This morning I had to drop my brother and his buddy off at the airport... (a yearly ritual this time of the year) and I am always a people-watcher. Mostly because there's usually a lot of good looking women at the airport. lol... anyhow, after my brother was escorted to the airside by my mom, I sat by the tram entrance waiting for her to return, and started my typical people-watching thing.
I noticed a lot of different things, but the one thing I focused on were the people that were hugging each other. Some hugs were long, some were short, and some like mine were short hugs with quick pats on the back. Of course, there was the occasional make out session as well. But I started to think about what a hug was really worth... what is its value? To me, the short hugs are a quick way to say "Thanks for visiting. It was good to see you." or something like that. The longer hugs were a way of saying something like "I really love you and will totally miss you." Now, I'm not saying that the others (including myself) with the short hugs won't truly miss their visitor, because that's certainly not the case. I know I will miss my brother. I always do. But what is the real meaning behind a hug?
When you give someone a departing hug... what does it mean to you? What are you trying to say in a non-verbal way to someone when you give them a quick hug? A long one? And of course, there's the hugs that lead to an ass squeeze or a kiss... but those are a little more obvious in meaning. What if this is the last time you get to see the person that you are hugging (even if you may not know it), and maybe you gave them a short, quick hug when maybe you should've given them a longer embrace? How would you feel? Would you think that you should've done something differently?
I think I just may start hugging loved ones a little differently after this morning.
I noticed a lot of different things, but the one thing I focused on were the people that were hugging each other. Some hugs were long, some were short, and some like mine were short hugs with quick pats on the back. Of course, there was the occasional make out session as well. But I started to think about what a hug was really worth... what is its value? To me, the short hugs are a quick way to say "Thanks for visiting. It was good to see you." or something like that. The longer hugs were a way of saying something like "I really love you and will totally miss you." Now, I'm not saying that the others (including myself) with the short hugs won't truly miss their visitor, because that's certainly not the case. I know I will miss my brother. I always do. But what is the real meaning behind a hug?
When you give someone a departing hug... what does it mean to you? What are you trying to say in a non-verbal way to someone when you give them a quick hug? A long one? And of course, there's the hugs that lead to an ass squeeze or a kiss... but those are a little more obvious in meaning. What if this is the last time you get to see the person that you are hugging (even if you may not know it), and maybe you gave them a short, quick hug when maybe you should've given them a longer embrace? How would you feel? Would you think that you should've done something differently?
I think I just may start hugging loved ones a little differently after this morning.