Unhuggable: Losing What We Didn't Know Could Be Lost

Last year, our world flipped upside down. Masks were needed, businesses were shutting down, Zoom was thriving, schools went virtual, plans were canceled. It was the apocalypse, and everyone was worried and scared.

We could no longer see our family and friends in person. We could no longer see them every day. We could no longer hug them, comfort them. We could no longer be there for them, as we could risk infecting them, potentially killing them.

2020 was the start of something that would disrupt our lives forever. When we needed hugs and support more than ever, we were unable to give them, to receive them. We could no longer see our loved ones--aside from the occasional Zoom--and we could no longer touch them.

Touching, and hugging is a big part of American culture. Sad? You need a hug. Happy? You need a hug. Suffer a failure? Let me hug you and whisper reassurances, you’ll get them next time. Achieve an accomplishment? Let me give you a congratulatory hug. Hugs are a way of letting someone know you’re there, you love them, it’s all going to be okay. Things of comfort, things of pride.

But the coronavirus had taken that away from us. Something so ingrained in our culture was gone in an instant. Something so sacred, suddenly shunned. The norm, now odd and unusual. Thank you, COVID, for taking something we didn’t even know we could lose.

Worldwide replacement tactics were spread nearly as fast as the virus itself. Air-hug, self-hugs, embracing pillows/cushions, squishing the life out of pets, and hugging your camera during a Zoom call were some of the most common substitutes. But none of them worked as well as a true, real hug. None of them gave us the comfort we were so desperately in need of.

But there is light at the end of this long tunnel of pain and sadness. High-risk people, which includes grandparents and medical workers, are getting their vaccine shots, and their long-overdue welcome-home hugs. Hugs from their grandchildren. Hugs from their parents. Hugs from their family.

Nothing feels as good as sinking into loving arms after such a hard year. Nothing feels as good as holding a loved one after not being able to for so long. Nothing feels as good as a hug. The pandemic took something of great value, and we’re on the track of getting it back.

Keep wearing masks, schedule vaccine appointments as soon as you are able. The sooner we can knock off COVID-19, the sooner we can hug someone, the sooner we can bring back a forgotten practice of love.