The power of a good hug

As a child, I loved Westerns in particular Spaghetti Westerns. There was something cool about the characters, and Clint Eastwood was as cool as they came. I recall a story that when two strangers met for the first time, unlike in Westerns, they would shake hands as a way of showing good eye contact with someone as well as good posture.

I was also told that this would be followed by a hug – to check if the stranger had any concealed weapons on them. Humans like animals are designed to sense danger.

For me there is something about a hug though that can say and mean so much. I caught up with Jason, our graphic designer earlier in the month in Stamford for our annual planning meeting. It’s always good to see him. The only way to capture that moment was for me to hug him. Like the way we saw Jerry Maguire hug his client Rod Tidwel in the movie, it’s a good “bring it in” moment. Or what happens in the opening scene of Love Actually.

It’s all about connection

Think to a time when you met a friend or family member at the station or at the airport and that feeling of connection comes over you when you hug them.

Or just when you meet someone you’ve arranged to see for a coffee or to go to the cinema. It is such a powerful way to reestablish a bond and reaffirm your relationship. It’s great to do. It’s great to see as well. It’s great to feel. That human connection is a wonderful thing (and thanks to COVID, we all know how hard it is to have that taken away).

There are other times too, when someone is not feeling themselves or just needs some support or has offloaded their problems that a hug can just be the right thing to do. It conveys “I get it”, “I’m here” without any words needed. It might be just the thing to help someone through a tough time. Sometimes in those moments a fresh tissue comes in handy too. The value of a hug can be invaluable.