Such seems to be the clamor that spreads in the anxieties of millions of people after the lock of bodily manifestations of affection imposed by the harsh Covid-19 pandemic, now in 2023 when it dawns January 21, International Hug Day.
Since 1986, at the initiative of American Kevin Seborney, from the town of Clío, Michigan, a treat that wins sympathy from followers by thousands around the world.But, be careful, in many regions of the planet outbreaks of new variants of the disease have flourished and in other enclaves, less affected, it is also prudent to use masks and other sanitary measures in between, to embrace the long-awaited affectionate embrace and from the heart withfriends, study or work colleagues, neighbors... in addition to the inevitable link of lovers, who are the ones who have been least able to contain themselves in recent times.
The author of these lines, when writing them, recalled an old song, beautiful and interpreted in an electrifying way by the passionate Cuban singer Martha Strada, whose claim reads: Hold me tight, but very tight and forgive me... It was about an impossible love in which complying with the blissful farewell hug would almost cost the lives of the unfortunate lovers.
Written by Mexican composer and actor Enrique Guzmán, it was a piece that shook listeners of the 60s from the roots and invited them to find a way to put that energizing embrace into practice. Today, some criteria that wield scientific bases, recommend hugs for providing emotional comfort, warmth when it's cold, while stimulating the healthy heartbeat and the healthy functioning of the circulatory system.
I don't know, in Cuba, where it's very hot almost all the time, the natives still like to give each other lots of hugs, maybe that's why they don't take as much care of the effects of global warming as they should. But let's continue with the benefits attributed to hugs: they say that they offer feelings of security, especially to babies and small children and even to big ones.
This also increases feelings of trust.I now understand why many Creoles tend to be very confident when they reach adulthood.The truth is that Cuban mothers are usually very cuddly.Hugs give us other good things, for example, sensations of pleasure, as they stimulate the human brain to secrete dopamine and serotonin, substances with a proven effect on stress reduction.Together they say that they cause calm, serenity and tranquility.There are numerous theories that uphold the exact number of hugs needed daily to feel loved, but we are going to put this issue under a magnifying glass and each one thinks what they want with what they see or feel.
There is no doubt that hugs add warmth and help to express true affection in the most convincing and beautiful way, whatever its nature: filial, paternal, maternal, with a partner, friends and pets. It is true that levels of well-being, optimism and positive feelings such as kindness, generosity, faith, hope and physical and mental health increase.
They cost nothing, except good will, even when they are not motivated by strong love or madness. Nothing more beautiful to start a new year. There are those who go far and recommend embracing with the heart, with beautiful words, when there is distance in between.
Since there are no obstacles to it, we can start hugging each other again in this cold January.
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