I am a hug-o-holic. OK, maybe it's not quite an addiction, but physical contact is important to me, whether it be hug or hand shake (unless it's one of those 'wet fish' kind of hand shakes ... if that is the only option, I can happily stick to contact of the eye variety.) Apparently, this might be an adoption related thing. There are plenty of studies that show how important 'bonding' is in those first hours of life, not to mention physical affection throughout a baby's first year … and I won’t even get INTO the whole impact of not being breast fed. Geez. With all of these reasons (and I am sure there are plenty of others about which I have no idea) my craving for physical contact MUST be because I’m adopted …

Except that I don’t buy that theory. Some people like it. Some people don’t. There are plenty of those who are not adopted who love physical contact and affection, just as there are plenty of adoptees who are a bit creeped-out if you even put a hand on their shoulder, and vice verse. Personally, I just like a good hug or a warm squeeze on my arm by an understanding friend or a slap on the back from a colleague. These things don't just feel good, they keep me feeling close to people.

Let’s face it: we are living in a cynical world. It is so easy to be convinced that human beings are a rogue species, hopeless and disturbingly destructive. Looking around on the “big scale,” at “the masses” and the sleep walking patterns that they seem to tread, I often get the sense that we are de-evolving just when things could and perhaps SHOULD be getting better, more interesting. All of the madness going on around the world increasingly has the tang of conspiracy or at the very least smacks of hypocrisy, but just who the conspirators and hypocrites are gets blurrier all the time.

And then, as I begin to think, “OK, that’s it. I’ve had enough. Most people just aren’t worth the effort,” I meet someone who moves me, another who makes me smile in spite of myself. I read or watch a clip of someone who hasn’t given up and does change the world, make it better one way or another, if even in a very small way.

This is exactly what happened one day when I had a bad case of the blues, combined with some mean reds and a lighter shade of pale. A very dear friend, whose instincts for when I need a cheering-up are always spot-on despite the 10,000+ miles that are geographically between us these days, sent me the link that I am now passing on to you.

It made me smile. It reminded me that a small thing can can also be a big thing. It reminded me that some seemingly silly something can be an incredible inspiration, disguised. It even somehow gave me an affection fix.

I hope this makes you feel, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vr3x_RRJdd4



Oh, one or two more things:
Being that I am a bit far off the beaten path and haven’t got a full sense of what makes the circuit when these days, it is possible that you have all seen this video a gagillion times and are thinking, “Um, HELLO? Isn’t this a little ten minutes ago?” I apologize and yet… it can't hurt you a bit to watch something nice twice. But do feel free to give me a good ribbing for being behind the times … I can take it!

And if you believe that openness to affection is related to being adopted, please let me know how you do at playing “Identify the Adoptees” as you watch the video. Enjoy!