For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction… Or simply said from the psychological perspective “You cannot touch without being touched!”
Back in the day my brother, five years older than I, took the physical science road and became a physics teacher, while I took the life science road and became a biology teacher. It seemed like we were on opposites sides of the road.
As time passed, I moved from my biology platform into psychology, but still teaching in my own ways, both in practice and in college. Last week, my brother shared Newton’s Third Law…”You cannot touch without being touched,” and I realized the more things appear different, the more they are the same.
When we touch another person’s life, we are touched in return. Precious are these interactions and not to be taken lightly. Vital is conscious awareness as to how our “touch” of another rebounds and has effect on ourselves.
I recently completed teaching a trimester in both Intro to Psychology and Human Relations at Berkeley College. I realized, in our last class, that I had touched my students and they had deeply touched me. Every moment of interaction has its impact, a Universal impact. The laws of science and of interpersonal relations are one.
We humans move through life often semi-conscious and seeing things solely from our point of view. The ability to empathize, embrace the position of another person is our willingness to be touched. The perception of isolation and individuality is a limitation, just as the idea that the laws of science don’t apply to all things.
So I’m glad I’ve lived long enough to see separation become connection. Thank you to my brother for his wisdom…
With love,
Rosanne
