t get enough of each other and the bed practically breaks from overuse, creating daily intimacy turns from sexual to sensual.
Adding more touch to your relationship doesn’t mean you have to hang all over each other all the time. Touch can be a simple brush of the arm or hug in the hallway; it’s a way of letting your partner know you are still attracted them. Touch can make you feel connected when things start to get crazy. Try to add in extra touches a couple times every day to get that feeling of closeness back.
Not all touches have to be sensual, but touch is one of the most craved sensations and most people don’t feel they get touched enough. We are programmed from birth to crave touch and closeness with those around us. Newborn babies need to be touched, held, and loved otherwise they start to lose weight and are prone to illness. Touch is not something to be overlooked, but so often it is.
How do you add more touching into the relationship? Start by doing little things like a kiss on the cheek or lips when passing in the hallway or during household chores. While your partner is doing the dishes, come up behind them and kiss them on the cheek or give a quick squeeze. Make it a rule to kiss each other before you leave the house and kiss again on the return. When you pass your partner in the hall or living room, gently graze their arm as you pass. Graze their neck or shoulder as you get up to leave the room. Snuggle in front of the television at night, or lay your hand on your partner’s arm. The best time to touch is while on the couch, most people end their nights in front of the tv, take turns giving quick 10 minutes neck and back rubs. Hold hands out in public or when taking walks together, snuggle in bed for a few minutes before you fall asleep and after you wake up. There are so many ways to add touching into your daily lives. Touch can be sensual, but it doesn’t have to be.
Touch is good for putting you in a good mood and strengthens your immune system. The best thing about touch, the more you give the more you will receive. Touch is more than a sensation; it makes you feel good and brings an added closeness to the relationship. Touching can be a pat on the shoulder, a hug, or quick massage. Bringing more touches into the relationship can only make it stronger.