I recently traveled to Honduras and I have never been hugged by such a huge amount of strangers. From little kids to elderly people, I kept getting hugs even though there was a language barrier. I came to the conclusion that hugs are the one thing that people can do to express many different emotions.
Whenever I saw someone for a second time they would still hug me like it was the first time they saw me. No verbal greetings; just arms out wide for an embrace that spoke for itself. It was a great greeting, but it also gave me a sense that I am welcome in their life and in the place we are dwelling in together. They welcomed me with open arms to an area that I am not used to and they wanted me to experience what they do through their eyes. I have never felt so open to a new environment because of the way they eased me into it.
When little kids hugged me it was a completely different story. I noticed they always held on a little longer and a little tighter than usual. They would just say "Hola," embrace me, then move on to the next person and greet them similarly. Even though they greeted every person in my group the same way, it was still special. It meant a lot to me that they had the same genuine happiness to see each and every one of us.
People my age that came to hug me were probably the ones that caught my eye the most. A lot of them would have this cool guy or girl persona with the stylish clothes they wore and the smooth way they walked into the room. However, they would come over to hug me with warmth and genuine care in their eyes. They let their outside fade as their inside shone, all through the action of a hug.
The elderly people that hugged me were so cute. Now, elderly people in general are just so cute and adorable anyway, but when they hug me it is extra special. Again, they couldn't voice that they were appreciative of the service I was doing, but through their hugs I knew they were. They would come in slowly and bring me as close to them as possible. They reminded of my own grandparents that have passed on, so it was an amazing experience to have that feeling again, even if it was from strangers.
As I returned home from my trip, I realized that I don't see people hug on campus. I'm not saying every time you greet someone you have to hug them, but it just seems that people are not interested in having that sort of contact. I feel like if people initiated more hugs people's self-esteem would rise and their moods would brighten up. I know my day was made every time someone came up to give me a hug. A smile was plastered on my face for the rest of the day. I wish everyone could experience that.
So, in conclusion, hug someone once at least every day. It can be a friend or someone that looks they are in need of one. I guarantee that people will have a better outlook on their day and/or week because of it.
