Touches

To feel is to touch something, right?

Something outside of our own skin?

When we reach out our hands to rub a soft blanket or grasp a hot cup of tea,

we feel it with our skin.

Well, if so, then maybe our own feel-ings should be considered in the same way.

Maybe feelings don’t come from inside of us, but rather from the outside.

They aren’t our hands that do the touching, but rather we get touched by them.

They touch us.

Sometimes we can’t control what feeling reaches out and rubs up gently on our skin.

Sometimes they’re annoying, poorly timed, or deeply scary.

But what if I told you that we could touch them back?

Any feeling you have, whether that be sadness, anger, or the worries you hear in your head, actually aren’t you,

they’re just feelings you’re just being touched by at the moment.

Whenever I have a critical voice in my head,

I remember that that part is not me.

It’s not my soul, the one who lives under the skin.

I am not Crabby, with a capital C. I just feel crabby at the moment.

And sometimes, crabby touches me very persistently.

So today, take stock of your feelings as daily, temporary touches.

Think of them as little, warm rubs, wanting to be listened to,

like little children pulling on your pant leg for attention,

rather than something to be scared of.

And think of who you are when all the touches stop,

when you’re alone, in silence, in peace…

Remember to embrace all the parts of you today,

all of the touches,

because they, like little kids, just want to love you.

Maybe give them a gentle touch back.