Are we hugging again now? How to handle the awkwardness of greeting people

Something surprising happened recently to Mia Schachter, a consent educator, podcaster and intimacy coordinator who founded the school Consent Wizardry. People think ‘I’m a hugger, people will tell me if they don’t want one.’ That’s not going to happen.” There’s one assumption you can keep: If someone is wearing a mask, give them breathing room, says Tamika Lewis, CEO, founder and clinical director of WOC Therapy Inc. “I think this offers a clear sign of someone who’s still wanting to honor their space.” Don’t impose hugs “I think the best thing to do etiquette-wise is just don’t impose hugs on anyone,” says Grotts. You don’t have to grab them and go, ‘Hey, I’m a hugger,’ and make everyone feel uncomfortable.” Also, “if someone says no to a hug, don’t dwell on it, just move on. “I think it’s always good to get a temperature check on people’s comfort level with touch, because it can be a very sensitive issue,” says Lewis. As Schachter says, “If a hug is a way to connect, and the result is making someone feel disconnected and want to be around you less, then it’s antithetical to what you’re doing.”