Dear Blake,
I have an aversion to being hugged. My mother has told me that even as a baby and toddler I didn’t like being held or rocked to sleep. I just wanted to be put in my bed. Since I have been like this my whole life, I don’t feel there’s anything wrong with me. I do let family I am close to hug me if they wish.
My problem is friends or acquaintances who consider themselves “huggers.” Their right to hug seems to trump my right not to be. When I tell them I don’t want a hug, they press the issue. Over the last two years, our country has been in a pandemic and we have been advised to stay six feet apart — but even then, they still want to do it.
People: If you are “huggers,” please realize that not everyone enjoys it. Always ask first, and if someone says no, respect their right not to have a hug forced upon them. Do you agree?
Signed, Charlotte,
From Depew, New York
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Dear Charlotte,
I agree with you that people should not be invading your private space. But there are certain things you can do to keep them away, that’s almost comparable to a force field. Here are some options. You should stop bathing for about a month, and then attempt to hug the people that in the past, violated your space. Once they get a whiff of you, approaching you will no longer be an option that they’ll ever entertain. Or, do not use mouthwash or toothpaste for about a month, along with regularly eating onions, garlic, and Limburger cheese. Your breath will then produce a fragrance that would repel skunks and Dracula, even if he had a cold. Or maybe this idea. Always carry a in front of you, a long-stemmed rose that has plenty of thorns when the huggers are nearby. And to shield yourself from the thorns just in case someone is dumb enough to hug you anyway, wear some padding under your shirt that will protect you from those pricks. And if none of those work, try this last idea. Hug and squeeze them so tightly that they collapse from the lack of oxygen. And to add to their fear, circulate a list of people that you have on your hit list. I hope this helps.
Blake