“Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”
– Leo Buscaglia

What popped out to me when I read this quote, was the mention of the power of touch. Since March 2020, when the pandemic was officially declared and the interaction of people became forever changed, I have experienced a huge void in the area of personal touch, mainly hugs, but also the touch I received while joyously contra dancing.

Living alone has always been a challenge to getting a sufficient amount of touch for good health—except when I attended 12 Step meetings and my need to give and receive hugs was always easily satisfied. Now during these unique times, I have had to make an even more concerted effort to at least be in some sort of contact socially with people. That has been mainly through online classes and meetings, texts, and emails. But of course, none of those are physical in nature. Thank heaven for my Teddy (bear)!

At my spiritual center, hugs are the norm even during these times. I made the decision last weekend that I would participate and let others know I was open since I’m one of the few folks who wears a mask regularly. It’s a start.

Whilst in these crazy, unprecedented times I continue to hang on to hope. Belief in a power greater than myself enables me to do so and the two are inextricably intertwined. Spirit is abundance, wholeness, goodness, love, and much more. In the mix of all that, there are hugs.

In the meanwhile, I will not underestimate the positive impact I can have on others in numerous ways. I trust that as I smile behind my mask, people will know by my twinkling eyes I’m smiling at them and be uplifted.