Touch

In this house we do hugs, big!! I didn’t grow up with touch beyond my mom and dad. It was a big city. Surrounded by people totally alone. People walk the sidewalks five people deep, you don’t talk, you don’t look each other in the eye and you do not touch.

Fast forward to my own kids, a tiny town and a hugger husband and a best friend that is always hands on. Her hand rests on you while talking, swats at you when she is laughing. Whacks you in the forehead because of the V8 commercial. Best desensitizing therapy around.

So pre Covid, hauling people in for a hug became second nature. Leaning in for conversations. Resting your head on someone’s shoulder, grabbing hands of co workers for a happy dance, no issues, even as a germaphobe! Covid took that, for quite sometime. This was a town of talking to strangers. Elderly people would talk to young ones, people held doors for each other, now nobody wants to even touch the door!

For Christmas we will have to practice smiling with our eyes, speaking up so we don’t have to lean in close. Big waves instead of handshakes, I am back to the wink, air hearts, peace sign and thumbs up. Keep spreading happiness!