Did you ever wonder what happened to the days when families interacted on a deeper committed level with each other? Each family member knew their role and all respected and nurtured each other. Family life had a more seasonal flow to it. These seasons dictated that family unity was paramount in order to overcome the adversities that nature was capable of presenting them on the playing field of day to day life. In an agrarian economy, we felt the effects of our labors more acutely at the end of the day. We found comfort and offered the relief we sought in each other.

Imagine that you have toiled and labored all day out in the fields tending to your forty acres. You are racing against time and the change in the seasons. You’ve finally finished getting your crops in for the spring. Your sense of accomplishment is only outweighed by your physical fatigue from the work that you’ve done. You sit down to eat a good hot meal. There is no television or radio; no computers or video games. Your moment of rest and recreation is sought at this time before you fall asleep. You take a sip of hot tea and maybe, if you are fortunate, retire to the luxury of a hot bath.

Before the turn of the twentieth century, built in plumbing in the American farm house was the exception, not the rule. Everyone knows the value of a hot tub after such a hard days work. To ease yourself down into a nice hot tub at the end of a hard day’s labor is one of the single most rewarding things you can do for your aching muscles. What would you do if you had no tub or running hot water?

Human beings have rallied to support and nurture one another in agrarian cultures for thousands of years. Whether you made your living on land or sea, it required a tremendous amount of energy for the whole village or tribe to maintain a successful outcome against the natural adversities presented to them. There was much to be thankful for at the end of the day. Families bonded and supported the hunters and gatherers that were essential to helping keep food on the table and stores in the pantries.

Many agrarian societies found time at the end of the day to connect and tend to each other’s aches and pains from the days’ toiling. For thousands of years, the first line of healthy wellness was delivered from the caring hands (massage) of family members in the form of massage.

Massage has been used in many cultures throughout history to help support the well being of nearly all family members. From the time a child was born throughout their growing years to adulthood and into their revered senior days, historic societies handed down traditional nurturing touch remedies (masage) which served as a key component for relief of every day soreness, restorative well being and healthy bonding.

In our modern high tech society, it would be refreshing to acknowledge and review firsthand the time proven ways of our not to ancient ancestors. Imagine coming home for even one evening a week and putting yourself into the nurturing hands (massage) of a caring family member and allow them to rub your shoulders or neck. How about a nice foot massage at the end of a hectic day? What a wonderful gift to be able to give each other! Can you imagine the value of looking forward to some nurturing touch (massage) at the end of the day? Think of the positive channels of communication and compassion we would open for each other as a family by taking a bit of time to help each other in such a meaningful way. I only wish that I could have been raised in a family culture such as this. Let us take the time to turn off the tube and our computers and drift back into a simpler place and time; a time of sharing and nurturing one another in a simple and meaningful way. To explore the gift of nurturing touch (massage) as our ancestors did is only a thought and mind-full intent away.