Do you need to feel better today? Calm, comfort and companionship. Come sit with me.

Do you need to feel better today? This episode of Let’s Talk Lavender offers calm, comfort, and quiet companionship for a hard day, a tired heart, or a moment when the world feels too loud.

 Come sit with me for a gentle spoken reflection about slowing down, breathing, feeling less alone, and finding a small place of steadiness inside the day, in our beautiful memories and the small kindnesses we have forgotten in our quest to be better and do better.

Let’s Talk Lavender is gentle, warm company for knitters, stitchers, and creative crafters. Bring your project, contemplate life, and settle into calm companionship. You are not alone. We are a community of crafters finding stillness, story, and self together.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_00 0:17

Oh, good, you're here. Let's talk lavender. How are you feeling today? How are you feeling? Do we need to feel better today? Isn't it interesting that we have the same word for feeling our emotions as we do for feeling with our hands, our fingertips, our skin? So do we need to feel better today? We spend so much time and effort on the other parts of our bodies, don't we? Our faces, which we can micro nitpick every bump spot, line, perceived imperfection. Our hair too straight, too curly, too thin, too coarse. Our legs, our arms, the size of our waistlines, everything. We study it all and judge it harshly to ourselves and sometimes to others too. But then there are our hands. Not very big compared to the rest of our bodies, but doing almost all of the work. In fact, you're probably using your hands right now as we speak. They are probably right now, this very minute, doing something useful for you. Just think how different your world would be if these two hands that you have that you're looking at right now were frozen and couldn't do what they're doing right now and what they're going to do for you later in the day today. We also do so much for other people with our hands. We add value to the world. We cook, we clean, we bathe, we write, we type, we carry, we open, we close, we loosen, we tighten, we repair, we wrap, we unwrap, we organize, we drive, we plant, we pack, we unpack. They allow us to make a living. We use them and someone pays us money for that use. We take care of ourselves with them. We wash our faces in the morning. We make ourselves a snack. We stir mugs of tea and make it just the way we like it. We dip our fingers in crinkly bags of candy in the car when we drive alone. We eat popcorn on the couch, pressing our damp fingertips on the crunchy unpopped bits and salt in the very bottom of the bag. We rub our temples when we feel a headache coming on. We squeeze our toes when we take off uncomfortable shoes. Pretty amazing when you think about it. And then there's even more. And we all know this. Did you know that when a person touches you lightly on your arm, your brain processes that sensation in a completely different part from the part that registers your brushing a soft piece of silk or cashmere against that very same spot. It's all in the human touch. We are literally wired to find great pleasure in the gentle touch of other people. A soft sweater provides a sense of comfort to our bodies and minds. But a gentle hug or caring touch provides comfort and a sense of support and acceptance. So touch. We humans need touch. Sure we have to balance this with respect for other people's boundaries, their personal space, but it doesn't have to be as difficult or as complicated as we can sometimes make it. Because when we touch someone, we are choosing them. When we touch someone, we choose them. Why don't you start with the easy? When you meet someone new, reach out and shake their hand with a genuine smile. Notice how much friendlier they are when you do that. Just reach out first. Fist bump the guy at work. Even if it goes wrong, you will both laugh and it will be good. He'll do it again the next time he sees you, and will say something ironic or plain lame. When you see your good friend, give them a friendly hug or affectionate casual touch they are comfortable with. Just do it every time you see them, and you'll soon sense that it brings them comfort. Shoulder bump your sibling in those moments of awareness of your blood bond, and you will feel that eternal connection you have in spite of everything and everyone. Kiss your parents' cheek, hello or goodbye, regardless of how happy they are or you are, or who said what, or did this or did that. Everyone wants to be chosen. Everyone wants to be chosen. Don't overthink it. All you are really saying without words is that underlying love endures despite disagreements, emotions, differences, actions. If you can be consistent in your touch, even if you don't feel like it, it reassures those you love that you choose them. They feel safe in the pool of your love. And even if there are waves, the water is warm. And that, my love, is a grand thing to achieve. Let me know how you're doing. All right, love, have a great day.