As I attempt to manage my feelings surrounding the changes we are all faced with these days, I have found myself turning to my most reliable coping mechanism: laughter. The benefits of laughter are amazing and super helpful to the body during stressful situations. Chemically, laughter can help with a reduction in cortisol, which is a hormone the body develops when it is stressed. Laughter also increases levels of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, which are neurotransmitters that contribute to experiencing feelings of well-being and happiness.
Lately I have been trying to think of things in the future that will likely be different as we adjust to our changing societal norms due to the Coronavirus. I think greetings are one thing that will likely be different moving forward—shaking hands, high fives, and other friendly gestures are probably not going to be something we’ll feel comfortable with for some time. In addition, smiling or other facial gestures are going to be less effective as people may be wearing face masks in public settings.
So I’ve been asking myself, how am I going to greet people? What does a friendly greeting look like going forward? I’d like to introduce you to my new greeting which I’m calling the “Starfish Hello.” The Starfish Hello consists of abruptly throwing my arms up in a high V formation and legs a little more than shoulder distance apart with fingertip wiggles. It may seem like a funny greeting, and I’m sure I may look kinda silly doing it, but mainly what I want to communicate is that, “I’m so VERY happy to get to see you in person and that you matter to me.” What I won’t be able to communicate through a handshake, high five, or huge smile, I’ll hopefully be able to convey through my “Starfish Hello.”
When I see you next and give you a Starfish Hello, I hope it brings a little laughter to you and also serves as a reminder that being able to see you in person means so much to me. #thinkingofU
Michele Hamilton
Coordinator of Student, Family & Community Services
