Taking Pictures Of Touches And Connections

I don't remember a lot of touching in my childhood. I don't know if it just didn't happen with my family, or if I've simply forgotten. All I know is I didn't feel comfortable with it for a long time. Which is ironic, since I'm otherwise a very tactile person – touching everything as I walk through stores, always marveling at how different fabrics or wood types feel.So I was never really a touchy-feely person – I didn't touch friends when talking to them, I didn't hug people I cared about. It just wasn't something that came out of my spine.That is, until I started subbing at daycare centers.Kids were all over us adults, and they expected us to return the favor. Maybe they needed to lean onto a knee when telling you about a sensitive subject. Maybe they needed to hold onto a hand when telling their friends something important. Maybe they just wanted to check in with an adult when walking by.These kids caused a shift that opened me up more to touching and being touched by friends. Just leaning onto them when things were rough – or just because they were there and it felt SO DANG GOOD. Hugging them when we met on the street, and squeezing even tighter when we went our separate ways.I think this is why I look for touches and connections in my work. Lovers touching, dads gently putting their hand on their daughters head, mothers stroking the tiny hands of their newborn baby, grandparents squeezing their grandkids ever so tightly. I just can't get enough!

I want to challenge you to think about what little everyday connections you find important to take pictures of. Please share in the comments, too!