Just a Touch of Nostalgia

It took me a little while to think of what touch means to me. When I link touch with happy emotions I usually think of small tactile things like magnets or legos, or running my fingers through grass.

However when I think about it a little more, I noticed that things like my jacket that I've owned since 6th grade, give me a strange sense of comfort when i’m wearing it. Another sense of touch for me is how the keys of my piano feel when i'm playing on it. I've been playing on the same piano for my whole life and it can be very nostalgic sometimes.

Constance Classen focuses a lot on the significance of the sense of touch during medieval times, and talks about how common social interaction consisted of kissing and holding hands. Along with this common social interaction, families would all sleep in one bed, this would bring a sense of security and warmth.

This sense of comfort from touch reminds me of a psych class I took in high school, where we talked about how important a mother’s touch is for her baby during infancy. Once a baby is born, the first hour is important for the mother to form a strong chemical connection between her and her child. This is accomplished through physical touch. Not only does a chemical connection form, but physical touch can also promote stability and health. Interestingly enough, a baby can sync up its hard beat with the mothers until it learns how to regulate on its own.