National #Hugging day

 



I find it interesting to discover how many days are currently specified to highlight something that should be special every day of the year. 


Today  is National Hugging Day. This event aims to encourage people to hug family, friends, and close ones more often, as hugs are known to have positive effects on mental health. There is some truth in that. It is a part of being human that we need and desire some form of interaction, some kind of message that says "we care". 



This year, unfortunately, hugging is not recommended. Often we do not even recognise others, all that we can see is a mask. The image of the person behind the mask is hard to see, it could be anyone. As for hugging, we cannot get close to anyone.




For nearly 2 years it has been impressed upon everyone to keep at least 2 metres distance from each other. Not even a shake of the hand was deemed to be acceptable. It seems to me ironic in these circumstances that instead it has been encouraged to "fist bump" or to nudge each other with the elbow. Both of these actions require you to be less than 2 metres from each other, and from my perspective appear to be more threatening than a hand shake is intended to be. Indeed the hand shake originates from the day when most would draw the sword with the right hand. The hand shake reveals an open hand, no weapon available to cause a threat. Perhaps a simple wave of the hand would have kept to the same principle of the hand shake.


For some the way forward is the old fashioned way of exchanging cards. Is that the answer to conundrum?




In terms of communication, many even of senior years have been turning more to the computer, making more use of the internet to interact as much as recent rules have permitted. With the use of zoom folks have used their imagination to move forward. For some it has taken the form of virtual coffee mornings with friends. Or perhaps a family gathering where grandchildren and grand parents find ways to vocalise the words "I love you". For those wanting to exercise the brain cells a bit more then they may gather online with friends for a  quiz night.


Clearly we now live in a generation where communication through technology makes it easier than it might have been living in previous generations. Yet, can there ever be a replacement to the innocent form of a comforting hug?


What's your thoughts? Please feel free to comment below


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https://about.me/Jonmagee.author.minister

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