To Touch or Not to Touch: There is No Question!!

Meet Ivy and Grandad!  When they went off to the Nebraska State Fair together, there was no doubt that they were connected.  They were sitting and waiting for their ice cream, and Heather (Ivy's Mom) just happened to look over and see the love the two of them shared!  When I talked about photos of hands for Photo Schmoozer, Heather immediately sent this one.  Wonderful!! When I think of attachment, I reflect on the PBS series, "This Emotional Life", hosted by Dan Gilbert.  There was a focus on attachment...or not.  Relationships are how very young children learn about themselves and the people in their world.  Last night, we saw strong evidence of how  only caring for a child 's physical needs and ignoring the emotional needs can cause Attachment disorders and problems throughout life.  Remember Erik Erikson?  He talked to us about the Ages of Man. The first  age was Basic Trust vs. mistrust.  When the children in the Russian orphanage just have their physical needs met, they don't learn to trust that their world is a great place and responsive to them.   They never really have success in developing relationships. This happens not only in Russia - how many children in our own country are fed and cleaned and then left in cribs, high chairs or swings.  How many of them are never really touched with loving hands, soft and gentle words or fond gazes?   Then I remembered Tiffany Field's research years ago about massage with the elderly and infants.  What really impacted me was that the elders GIVING the massage actually benefitted more than the babies receiving it. So do we have any doubt that our babies and US too, deserve the touch connections from those around us??  I 'break' for babies and take the time to make eye contact, touch with words or a gentle gesture, and then I always make sure to 'touch' their parents too by sharing and thanking them for allowing me the gift of time spent with their babies.  Now, I know the time will come when I will get a giant smile and a hug from Ivy...hey, I have never been to Nebraska...yet!!

Stumbling on Happiness

Driving home from Delaware the other day from a great work/play day with my friend Peggy, I looked up ahead and knew I had to slow down for an icy patch on the road.  Strange because it was a cold and sunny day and there was no other ice or snow anywhere.  WOW was I ever glad I had to go slow and take my time, because as the title says, I once again 'stumbled onto happiness'.  Just to my left there was a small stream and just a few small trees just loaded with thick chunks of ice.  At the end of the day, the light was pretty special too and the glows it cast on the icicles, made them magical.   Since I discovered The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin http://www.happiness-project.com/ a few days ago, I have been planning my own Happiness project.  Gretchen mentions Dan Gilbert's book, Stumbling on Happiness, and I decided to go and find it.  Hey, this is NOT rambling - there is a purpose to what I am writing.  Right on the shelf next to his book, I found Wayne Dyer's The Power of Intention and brought it home too.  After all, it's about co-creating your world your way, and if that doesn't fit into the Happiness Project, well, what does?!?  Now, there is a connection to the books, the project, PhotoSchmoozer and the ice photos.  Wayne Dyer talks about The Power of Intention and his definitions just so aptly describe how I felt about the ice hanging from the low trees:

• A sense of the possible
• A sense of awe
• A sense of humility
• A sense of knowing
• A sense of belonging

I was awed and humbled by the beauty of nature and the knowing that these gifts are there for us all the time - in the world that we are all one with - anytime we stop and just look.  I wanted to flag down all of those drivers who sped past me, but then I thought that they had to discover their own happiness and awe and sense of the possible- each in his or her own way.
So I stopped and got out - I saw wonder and I share my thoughts with all of you!
I know that Happiness and Intention are a big part of my 2010 plan.  Let the adventure continue.