Non-hugging hugs

In prison, we’re not allowed to hug. Just like during this current confinement.

And yet, in prison, we have lived, with our teams, profound moments of celebration, grieving, connection, honoring, acknowledgement, tough transitions, joy of seeing each other, as well as of wishing well when we leave. Outside of prison, these would naturally be accompanied by a hug. But not in prison.

So, I’ve learned to hug without hugging.

I allow my heart to emit all the same care, support and love that I give when I hug someone. I allow my eyes to provide the same. All without the arms.

Having perfected this in prison, I realized that I’ve been hugging without hugging during this confinement and physical distancing season.

Our prison team also coined the term of “wug,” which stands for a word-hug. A wug is an extremely special experience we share to celebrate a person or all of us. It’s yet another way to hug without hugging.

We adapted to “hug” even within the constraints of not being able to hug. We found ways to share all of our care, support and love without the arms.

Now, find yours.

(Yes, physical touch is important - and I can go on for a while about this - but…) Don’t allow the current constraints to limit the power of your hugs.

Have fun hugging without hugging.

Invitation: Find your way of hugging without hugging. Use your heart, your eyes or other means to express the same care, support and love you do when you place your arms around that same person.

This is part of a series. I realized that I have a unique perspective into confinement thanks to my past 4.5 years engaging several times a week with the world's leading experts on confinement: prison residents. In April, I provided a daily lesson learned in prison that will hopefully help us to survive and even thrive while confined to our homes. Since then, these lessons have been weekly. Go forward and back to enjoy each daily lesson.