In this conversation, Michelle Renee and Janie Michael discuss their experiences as professional cuddlers and the importance of community in their work. They also play a card game called We're Not Really Strangers, which prompts them to share personal stories and memories. Janie shares her journey as a cuddler in different locations, including Oregon, Seattle, and Germany. Michelle reflects on the changes in her practice and the impact of COVID-19. They both discuss their earliest memories of happiness and the healing process in their relationships with their parents. In this conversation, Michelle and Janie discuss their personal experiences with healing and growth, particularly in relation to their relationships with their parents. They explore the importance of communication, vulnerability, and taking responsibility for one's emotional maturity. They also touch on the power of sexuality and the role it can play in healing and self-discovery. The conversation highlights the need to trust oneself, listen to one's body, and engage in ongoing self-reflection and self-care.

Takeaways

• Professional cuddling provides opportunities for deep connection and communication through touch.
• Building a supportive community is important for professional cuddlers, as it allows for networking and sharing experiences.
• COVID-19 has changed the landscape of professional cuddling, leading to shifts in practice and a greater variety of clients.
• Early memories of happiness can shape our understanding of joy and playfulness in adulthood.
• Healing and reconciliation in parent-child relationships can bring a sense of wholeness and closure. Effective communication and expressing one's needs is essential for personal growth and healing.
• Taking responsibility for one's emotional maturity and acknowledging past mistakes is important for building healthier relationships.
• Sexuality can be a powerful tool for healing and self-discovery.
• Trusting oneself, listening to one's body, and engaging in ongoing self-reflection and self-care are key to personal growth and well-being.

Janie Michael is a facilitator for personal transformation and a restorative touch and connection provider. She supports people in transforming emotional baggage and undesirable patterns into sensual aliveness, connection, joy, and empowerment. Additionally, she offers coaching for making intimacy, sex, and relating conscious, fulfilling, and evolutionary. She can be found at: https://intimacycoachjanie.com or email at janie@intimacycoachjanie.com

Michelle Renee (she/her) is a San Diego-based Intimacy Guide and Surrogate Partner. Michelle's website is ⁠https://meetmichellerenee.com⁠ and can be found on social media at @meetmichellerenee.

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