A Sense of Touch

I talked about experiencing the world around you last time, but it was focused on sight. Life involves all of the senses and so should writing.

I am a tactile person. Not to be mistaken for a huggy person ‘cause I’m really not. But I do like to ‘see’ my world through my fingers. Running my hand over different textures. I love trees, the leaves, bark and even twigs. I cannot buy clothes over the internet or understand how anyone else could. Feeling the cloth between my fingers, the weight of the fabric, the quality. I have visited many galleries with my hands in my pockets. I am sure marble is meant for the hands, not the eyes.

Of course there are other forms of touch that don’t involving running your hands over your surroundings. There is the sensation at hairdresser as she washes my hair, running her fingers through my hair, the soothing yet firm scalp massage before the conditioner is rinsed out, my heavy lids that I try to blink open as I wander to another seat. Then there is the prickling feeling against my face and neck from the small, sharp hair pieces that continually fall from the scissors.

Temperature and the environment are also important. Standing up a ladder, painting a house in the summer sun. The heat burning into shoulders and the back of the legs, crisping the skin, heating the body and causing the sweat to run down the side of the face.

The crisp autumn breeze filling the office space as the receptionist leaves the window open again. The goose bumps and shivers as workers try to understand the dropping temperature. Reaching for cardigans, jackets, grumbling.

Today’s suggestion is that you go out and feel your world. Take one small thing and try and describe that touch.

Happy Scribbling.