We are each other's harvest; we are each other's business; we are each other's magnitude and bond.
Gwendolyn BrooksRead
Several times in my life I've gone through long periods without sex or any other kind of physical contact. The hunger it produces is deep and low; it's possible to lose track of it, to forget or fail to perceive how it's emptied everything out of you and made the world papery and thin. Touch starved, you brush against existence like a stick against dry leaves. You become insubstantial yourself, a hungry ghost.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote highlights the deep emotional and existential impact of physical touch deprivation.
In this quote, Hari Kunzru reflects on the profound effects that a lack of physical contact can have on a person. The experience of being 'touch starved' can lead to feelings of emptiness and disconnection from the world, creating a sense of insubstantiality where one feels more like a ghost than a vibrant individual. The metaphor emphasizes how essential physical touch is to our well-being and how its absence can distort our perception of reality.
Themes
TouchPhysical ContactRelationshipsEmptinessExistenceLonging
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about the importance of human connection, you could use this quote to illustrate emotional experiences.
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