Let's write about "hugs"

Subtitle to this blog:  "Learn more about hugging".

Although one can reasonably expect to receive an instructional journal about how to cross the Atlantic Ocean in a row boat in, "Just Keep Rowing: Lessons from the Atlantic Ocean", by Katie Spotz and Mark Bowles, the surprise enjoyments are much more inspirational than the book's cover describes. To use a metaphor, you cannot judge this book by it's interesting cover.

Katie might have subtitled this particular journal entry published on page 227, as "Just Keep Hugging"

In 2010, Katie Spotz became the youngest person to row a boat across the Atlantic Ocean, entirely alone. Readers can re-live her journey in Just Keep Rowing,  In reality, this is a lovely self-empowerment book written by Katie Spotz and Mark Bowles, with 70 life lessons that parallel the number of days Katie spent alone at sea, while rowing across the Atlantic Ocean. 

During her journey, Katie learned many vital life lessons from the Atlantic. As she found out, an ocean is a great teacher about the meaning of life. Katie became its student, sometimes reluctantly but often enthusiastically, and she communicates these lessons because she believes they can be valuable for everyone. From students to business executives, and to people just wanting to find new ways to live life to the fullest, these lessons from the Atlantic will help readers to see the world from a new perspective.

"A hug is always the right size," Winnie the Pooh

Most important, the purpose of this Atlantic rowing challenge was to draw attention to the number of people in the world who will never know Katie Spotz by name, but who she wanted help by raising awareness about the importance of providing them with clean water.

One of the many inspiring lessons taught while Katie just kept rowing was about the importance of "hugging". Maybe, it's more accurate to say, the importance of being hugged.  

This is how she describes this experience. "One thing this row has reinforced for me is how special some people are.  My sister is one of those people for me. We really can and do enter our own little world where our souls sort of mystically entwine. What is the natural response when that happens?  Joy and laughter, the sound of life being lived right.  That's why I want her to be the first person I hug when I reach land."

Perhaps I had forgotten how much hugs matter in life.  Hugs were something I could not pack along with my Clif bars.  I really never thought about what being devoid of hugs for 70 days might mean for my psyche.  I can tell you now, that it's hard.  An embrace with a loved one is a gift of life we need to enjoy many times a day.  The problem is that we sometimes take hugs for granted, much like a handshake. But, they are fare more than that. They are that brief moment when two people open their arms in a sign of vulnerability compassion, love and welcome. Entwining arms with another person brings our inner lights together. Think about two candles, burning apart from each other. What happens when you bring them together and and the two flames unite?  The single point of light becomes much brighter. That's how it feels when my sister Maggie and I hug. As I said, in my letter to mom. The first hug will be remembered forever."

"This is the lesson the Atlantic Ocean is teaching me today:  the power of a hug.  This power is not reserved just for a select few.  Hugs are for everyone."

Amen!

Maine Writer post script: I consider some of the the themes described in the beautifully written journal by Katie Spotz, to be analogous to the prose in "Gifts from the Sea", by Anne Morrow Lindbergh, who wrote meditations on youth, and age, love and marriage, peace, solitude and contentment during a brief vacation by the sea