When’s the last time you cuddled with someone, without any expectation of sex? How many hugs have you shared lately? How many do you wish you’d enjoyed?
Or maybe you’ve been touched or hugged when you weren’t up for either. How awesome would it be to never have to deal with that?
I recently sat down with the wonderful Jean Franzblau, founder of Cuddle Sanctuary—a touch-positive workshop and social experience that addresses these very issues. Jean also speaks for a variety of audiences around the world, and contributed a beautiful story for Embraceable. In short, she’s an empowering powerhouse!
We explored the painful personal that inspired her touch-positive work, cultural beliefs about touch, ways to ensure a platonic cuddle experience, consent issues and the powerful perks of cuddling.
“Over half of adult Americans are single, which means so many of us don’t have access to healthy human touch,” Jean said.
Addressing that lack may boost your heart-health, lower stress, bolster immune function and help you sleep.
To learn more, listen to our chat on iTunes, Stitcher Radio or below. It starts at 12:25, just after a segment on gender-neutral restrooms with non-binary trans parent, Casey. (Learn more about that chat here.)
As a reminder, there’s still time to sign up for The Beauty of a Woman BlogFest V! Learn more here.
What did you think of the episode? Would you attend a touch-positive cuddling event? How do you meet your touch needs? I love hearing from you!
when I realized this is what i needed i searched for a companion partner. It worked. Best decision I’ve made in a long time. The world is full of rules about touching. but we all need touch. and often we seek it in unhealthy ways, ways that add sex to the mix when none is needed…a beautiful connection with a giving partner is a true gift. Search it out. Don’t settle. Connect.- Ret
Beautiful, Ret. I love that you recognized your need for touch, then not only sought it out, but have shared that decision publicly. We need such stories!
https://reticentmentalproperty.wordpress.com/2015/05/15/responds-well