October 5, 2026
Personal Reflections
This time of year, I always grow nostalgic for my childhood—not in a way that leaves me sad or longing, but in a way that fills my heart with gratitude and makes me want to live with a childlike heart.
Some fun Halloween memories have come to the surface lately, which I imagine I’ll share with you soon, but as I was looking through my childhood scrapbooks on Thursday, I noticed a trend: I held hands with people a lot!
There is something about holding someone’s hand that makes you feel connected to them while also giving your heart those comfortable, warm-and-fuzzy feelings [and not in a romantic way, but a very human way]. Holding hands with my friends deepened our friendships in an unconscious but very real way. It gave us a sense of belonging. I don’t know, I kind of miss it!
The downside of being an adult is that people quickly assume two people holding hands are in a romantic relationship. The one exception seems to be when you’re with your mother, whose hand I literally still hold sometimes.
Pardon me for sounding like an “old grump” for a moment: Do kids even hold hands anymore? I’m serious...
I worked at a school for a couple of years, mostly with the three-year-old preschoolers. Come to think of it, I don’t remember ever seeing any of the children hold hands, and this was only a couple of years before the pandemic.
I wonder what the world would be like if we—especially our children—held hands more often?
I took a moment to do a Google search, and this is what I found out:
"Holding hands has profound, scientifically proven benefits for both your physical health and emotional well-being. According to neuroscience and touch biology research published by institutions like The Washington Post and The British Columbia Medical Journal (BCMJ), the simple act of intertwining fingers triggers immediate, positive changes in the human nervous system."
There are neurological & stress benefits, it reduces blood pressure, spikes oxytocin, fights loneliness, communicates safety, builds a powerful sense of belonging, dampens pain perception, and eases medical and cognitive agitation.
All of this from simply holding hands. Isn’t it incredible?
I recognize that changing the stereotypes around holding hands—or changing mass behaviors among adults and children—is nearly impossible. But through all of this, I’m actually not suggesting that we need to change the world’s relationship with handholding. Here is what I do want to suggest:
Life is short, and it can move by quicker than we want. So hold hands with someone you love, not just for a puny five seconds, but for a meaningful couple of minutes. You don’t need to speak or make it weird. Just enjoy the wonderfully human connection and togetherness this simple gesture creates.
God is so good sometimes — I was just wrapping this newsletter up, and these songs came on. I leave you with Whitney and Michael!
Event: Intentional Vinyl with Rachel Benton and The Dare to Love Project
Did you know that my family and I have a 501(c)(3) charitable organization called The Dare to Love Project?!
Founded in 2014, our non-profit exists to empower others to shine by providing respite & encouragement for caregivers, both locally at our Respite Haven, and globally, on outreach trips [see who we consider a caregiver towards the bottom of this section].
Locally, our efforts include hosting a variety of events, like this new series we are introducing:
Intentional Vinyl with Rachel Benton and The Dare to Love Project is exactly what it sounds like: a night where we all come together to enjoy the simplicity of listening to records, and bask in the power of music.
This month, there will be two of these events:
Snacks & Beverages provided.
Donations appreciated but not expected.
Message hosts for address.
Who do we consider a caregiver?
A person who provides physical, emotional, and/or practical support to someone unable to fully care for themselves. Whether you are a loved one or a professional choosing to focus on improving the quality of life for another, we hope to provide you with a bit of a repose to allow you to fill up so you can continue to pour out for others.
This Week in the Arts
I will be publishing three pieces in my JOLT Column including:
Review: Harlequin Productions’ ‘Our Town’
Terry Shaw and His Band Play and Discuss the Music of Billy Joel
Speaking with Guest Performer Calder Failla about the Olympia Symphony Orchestra
I will be publishing these articles under Rachel’s Choice:
My day job was very busy last week. If you need me, I will be napping, sipping tea, snacking, watching comfort or Halloween shows, or all the above. See you next week!
To read my articles as they come out, I invite you to subscribe to The JOLT News and follow me on Instagram and Facebook, then invite a friend to do the same! :)
If you read a story that inspires you, I invite you to share it with others and help spread the word about the incredible things happening in the Thurston County Arts Community.
Other Fun Things This Week
For the Record: ‘The Goonies’ Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
Getting in ‘The Zone’: ‘The After Hours,’ Season 1, Episode 34. Watch in advance.
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