Endearments Enliven and Enrich Everyday life !

I am sure you will all agree that the essence of life revolves around what we mean to others. Feelings are the language of the heart and will be heard only when expressed.

We need not be poets or great writers. But an endearment from a parent, spouse, child or a friend does give us a new lease of energy, as though! It destresses one completely and restores to us the feeling of being wanted, even if our mind is at its lowest ebb.

I am very well aware, this is not a common practice in our culture – particularly South Indian culture. We are, undoubtedly, an inhibited lot! It is not easy to break out of our self-imposed shackles and be more liberal with our gestures and words.

Our stress in everyday life is never ending with work pressure, family problems, financial constraints… the list is endless. Our commitments go on increasing and we get little or no time to care and get cared for.

I recently read in a survey report that one hug a day beats stress! Having lived all my life in Chennai, I cannot vouchsafe for this statement, you know why! In India, hugging is considered still a Western concept. If friends who hug each other belong to the opposite sexes, many conclusions are drawn by the onlookers. Many are still skeptical to accept, hugging as a simple gesture. In our country we hug our children till they are around ten years old or so. Thereafter hugging becomes occasional even with our own children.

Our health issues increase more because people do not have time for their near and dear ones. They are caused more because of our emotional bankruptcy. Most of our psychological problems do not need a counselor. By talking to a close friend, we can often get a solution and gestures like hugging, patting and holding hands play a major role in beating stress. The problem may not be solved but we feel more reassured in mind. The psychologists declare with statistics to prove how human touch reduces stress, but in our society an act like hugging which should be spontaneous requires reasons and explanations, very often!

I am sure you will all remember Kamalahasan’s “katti pidi vaidyam” in the movie Vasool Raja!
Even Bollywood popularised this concept of calming down people with “jaadu ki jhappi” in the movie Munnabhai MBBS.

Now, coming to our country, rather the Indian context, to be more precise, let us at least become more liberal with endearments, unique to human beings. Let us no more be prudes, but accept that a simple endearment like, My Dear, My love, My sweetheart or in Tamil, Kanna, Thangam, Chellam etc just lifts up our morale!

There is no magic in any of these words, but each word is magical for sure!

Do you agree with me, my dear friends?

Love,
Chithra.

 

that we have changed that much, well.......
My generation has more prudes undeniably. Even V will get a shock if I hug a friend, not that he will bother least. But I will be springing a surprise definitely on him !
My grand daughters, hug me when they enter our house as well as, when they leave. But never will Ruby or Kumar do it. The only explanation is, old habits die hard, however much we want to change !
Believe me, AC, all my life, I have received endearments only now & ofcourse that too from ILites ! That was what prompted me to write this blog !
Love,
Chithra.

 

Your house seems to be typical of the present generation & very nice for a change !
That is because you & Veda belong to the generation next to me.
I fully agree that a tight squeeze of the hand from a friend, particularly when we are a wee bit low, gives us such a reassurance.
I really want to shed my inhibitions, but not easily done , much as I would like to !
Love,
Chithra.

 

You said it right that a touch can convey much more love & friendship than words.
Yes, some can express themeselves very beautifully which is very endearing !!
Love,
Chithra.

 

now with you - we met just recently. Why did'nt you give me a hug ? Do I look the stiff type or is it the oldie syndrome that made you hold yourself ?
Well, next time, we meet you, a hug from me is a promise. Be prepard !!
Ofcourse, your Chithu is equally endearing, J !
Love,
Chithu.