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Will the Corona Pandemic and the practice of Social Distancing leave a lasting scar on us similar to what the Great Depression and the Spanish Flu did to the Greatest Generation?
Social distancing has put hugs on hiatus for a good reason I know but.. will they ever return? My buddy Steve mentioned how awkward it feels now walking through the supermarket… “people avoided me like I was naked”. My sincere hope is when we get passed this virus outbreak that the new normal still has a place for hugs… because I think we all need them to get better and stay healthy.

Hugs send messages of warmth and safety.
And those feelings it turns out, are said to ward off stress and protect our immune system, according to new research from Carnegie Mellon University.

So are there consequences of no hugging?
In a study by Field (2010) they determined that there are definitely negative consequences of too little touch for the socio-emotional and physical well-being in childhood and adulthood.

This need is so strong that the Japanese created a device to allow persons to hug themselves virtually. The Sense-Roid is described as “a mannequin covered in tactile sensors and a tactile jacket with vibration motors and artificial muscles which recreate the feel of a hug” Please say this is not the future!

To be fair… I think those scientists might have stolen the idea from any one of a billion adult toy stores under the name of Dr. Love’s Closet, The Rough House or the Pleasure Chest…

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My Marine Buddies bought me a joke gift they named (Swissie) which I believe is the early non-motorized version of the Sense-Roid when I was being shipped off to the Far East… Marines are so sensitive when it comes to choosing gifts…

I suppose they were concerned that if my plane were to go down while crossing the big pond I might need a life preserver… very thoughtful of them don’t you think? Just to set the record straight though…Swissie never made it to Japan .. I believe she left with one of the other late night party guests…

So to get back to the original question…will our social distancing leave a mark after the Pandemic has passed?. I suppose it’s up to us… the evidence shows hugs do heal..and there are some great hugging healers out there… many among my friends and family …you know who you are… Abby, Phyl and Feza just to name a few…

When this is all over become a healer..… give a hug!

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