Day 203
12/4/22
Hugs are so heartwarming! For all the huggers out there, a friendly embrace simply makes you feel loved.
My Goldens give the best hugs! When they are not actively seeking "hug victims" on their Therapy Dog adventures, they settle for sharing their huggable nature with the humans in their lives. They also must hug, or touch, their doggy siblings as often as they can.
This gift of touch seems to be shared by humans and dogs alike. I have so many friends who missed that interaction during the pandemic days and are now ready to get back to some serious hugging.
Not all people like to be hugged...that is for sure. I have a friend who is NOT a hugger in a big way! When approached, he will actually put his hands out, like two stop signs, and tell you he is NOT comfortable with hugs. I respect that and have learned to connect and share my affection for him in other ways.
I have been heard by those around me to say, "I am a hugger!" I always have been and will continue to be one. When I was teaching at the elementary level, we were told that hugging was not to be encouraged. Since I realized that my students came from many different backgrounds and experiences, I never offered the initial hug. I would always respond when the child initiated it in greeting or when they were sad or scared. Hugging for little people can be just what the doctor ordered!
Hugging for big people can be just as healing...maybe even more so. Last week, at the hospital, Ranger and I stepped into the elevator with two people right at our heels. I asked if they minded riding up with a dog in their midst. The man said not at all while the woman looked at me, opened her arms and started to cry. I went right in for the hug! Without a word, they stepped out on 2nd floor with Ranger and myself close behind. There was a second round of hugging and even Ranger joined in! It turned out that the wife was one of my first students way back when I was an elementary teacher. She had recently lost her mother and I, somehow, triggered the reaction. We spent a few moments remembering her sweet mom and then, after more hugs and a promise to stay in touch, Ranger and I continued on up to 4th floor. That hug was necessary.
My pups certainly love to hug in their own doggy way. They rarely put their arms around anyone (they have been know to do it in some circumstances.), but they certainly have other ways to share their love. Hugging with their heads, leaning on someone's leg, placing their paws around a senior friend's feet and a plethora of other means always lets the recipient know they have been hugged...at least metaphorically.
Now, even though I am a hugger at heart, I try to read body language and facial expressions before I move in with my open arms. Nobody has pushed me away yet, but my chances of rejection are probably much higher than my Goldens being rejected. If anything, in Therapy Dog visits, people will ask for more hugs from the pups...and they will receive just that!
