De Paul University
Writing from the Inside
Teacher: Zoe Keithley
Touching
I remember the animals at the zoo. I was jealous of them.
They could freely lay around touching each other, sleep on top of or alongside of one another, they had no hang-ups about fulfilling their touching needs. We humans have so many rules regarding touching. Different parts of humanity have different touching rules. I think touching is very important to us humans to retain our sanity. I wish there were “touch clinics” that you could go to when you felt the need to be touched.
I think many elderly people could use these touching clinics. These clinics would be free to all. If the elderly lose their friends and relatives who will hug them? Who will make them feel human?
Teenagers could use hugs too. They have a special unique type of loneliness that they find hard to share with anyone – demonstrated by their high suicide rate.
Even children, those innocent little ones need hugs that they do not get from their parents.
If we could universally increase hugs across the world, it would add strength to the world and enhance peace efforts.