Are You In Their Space?

I am a hugger, so it was an unnatural lesson for me to learn that hugs are an invasion of personal space for some people.

In short, "personal space" is the comfortable distance between you and another person that you are talking to or standing next to. If someone invades your personal space, it means they are too close to you, and they are making you feel uncomfortable.

I am not sure how we got on the topic, but someone recently shared her thoughts on hugs with me. She is okay with a goodbye hug if she knows she won't see someone for awhile. However, hugs from people she sees regular make her feel uncomfortable.

I had never thought about it, but her explanation got me thinking. I don't like hugs from people that are wet. I also feel uncomfortable when someone talks very close to my face. And I don't like wet kisses from anyone other than my grandkids and dogs. We all have our own personal boundaries based on our own beliefs. But as I learned, people do not know your boundaries, and therefore sometimes invade them. It is up to us to either create distance physically, or express our need for space.

This Week's Focus:

This week, recognize that all of our personal boundaries are different. Be sensitive to the boundaries of others.