Hugging is healthy. It’s invigorating, rejuvenating & has no unpleasant side effects. It’s nothing less than a miracle drug. –Author Unknown
There are still families who are in the habit of hugging and they are usually the families that continue to be pretty close and tight-knit. There are certain countries that are traditionally into physical contact when greeting one another like in southern Europe, and others who are so used to zero contact, even in a family setting such as in Japan.
I remember having been away for several years without seeing my family, brother and sister and parents and upon returning from Italy and South America I was met with a hand shake from my brother and father. I thought, this is weird and just grabbed them and gave them a big hug and it sort of freaked them out at first. I witnessed the same thing in the London Airport when family and relatives would arrive from a long trip having been away for years and they were met with a formal handshake.
My sister is a very affectionate woman and in her family they are all very affectionate the one with the other and are always so concerned about each other. It is a very inspiring environment to be in. They are a mixed family as my brother-in-law is from Iran where they are pretty affectionate in their culture. I find it important to show affection to those around you, of course it doesn’t mean that I think everyone should go around hugging any and everyone they see, but it is amazing how walls seem to come tumbling down with a simple show of affection, a touch or sincere hug!
My wife is also a real huger! She will hug people that she first meets here in Italy and even they are a bit shocked when they meet her, but they are also drawn to her in a very special way. People she hardly knows will begin to confide in her and call on her when they are going through things as they tend to feel a special connection. I believe they can sense that she sincerely cares about them. Hugging does give a message that you are there for someone it has a chemical reaction within you that inspires closeness and works real miracles!
We tend to be inhibited in our outward show of affection as we are afraid of mixed signals being given when we hug. We are afraid that the other will think we have ulterior motives or want more than just a simple show of affection. It is a fact, there are a lot of perverted individuals in the world who do have ulterior motives, but this should not ever be reason to stop us from giving that needed hug. When someone is coming on to you in a sexual manner, you can usually sense that pretty quickly and can put a stop to it. But this should not give us reason to stop all hugging and affection! Have you hugged someone today? Don’t you enjoy a warm hug from time to time?
