Have you hugged anyone today? A visiting alumn asked for permission to "hug" me this afternoon. She also told me how much she missed the expressions of platonic affection between students that had been so common when she was in school, how the students would tell their friends that they loved them and prayed for them and how that was absent from her day in college.
In our busy lives it can be all too easy to allow our love for our family and friends to go uncommunicated on a daily basis. Even worse, we can allow a small frustration to get in the way of our demonstrating our unconditional love.
Some cultures are so much better than others at expressing emotions; I readily acknowledge that the British are particularly bad at sharing their feelings. On the contrary however, in some cultures the customary display of "fake" affection is so commonplace that it is difficult to distinguish between the real and the rote.
How about this simple resolution? Every day you will reflect upon your love for your family and your friends and commit one conscious act of communicating your affection to at least one person. It may be as simple as a text or note on the refrigerator or as planned as "quality time" together. With one small act you will enrich your life and theirs.
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