When was the last time you were touched?
 
I’m not talking about a high five.
 
Or a brief hug.
 
Or the creepy guy on the subway.
 
I mean someone you love…
 
Caressing your hair.
 
Massaging your neck.
 
Or holding you in their arms.
 
Is there anything better?
 
Touch is as grounding as the earth itself.
 
A protection from the often-brutal world around us.
 
It softens us in the best ways possible.
 
Touch opens us up and allows us to let go.
 
Two months ago I was in a dark place.
 
Anxiety was getting the best of me.
 
I couldn’t figure out what was going on in my mind.
 
I was fighting with the guys more than usual.
 
And after one of those fights, I laid down alone on the couch in the basement.
  
Ammar came in.
 
He didn’t say a word.
 
Instead, he just laid down next to me.
 
He wrapped his arms around me and put his cheek on my heart.
 
And I sobbed.
 
For 20 minutes straight.
 
Neither of us spoke.
 
We just held on.
 
It’s these kind of moments that save us.

From all the stress, the self-doubt, the anxiety. 

From the outside world.

And most importantly, from ourselves.
 
Where everything is said but not a word is spoken.

It’s all just… implied.
 
Long hugs and hair strokes are as potent as medicine.

A holistic antidote to the disease of the mind.

They ground us if we have the courage to let them.

And oh, we must have the courage to let them.

Otherwise we’re just out here fighting to feel something

Love,

Matt

Comments

gracias de corazón Matt! It is so beautiful <3 fills my heart with gratitude

— Vivian Gunsett

I didn’t know about this part of the blog. Matt, your words are so powerful, you speak for many people that do not know how to conceptualize their feelings. I’ve struggled with anxiety these last months, living by myself and having all of my loved ones far away during such hard times is hard. Sometimes I feel like I miss them, but what I miss is the touch of them, being hugged, receiving caresses, holding hands or even laying on the shoulder of someone you love.
I feel you Matt, I hope that now you’re able to let go of whatever was blurring your mind.
Thank you for your very inspiring content, and for being amazing people!

— Dani

It’s so late here. I’m in my bed reading this and crying. I use to think that I hated being touched last months I realize how much I miss that honest human connection.
Please someone, introduce me to Ammar!

— Vicky

It is often we forget that we as humans need touch and love! Even if its a soft hug from a friend, or sweet embrace, a loving kiss or hug from our parents is often what we regret not receiving as a child when we mature into adults, which I believe, is why we have so many people with issues, and anxiety and addictions, we need that touch to know how loved we are, as a society we forget just how important it is. I believe Touch should be regarded as the purest form of love their is!

— Rebekah Smith

Regarding his poetic side, I feel like Matt is a combination of sweetness and tenderness. He seems to be as sweet as the first cotton candy you try as a little kid, as sweet as the final moments of the last day of summer and appears as kind-hearted as an angel. I love Matt because all I can see at him as much from the videos as from his writing, he only has one side. And he is all love. Pure love and not even a drop of resentment. I love all of you guys, you are all great and I am so thankful for finding out about you ( all I did in the past few weeks was to binge-watch the whole channel :) )

— Andreea