Living in a World Deficient in Hugs

Uncut Poetry

There was an incredible experiment done years back where children were put into two batches - one where they were out in the care of nurses who cuddled and hugged and caressed them regularly. And in the other batch none of the nurses cuddled the infants. They were efficient but cold, caretakers not care givers. And they tracked the children as they grew. The results were startling to say the least - the former children grew up to be be emotionally stable and balanced kids, and the other batch had children who didn’t fit, and often turned out to be disruptive and rowdy. The truth of the experiment has not diminished, and it’s truth has been revealed time and again to not be restricted to infants only. If nothing else, it’s importance has increased manifold in today’s manic world, where nobody has time for anybody. And in our rush for deadlines and accomplishments, we forget that our souls require nourishment which is often found in such humdrum things as companionship and embrace, attention and listening. Small physicalities like a hug, a caress, a kiss, often do more to well-being than any medicine can. Seers of all ages have mulled over questions of life and purpose, and time and again have come to the conclusion that all that we achieve is often of no meaning if our lives is bereft of human connection. Because rewards lose their glamour, we as people lie diminished, if we are not able to externalize the ecstasy inside us. Just as grief lies reduced when spoken about, joy multiples on sharing. And in that small homily lies the kernel of the final fulfilment a person can seek - or get. If you liked this poem, consider listening to these other poems on the power of touch:

• Gather Me
• This: One Grace
• She Held His Hand As He Drifted

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Subscribe to my incandescent and poetic newsletter The Uncuts here - https://theuncuts.substack.com. Following is the music used in this episode - Music: Liberty Quest by Sascha Ende
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/293-liberty-quest
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Music: The Way To Kataka by Sascha Ende
Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/11-the-way-to-kataka
Licensed under CC BY 4.0: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license