Last night while I was waiting at the airport, I had some time to sit and indulge in some voyeurism.
People lined up at the gate and waited for someone. Parents..children...spouses...lovers, friends, brothers...
They fidgeted. They tapped their feet. They tapped their smartphones. They looked around. They sipped coffee and water, their faces betraying their anxiety, eagerness, impatience.
And one by each, as their loved ones came through the doors, wheeling their luggage or pushing a cart, their faces would change, muscles relaxing into smiles, laughing, shouting out to each other, some growing tearful - and I began to notice something.
As soon as they were able, every time - every single time - someone came through the gate to be met by someone else, they made physical contact. Handshake, shoulder clap, hug, kiss, high five, pat on the back - it didn't seem to matter. Men, women, children - the young, the elderly, the middle aged, the teenagers - it seemed like they were all compelled to achieve that physical connection as soon as possible.
They've done studies determining how important physical touch is - the impact it has on mood, self esteem, depression, health - not just for the huggee, but for the hugger as well. And at the end of the day, I guess we not only want it, but we need it. And somewhere in our collective consciousness, maybe we know it. Or maybe it's being largely deprived of touch during your travel and flight times, apart from the lucky few who are treated to a TSA grope or a handsy seatmate. But I really think it goes deeper than that.
We are affiliative creatures by nature. No matter how stodgy or badass or frosty or elsewise impervious my fellow airporters presented themselves to the world, they all wanted that touch. So consider the notion that while you might recognize how you benefit from receiving physical touch, you can also meet the inherent human need of others by simply by making physical contact with them.
It's astonishing and wonderful. And I found the whole thing rather...er... touching.
What a beautiful observation! I'm going to watch for opportunities to make contact with others when I can. I am a sucker for watching people at the airport, too, especially when I catch a reunion between a returning soldier and his or her family. That's my favorite.
ReplyDeleteGreat blog Karyn. Happy I found it and plan to follow it henceforth. Once in Montreal, where our daughter went to McGill, we were going around Old Montreal when we saw a well-dressed scholarly looking man giving hugs for a dollar. Naturally we paid the man and each of us got a nice hug...it does make a difference. That's why as a teacher and principal, if a child wanted to hug me, we hugged. Great observation on your part at the airport. Be well.
ReplyDeleteKaryn, wonderfully written and great observations. I've known about physical contact for many years now. It's one of the favorite parts of my job. Children don't have any reservations, well most of them don't, about giving hugs and showing signs of affection. We all can learn a lot from children. I think it's why I love my job so much! And when I get a parent who doesn't mind the hug .... what a great feeling that is!!
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