SPAIN 4: The Power of Touch

'Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.' ~ Leo Buscaglia

Today, I had my supermarket experience! I walked to the bottom of the winding hill which coincidentally is the bottom of the town as well, and I went shopping all by my lonesome.  I only needed to buy dos pechugas de pollo (two chicken breasts) and some dessert, but it was an adventure to me.  I enjoyed creating my own translations of the signs and played the word association game trying to expand my Spanish vocabulary. I took notice that you had to purchase a cart and a plastic bag to carry your food home, and I grinned when the teller told me the price siete vientiocho (7.28€).  I understood! I was so nervous about purchasing anything, because first I had to understand the numbers in Spanish, and then I had to figure out the currency in Euros.  Despite my shortcomings it was a success!  

I had quite the climb up the hill to find my way home, and I decided to take advantage of the opportunity to be as much like a local as possible.  Rather than walking as quickly as I could, which is my customary pace, I sauntered . . . and let me tell you when I say saunter I don’t mean I walked slowly I mean I crawled and at an unbearable pace.  Today, however I enjoyed each . . . and . . . every . . . step.  Try it some time.  Walk as slowly you can, and then cut that pace in half and then in half again, but make sure you pause every few steps to look around.  Look at the sky, a tree, a leaf, a passerby, but stop and gaze beyond the world you have created so tightly around you.  At home I walk and drive like a bat out of hell.  Moving about as quickly as I can from place to place, and I get annoyed when someone stops or slows in front of me.  I live in a world about me, for me, and worst of all created by me.  Today, I literally saw the world around me begin to take shape.  Trees began to form, people seemed to appear out of thin air, and children were playing.  The blur that usually was, slowed to a picturesque view that I never took the time to see.  

While I enjoyed my Andalucian pace, and mind you I had to remind myself over and over to slow down, and then, slow down again; people continued to pass me.  We would smile to one another and then greet each other, ‘Hola & Bueno, even Adio!’  It caused me to think about  growing up and hearing my mother talk about how important 12 touches a day was for your health and growth.  When I was younger I did not give much thought to it other than my mom said many things, and all of which I accepted as truth.  Today, I gave a lot of thought to the truth behind these ‘magical 12 touches’.  I will try not to be too hippie for you, or swing too far into your childhood (hug a friend's neck, hug a friend next to you, hug a friends neck and sing along http://www.schooltube.com/video/88ff05b7a030dcf78f99/Shake-a-Hand-Ah-la-la-la-song-kids-song-by-Rhonda-Crigger  ), and I will most definitely try to avoid any ‘Barney the Hug Loving Dinosaur’ clichés.  But it must be said, 'physical touches improves growth and reduces illness' according to many recent studies, and I believe we have all heard the story of the king who put the power of touch to the test with infants. I know we are now talking about physical touch, but what if we could 'touch' others differently in even the smallest way?

Sure you may say hello to your colleague, or nod in acknowledgement as they pass by if you get lazy.  Maybe you even look people in the eye, but can you imagine the looks you would receive if you simply started saying, 'Hello!' with sincerity to a complete stranger? Unless you live in a small town where everyone knows everyone and their dog, that isn't usually the practice.  This requires you to step out from the comfortable world you have created and 'touch' someone else - to press through the surface of another person's world and cause both of you to realize that there are other people out there.  It's a lonely world, full of people longing to feel alive.  I don't recommend physically hugging everyone we see - that would be slightly crazy and we would probably end up being arrested! Maybe, just maybe there is some truth to be heard and progress to be seen! You never know what doors may open, or strangers who will become dear friends.  I know life gets hectic, and often we don't make the time to 'stop and smell the roses', but even in passing we should try to pull ourselves out of our self-consuming thoughts and make purpose every day to engage in a simple smile and Hello as we try to better ourselves and this world we call home.

Today I was in the plaza trying to get onto the internet when suddenly I was struck with a futball (soccer ball)! The children ran over to me and one of them laid his hand on my shoulder, and spoke with a concerned intonation.  I didn't understand a word he said, but I knew he was worried that I had been hurt.  I smiled, nodded, and he seemed to understand that I was okay.  I ran home to put on some shoes, and went back to the plaza.  I motioned to the boys that I would like to play, and they were surprised, but happy to allow me to play.  We kicked around the futball, and exchanged a Spanish word for an English word and visa versa.  I had a wonderful time, and I learned more words in the hour we played together than the entire week I have been here.  There is so much to learn everywhere I look, and always in unexpected ways!