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The Power of A Hug
by: Ricardo Carlos
Castro Yan
I used to consider
myself a very 'un-touchy' person. By that, I meant that I was not used to
being physically malambing with anyone, except for my dog. But, my
dog died about 6 years ago, thereby making me very 'un-touchy' for quite
sometime. But about a year back, I learned something important from a very
good friend. He taught me the power of a hug. Prior to that, I thought
hugging people was for sissies. now, when I look back at the way I
thought, I think I should call myself the sissy, because I failed to
recognize what might probably be the most important weapon that the human
spirit could ever possess.
Did you know that a hug
could express more words than a Webster dictionary? Did you know that a
hug has the ability to melt a heart of stone? Did you know that a hug
could break any barrier of hatred? Or any ill feeling? Or even a feeling
of depression?
These are just some of
the millions of descriptions that can attest to the po
wers of hugging.
Ever since my friend exposed me to this world of hugging, I can safely say
that I've become a better person afterwards. Almost instantaneously, my
'un-touchy' self became a very malambing and cariņoso
person. Even I couldn't believe the sudden transformation. From that point
on, I knew that the power of a hug was definitely a force to reckon with.
I'ts been overa year now since I started my 'hugging frenzy', so to speak. Those who are in the same frenzy would know what I mean when I say that hugging is both addicting and euphoric. The feeling that one gets when he or she hugs peopleand shows them that they are loved could be so oceanic and indescribable, that he/she would want to keep that feeling within him/her forever. And the only way to do that is to keep hugging people. Honestly, it's quite cool once you get the hang of it. Personally, I think it's a convenient way of telling a girl you love her, without having to cringe and gather enough guts to actually say it. (Torpe kasi ako, eh.)
Allow
me to share with you one of my 'hugging experiences with a kid who, by the
way, is the reason for my writing this article. It happened on the morning
of December 11, 1999, somewhere inside Robinson's Galleria. There as an
orphan's day that was scheduled, and the PINOY YAN foundation (the
foundation which I am presently part of), was invited to conduct a program
for the kids. Now these kids are very, very special children,
currently under the care and supervision of Bantay Bata of the ABS-CBN
Foundation. The program included singing, dancing, storytelling, fun and
games, and even a gift giving session at the end of everything. Somewhere
in the middle of the program, just when lunc is about to be served, I had
to make my humble exit due to another commitment. But before leaving, I
helped the other members of the foundation in distributing the lunch. It
was in the course of handing out the food that I came across Danilo, a
battered 11-year old child. As I gave the packed lunch to him, he
complimented the gesture with a very meek 'thank you' without looking at
me. Well, I said a hearty 'you're welcome!' and then kneeled down to ask
his name, plus a couple of questions more. But I noticed that no
matter how many questions I'd ask, I could seem to get through to him.
Maybe it was because of the memoirs of a dark past, or the disparity of
age, or maybe because he did not know that people loved him. Somehow, my
'hugging frenzy' went to work again, and I gave 11-year old Danilo a long
hug, just to let him know that someone loves him. Well, do you want to
know what happened next? Man, this will really knock you off your seats. I
was the one who felt loved!! Of course, I hope and pray that 11-year old
Danilo felt the love that I showed him, and I would gladly do that again.
But while I was hugging him, I felt this woozy feeling . You know, the
kind that you get when you think of someone and end up smiling. That one! I
felt that! And after that, all I could say was, "Man, God sure does
work in mysterious ways!" I never thought that the feeling of being
loved could actually come from the person that you least expect. All, the
while, I thought that I was trying to reach out to my young friend. But in
turn, It was he that reached out to me.
I thank God for bringing Danilo into my life. They say that in the heart of every kid, is a portrait of Jesus. well, I found a masterpiece of our God, and I found it in a poor little rich boy... an orphan named Danilo. An if ever this friend of mine is reading this article right now, may I say, "Thank you my friend, for taking time out to set aside your broken heart and fill mine with the love that could have been yours. Thank you, for showing me the power of a hug.
