A Touch of Sadness

​I want to hold your hand, Every time we touch,  Touch me. There are so many lyrics in history about the importance of touch. Physical touch communicates positive emotions: joy, love, gratitude, and sympathy. Consider the elderly, incarcerated, people choosing to be isolated or those unwell without the language of touch. From a passing brush on the arm that breath-taking and memorably featured during those early days of courting to the affirming 'I’m here for you' meaning 30 years down the track.  We thrive on touch. The way we are touched can have a lifelong impact - good and bad.
 
I’ve enjoyed a great debate over a wine on the value of being able to read and touch. Many enjoy the full sensory experience of the paper as they thoughtfully turn over and rustle the pages.  Do you relish the faint inky waft of a brand new paperback or the rich, full musty aroma of a much loved old book? Do you consciously notice the smell of your newspaper during your comforting ritual perusing the Sunshine Coast Daily with a cuppa settled back in your favourite spot to soak up the latest lifestyle inspirations, who got “touched up” at the footy, view the weather map and find out what’s on?
 
'I am also touched' when after three years of writing this column, I’ve been surprised and delighted for the feedback on the impact of my passion for inspiring dynamic and thriving relationships for the well-being of the community. I love your emails prompting much content on what Sunshine Coast Daily readers are challenged by in your relationships.
 
I recently wrote about our human tendency to resist change, often stuck in the “comfort of our discomfort” and rely on the safety of repetition and consistency. As Sunshine Coast locals embrace the transition from print to digital format of their newspaper this week, join me in remembering the benefits of technology that we often loathe, can’t live without and are indulging in more of at a rapid pace!
 
I personally love the immediacy of a quick download of the latest book release. You’ll see me intently charging along the Mooloolaba esplanade with headphones in the wee early hours gleaning the latest neuroscience wisdom from an audio book. I love to use commute time to grab a quick snippet of a chapter through the car stereo. I also use the “double swipe down” function on my smartphone enabling it to read me the article on my screen whilst I cook.

My recipe for transitional success is to blend of touch of reminiscent by memorialising your final copy of your newspaper in the “pool room” with a touch of innovative, forward-thinking mindset. You can show and tell your grandchildren’s children about the days of the printed newspaper. Expect them to be 'touched' with amusement as they peer quizzically through their augmented reality spectacles that upon a simple verbal command searches and projects the final date it was printed.
 
Let’s Shake, Rustle and Roll with the technology!
 
In the meantime, if you’re longing for more of the printed word, my commemorative version of many of these articles and more will be available in the coming months in my first paperback, Renovate Your Relationship – All The DIY Tools For Your Most Important Project. Reserve your copy HERE.

Joanne Wilson is a neuropsychotherapist, relationship specialist, workshop facilitator and guest speaker. Tune into radio Salt106.5 each Friday morning for her co-host of the Morning Wakeup. Don’t miss more on these Sunshine Coast Daily articles in her “Is This Love” Podcast and download your FREE relationship resources at www.relationshiprejuvenator.com