Something I’ve noticed this week is how much more comfortable people are with public displays of affection. At the beach, couples are holding each other in the water and lying on each other’s chests on a towel. But it’s not just at the beach.
All of Will’s soccer coaches are very touchy- messing up a kid’s hair when they say hello, placing hands on shoulders to cheer them up after a mistake, lots of high fives and hugs to say hello.
Also, when you get a new haircut, everyone at school will come rub your hair in a playful way. Colin experienced this first, but he said it’s done in a funny, playful manner. It’s not “ahhh your hair looks awful!” kind of attention. Will showed up to soccer practice just now (where I’m writing this) with a fresh haircut, and at least five boys have already sauntered up to him playfully like, “Lemme feel the back!”.
I had a meeting with a psychologist, and he kissed me on both cheeks (a standard greeting, even to strangers) and gave me a huge hug at the end of our session. And it was the opposite of creepy or too forward- it was a simple display of human kindness.
I personally love it. But it’s definitely different, and I imagine some people might feel uncomfortable.
The faded haircut all the boys have here.
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