Taking a hands-on approach

I can’t pinpoint exactly when it started.

But in the last few years, I have become a toucher.

When concluding a conversation or brief exchange with someone I like, I’ll often reach out and pat that person on the shoulder. This is something I did not do in the past.

I do it with both men and women. With women, I make sure the time-of-contact is fleeting.

I think I began doing this when my parents got to the point where they needed more and more assistance. I wanted to make sure those who helped them knew that I appreciated it. Hence the physical contact. To me, it seemed like the exclamation point on a “Thank you!”

Then, inexplicably, I started doing it with co-workers and others.

No one has ever objected. And I cannot recall any uncomfortable looks.  But I probably need to knock it off.

Not everyone likes to be touched. And even if my shoulder pats are always well-intentioned, it’s possible that they cross a line. Some might regard it as being inappropriately familiar.

So henceforth, I am going to try to keep my hands to myself. We’ll see how that goes.

But if you meet me and hear me thanking you for something, you might notice a remarkable intensity of gratitude in my eyes. Do not be alarmed. I’m not crazy. I’m just compensating for not reaching out and touching you.

On second thought, maybe I could start having people sign pre-pat waivers, because I think I would miss the human connection.