Free hugs

Meera
You have written an excellent blog... Free Hugs. This is really important in life.. the warmth you can convey the affections.. Sometimes it might not come easy to hug outsiders.. also many cultures who greet with a hug do so by an impersonal hug.. a form of greeting. Its apparent the manner in which they hug. But those who hug close friends family etc you can see the warmth conveyed in the body language itself.. Our family hugs everday.. we cannot imagine not being hugged by one or the other..
Thanks for writing on this great topic! The Oprah information is also useful to know.

Dear Meera,

You are so right. We Indians are rather conservative where physicalities go. A slight nod or a namaste is all that most of us can muster while greeting someone. And if that someone is a stranger or a passer by, even that is hard to come by!

I was very young and just married and we were on our first vacation in Europe. There was this slightly older Canadian couple (as compared to us) who were holidaying at the same place and for some reason took a liking to us. I can to this day sense my embarrassment when this guy gave me a bear hug and a kiss on my face! I sought my hubby's eyes in desperation to be calmed by his indulging look...

It took some time for me to come to terms with this form of greeting. Ofcourse, today I am a far cry from that very innocent me....'cause, now I don't hesitate to give bear hugs myself...(provided I want to!!)..

But... when in Rome, do as the Romans do...is my advice. I also had the embarrassment of stretching my hand out for a shake in India and the gentleman gave me a 'namaste' instead. So, what do you do!

Hugs to you on making it to the FP of the month!

L, Kamla

HI
Munnabhai is indeed a nice movie and the Jaddu ki jhappi is miraculous...Even science says so. Giving and receiving Hugs, affectionate touches make us feel cared, valued and help to relieve stress. many a times we can show our love to people by just a simple bear hug rather than expressing it in words...

Hugging is a wonderful thing, I hug my friends when we meet but even I am apprehensive about hugging strangers.

>>hugs<<

Originally Posted by shanvy

meera,

Hugs say a lot when words cannot convey. we are a very expressive family.

Irrespective of being in a public place my ds hugs me.

I used to have a neighbour, whose husband used to scold the son if he hugged his mother. you are not supposed to show any physical expressions.

If i am close to a person, i don't mind giving hugs.

Shanti,

Physical gestures are not a part of our culture.But whenever there is an informal gesture of hug or a firm handshake it lifts our spirit. I too don't have any problem in
hugging and kissing my daughtey in public.

Yes if we are close to a person we can give hugs.

And since you are one of the earliest persons I interacted with in IL ,if you don't mind

Hugs to you

meera

Originally Posted by malspie

Hi Meera,

I welcome my friends by giving them a warm hug right at the door be it a man or woman. They are my friends and a warm bear hug makes you feel at ease. Come to my home and you will have many jadu ka jappi.

Hi Malspie,

Welcome here..Wow a bear hug is a wonderful gesture!!!. Thank you for inviting me and a jadu ki jhappi for you too.

meera

Originally Posted by Devika Menon

Dear Meera ,

Lovely post. A hug can do wonders for the two people involved, gives a feeling of belonging and I guess as human we crave for that feeling . We also feel very secure when we are hugged and greeted rather than the mere handshake, which though physical yet so aloof. Yes but we have to see the level of comfort between people in question.But yes like they say hugging, cuddling physical contact does wonders for the growh of a child ,so also it works wonders for the relation between adults , It intensifies the feeling of belonging that is welcome irrespective of any age , after all affection is a craving in all of us!

Loved your post Meera.Thankyou for bringing it here!

Love,
Devika

Dear Devika,

Thank you yaar for your lovely comments here. True that it depends on the level of comfort between people . It is a wonderful gesture to make someone feel at home.

No matter what a mother does her kid will always remember the touch ,the hug more than anything else.So I give make sure I give my daughtey a lot of kisses and hugs all the time.I too need that from her.

love and hugs

meera

Originally Posted by Bhiku Mhatre

Meera : A good post, show of affection through hugs really does make a difference, like the movie a person melts at the show of affection and it appears that all the problems have temporarily disappeared.

Mhatre Bhau,

Thank you for stepping in here.

Kind gestures can really make a person feel wanted.Truely said, it can make all the problems vanish for the moment.

Hugs or handshakes ,take any thing you are comfortable with.... from me.

meera

Originally Posted by maithreyi

Hi Meera,

Nice post.

I too enjoy both vasool raja and munnabhai. I too like jaadu ki jappi. But I do hesitate to hug who are not closer to me. I give lots of hugs to my kids. Especially when they were in teens they too needed those affectionate hugs. They got so much solace from those hugs. Now even though they passed thro' that age they feel comfort in my hugs.Hugging is a part of touch therapy and this touch therapy can do wonders in our relationship with one another. After all we are all human beings who yearn for affection.

Hi Maithreyi,

Thank you for writing in here. You are a wonderful mother to shower affectionate hugs on your kids.They need them.

No, kids never can have enough of those,even when they are grown up and taller than us,they may show us that they are embarassed ,sometimes,but I am sure they will love it and want it. Lovely words from you.

Hugs

meera

Originally Posted by anandchitra

Meera
You have written an excellent blog... Free Hugs. This is really important in life.. the warmth you can convey the affections.. Sometimes it might not come easy to hug outsiders.. also many cultures who greet with a hug do so by an impersonal hug.. a form of greeting. Its apparent the manner in which they hug. But those who hug close friends family etc you can see the warmth conveyed in the body language itself.. Our family hugs everday. we cannot imagine not being hugged by one or the other..
Thanks for writing on this great topic! The Oprah information is also useful to know.

Dear Anandchitra ma'm

Thank you so much for your kind comments and for nominating this blog.You have "hugged me" by your gesture and I feel very very good. It is a great thing to express through touch and gestures,very happy for your family and friends who get your hugs everyday.

Our family too expressive. It is a basic thing for us to hug and something which we cannot do without on any day. Although it is not easy to hug outsiders, some gesture to break the ice,to make the person feel at home is very important and yet we find it missing most of the time.I love the adorable Oprah.She is great.

thanks and hugs to you

meera

Originally Posted by anandchitra

Meera
You have written an excellent blog... Free Hugs. This is really important in life.. the warmth you can convey the affections.. Sometimes it might not come easy to hug outsiders.. also many cultures who greet with a hug do so by an impersonal hug.. a form of greeting. Its apparent the manner in which they hug. But those who hug close friends family etc you can see the warmth conveyed in the body language itself.. Our family hugs everday.. we cannot imagine not being hugged by one or the other..
Thanks for writing on this great topic! The Oprah information is also useful to know.

Dear Anandchitra ma'm,

Thank you so much for your kind comments and for nomination this blog.You have 'hugged me' with this gesture and I feel very very good.Thank you.Touch and gestures can do what words cannot.Very happy for your family and friends who get your hugs everyday.They must be feeling great.

In our family too it is like breathig for us, something which we cannot do without.Even though in our culture it is different.some gesture is necessary to make a person feel comfortable,atleast a namaste ,a good handshake, which is missing most of the time.

Glad you like the link on Oprah show.Thanks and hugs to you.

meera