The Power of One

Rose Meditative (Meditative Rose) Salvador Dali, 1958

“Don't waste your life in doubts and fears: spend yourself on the work before you, well assured that the right performance of this hour's duties will be the best preparation for the hours and ages that follow it.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

Tomorrow is the first day of the New Year and it’s time to meditate on the word “one.”

It is a powerful word that conjures up meanings beyond the obvious numeric significance.

Type the word “one” into Merriam-Webster’s On-line Unabridged Dictionary and you get multiple categories - an adjective; pronoun; noun and even transitive verb.

“One” is sometimes embraced as the deity in whom we invest our faith and beliefs, or something much broader-“constituting a unified entity made up of or formed from or produced by two or more components or sources.” Curious indeed, that such a simple word can mean so much, and in some cases more than “one.”

Placed as the first day of January, “one” heralds fresh starts and brings the promise of renewal and hope in our collective futures.

The video below of the Emmy Award-winning song, “One Moment in Time” written by Albert Hammond and John Bettis, and recorded by American singer Whitney Houston for the 1988 Summer Olympics and the 1988 Summer Paralympics held in Seoul, South Korea speaks volumes about the power of “one.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrS-bBgle2I

It’s time now to ponder the meaning of “one.”

Random acts of kindness and 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 ~ This morning there was a fascinating feature on National Public Radio’s Morning Edition - “Human Connections Start With A Friendly Touch,” by Michelle Trudeau. The three minute/35 second recorded segment (with accompanying text) covers what social scientists have known for years; human beings experience less stress and thrive from the power of simple human-to-human touch, and it’s not all psychological. Be it a hug, holding hands, a massage or even a pat on the back, the slightest pressure on skin, which is the body’s largest organ, activates Pacinian corpuscles ( a mechanoreceptor) that helps spread feel-good nerve impulses to multiple organs, including the heart, and the body responds by lowering blood pressure. Touching also prompts the reduction of the stress hormone cortisol, and the release of the neurochemical, oxytocin, which promotes feelings of trust, bonding and devotion.  IMHO, hugs are a great way to start the week, and you’ll probably be humming the John Lennon/Paul McCartney song, “All You Need is Love.” During these troubled times, dominated with major stress for many, just reach out and touch someone; you’ll both feel good.