Human Contact

I have been making a valiant attempt to get through my mountain of magazines I have stacked up. I have sort of put everything on hold for about six months while I sorted through my brain. Now that the spring cleaning on my grey matter is complete, it's time to work on the house.

I was reading an article in Oprah's magazine about how to say no to things. I kinda had to laugh over a few of them because I have been there. I think we all have. But then I got to one that sort of puzzled me. It was how to stop a social hugger from hugging you.

Now I have to confess, I am not exactly a touchy-feely sort of person. But on the other hand, if someone wants to hug me, why should I stop them? Why is that bad? I didn't even know there was such a thing as a social hugger?

I had to sit and think about this for a minute. It's not uncommon to see women who are just friends holding hands or hugging each other these days. Even men seem to be doing it more. But when you think about it, it's not really surprising. We surround ourselves with electronic "walls" more and more with each passing day. How often do you see people that cut themselves off from the external world because they are listening to an iPod or talking on their phone or typing away on their laptop? No wonder social hugging and displays of affection are so popular.

Maybe people like to hug now because they need the human contact? They need to know that there are people out there that aren't plugged into a gadget and are plugged into them. It's one of the first things we learn to do as children. So if someone wants to give me a friendly little hug, who am I to say no? I think I would be flattered!