Hugs aren't Harmful

This week marks the 1st anniversary of COVID. Suddenly each one of ours’ world changed and the whole world was confined into four walls. Let us pause for a while in silence in the memory of all those who could not survive this battle and be thankful for all those who made it to the other side. If you ever feel you are not lucky, just remember, there is a mother who lost her young son, a husband who lost his wife, a child who lost a parent, and a sister who lost her sibling. If you do not fall in any of the above, consider yourself beyond lucky. Let us all appreciate what we have around us and Thank God for making us survive through this and let us be gentler to those who are grieving through huge personal losses.

I know of a friend who lost his mom and could not go and meet her during her last days. He just had one regret, he wished he could hug her one last time. He did not remember when was the last time that they hugged. He was brought up to believe that it is weak to express emotions. All that he ever wanted to tell his mom was written in the Eulogy. This same note could be a letter or a conversation or a tight hug or kiss and not a eulogy. We take people around us for granted. We feel that they are going to be around us forever and why to do a display of our feelings. A lot many of us are brought up in a very distinct environment where a free display of emotions is not acceptable. It makes you look vulnerable. However, I beg to differ, only a strong can love a person beyond himself, it takes strength to show your emotions at times knowing that you would not receive the same back. But it is those tender moments that you will remember when that person is not around you.

Here is the story of another friend who also lost one of her parents. She was incredibly sad and broken and she too could not meet her dad one last time, however, she had a great relationship with her dad. They had countless memories together and one thing she told me which brings tears to my eyes even while writing it, she said and I quote:” I am grateful for all the fun times that we had as a family, today, when I am sad and I cry and miss my dad, I can feel the same warmth of his hugs, the way he used to hug me when we were together.” She too misses him, but she has great memories with her and memories which she can relive and feel, and they provide her strength during these testing times. Do not take hugs lightly. You will only value the energy and the warmth of the person’s hug when they are not around you anymore.

My point is why wait for that day. There are two ways to live life: one is, “I wish I did it” and the other is: “I am glad I did it”. I live my life by the latter. COVID has proved that life is too short to regret our decisions. Showing off your emotions would not make you weak, although bottling them up will make you heavy. Fly effortlessly like a bird and go with the flow and take chances.

 If you love someone, do not be afraid to show and care, hug them, make them happy, make them feel loved, you never know when it would be the last time. Call your friends often and enjoy yourself freely. In the end, we are all the directors of our own movie and make sure we create a blockbuster and Say: I AM GLAD I DID…