May 9, 2006 - Day 7 - Week 5 -
Hugging Is Good
One of the greatest sports
icons of all times lost his dad last week to cancer.
Earl Woods, Tiger’s pop, succumbed after a long
battle. Tiger Woods, perhaps the only golfer who
will ever be described as an amalgam of Bobby Jones,
Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus, is best known for
winning golf tournaments, but perhaps one gesture
more than any other will endear him to fans for
generations to come. Following another major
tournament victory and I believe his first Master’s
victory, Tiger ran off the 18th green to
give his dad the biggest, longest and most genuine
bear hug one could envision. His expression of deep
devotion and love for his dad was symbolized in this
outward and visible sign. A hug heard round the
world and today replayed countless times. Tiger
will miss his dad’s presence at the golf venues, and
perhaps even more, the affection of that giant hug
represented.
Hugging may be the unsung hero
of any wellness strategy. Many psychologists have
warned that in a modern impersonal culture where
technology and cyberspace hold and use up our energy
we need more hugs than ever. The number 12 is
bandied about as sufficient for maintaining a
healthy equilibrium. How many of us get a third of
that a day? Probably very few, but hugs are used at
the Angeles Clinic as part of one’s regular chemo
therapy treatment.
The other day I was dutifully
seated in my ‘barca lounger chair’ waiting to be
plugged in for my 5 hours of drip drip drip.
Nellie, my designated nurse and care giver, gave me
a big hello when she saw me, motioned that I stand
to receive the requisite hug before my treatment
could begin. I wondered if this was a Nellie
attribute, standard operating procedure, or I looked
cute in my designer sweats that I bought at Big 5.
The hug was genuine, mutually beneficial I presume,
and began my ½ day ordeal. Not only was it the
beginning, when I unplugged and was leaving, the hug
was ready and waiting at the door.
Yes, hugging is part of therapy
because I saw another nurse follow the same
procedure. Reflection upon this gave me pause.
As a child I was taught an
apple a day kept the doctor away but outward signs
of affection were not routine in my upbringing.
Hugging mom was sporadic as a practice, but hugging
dad was non existent. Thus, like many I suppose,
hugging has become a learned trait. Some folks are
good huggers, others try as they might remain stiff
and rigid and you might as well be hugging the Tin
Man in the Wizard of Oz. But, alas, we are learning
from role models like Tiger Woods that it is a good
and joyful thing to hug who we love, and hug them
often. Tiger, you will miss your dad, and thanks to
your model I was able to hug my dad many times
before he died.
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