It’s a very strange feeling being In Limbo. My hubby and I recently sold our house which was such an amazing feeling. However a few days later we both felt a little deflated whilst contemplating where we were going to move to next. We had been house hunting for some time, however we saw nothing of interest. So the last three weeks have rolled by and again nothing has come onto the market that has had that “wow” factor.

So naturally those doubting thoughts float back into your mind wondering if we will ever find something we love and the thought of moving in with mum and dad is drawing nearer.

As much as it has been SCARY it has also been fun, not knowing what is around the corner is also very exciting and we all have to learn to take a leap of faith and trust that the universe will always provide.

So we will keep hunting and I’m sure that we will find our perfect house!

It’s now marvelous May and time to celebrate the colder weather. I have enjoyed curling up with my kitten at the end of the day and having cuddles on the couch, his purring is so calming to listen to. However this darkness at 5.30 is driving me crazy!

It definitely has a massive impact on our mental health and also makes us feel tired. So get out of bed earlier and make the most of your mornings!!

I have been loving my morning walks with my dogs and doing some meditation in the park. The sun was rising and the sky was blue and I felt totally at peace. It’s a wonderful start to my day and I use this time for positive affirmations and a time to be a little bit silly with my puppies.

So get up, breathe, laugh and make the most of your day!

I left work to get a quick bite to eat last Thursday lunchtime and I was stopped by a young man on Collins St who was offering free hugs! He asked me if I would like to hug him and I said ok.. So there we were hugging in the middle of the busy cbd precinct..

He put a smile on my face and many others and it is amazing how uplifting the power of human touch can be. I asked him if it was a social experiment and he said no it wasn’t but he and his friend had decided to do it together. I think they might be trying to carry on the movement of the guy called Juan Mann (is that meant to be One Man?) who was on Oprah – see here . I applaud them for making so many people feel great whatever their motives are.

This leads me to talk about the power of touch and how healing it is!

I’ve read that touching can make your immune system stronger and your mood lighter. The more touches you give or receive, the better you feel. Touching is a necessity for a healthy life. When we touch, whether it be a gentle pat, hug or massage, we receive various benefits. A half-hour massage can boost your immune system and lessen stress making you feel calmer and happier. Book in for a 30min massage and see how you feel afterwards, you won’t regret it.

Touching is an easy way to add comfort to your life. And all women appreciate touches because our skin is more sensitive than a man’s. Since we experience a higher level of stress and lower levels of the chemicals that combat stress, our benefit of physical touch is very appreciated. The effects of touch are less obvious, but very powerful and necessary.

Our need for human contact is necessary. Babies who are not touched fail to grow normally. Children, who are not lovingly touched often, grow up to be more physically violent. And that’s a shame because our society is starting to become a “hands to ourselves” environment.

Here’s some great tips I found on the internet which we can all try:

1. Start by kissing friends hello on the cheek. If that makes you uncomfortable, try hugs. A good hug is a quick, anti-stress remedy, as spiritually healing as hours of meditation. The person you are hugging has the power, with their touch, to free you from the tyranny of your restless mind.

2. As most of us are realizing, our society does not have a very affectionate culture (except during a tragedy) but you can overcome this. Begin with a friendly pat on a person’s back. Walk arm and arm with a friend. When talking to someone, gently touch his or her arm or hand during the conversation. Small touches can go a long way to making a person’s day.

3. We all know that gently touching a child can help them to develop into loving, caring adults, so spend more “touching” time with them. Snuggle with your children while watching television. Tackle them just for the fun of it, and even rub their backs while they sleep. I know not everyone is into the Family Bed, but for the first two years of each of my children’s lives, they slept with me. It was crowded and inconvenient on occasion, but wonderful. They slept all night and woke each morning in a pleasant mood.

4. Rub your husband/partner’s back for 30 minutes, and then insist on receiving one in turn. Try to do this each night instead of having a cocktail. The benefits are long lasting. Even a self-massage has wonderful benefits.

Go forth and be touched!

Jem, X