“Hugging is the most beautiful form of communication that lets the other person know beyond a doubt that they matter to you.”
Y’all, hug your children. Hug your littles, your tweens, your grown children, whosoever is in your home; maybe that means you find a way to “virtual” hug them from afar because they live out of town and you can’t squeeze their neck for real, because of all of this. That’s still showing love, and we need that so dearly now.
Very early this morning, I got wind of the tragic loss of one of my former students and I’m devastated. I look at my son now and am worried about him as a young man. I worry about my daughter with the sensitive soul, who just wants to love everyone and be loved, in return. We live in such a world that makes coping with our troubles a lot more challenging, and many do not know where/how/when to reach out.
Yesterday’s student check-in videos were fun at first, until I got to a handful that sounded so lost, so worried, so out of touch with their “normal.” Some expressed gratitude for their teachers, some admitted that they needed to be connected with their peers to feel like their days were meaningful. I am so thankful for their rawness. It humbled me and taught me more than I could ever teach them. I caught myself speaking to them, as though they could hear my voice, then remembered that they were pre-recorded. After over 50 videos of these comments and sending each one feedback emails, I realized that was my way of hugging them back with words. I cried.
Hug your children.
They need you to, even after you’ve scolded them for eating your last snack, even if they’ve messed up the house, because they are precious and vulnerable and need our love.
Virtually, or verbally, hug your friends, a co-worker, your neighbor, because that’s all you get now. I call this “distance loving,” until we, as a people, can resume “live hugs” again.
When that happens,
I’m hugging the world.
~Kindred Spirit~ 3.21.20
Kindred Spirit: A Journey 