09 Jun Holding Paws
Did you know that sea otters hold paws while they sleep so they don’t drift apart? They float on their backs with their little flippers raised out of the water and their paws tightly connected. This behavior, termed “rafting,” is natural otter behavior when they are vulnerable, resting or encountering inclement weather. According to scientists, holding paws also helps them stay warm.
Just as sea otters need each other to stay safe, the pandemic brought many of us renewed appreciation for the value of human connection. A realization that we are social beings who need and benefit from each other.
In a recent study, researchers found that it was during the most challenging times of the pandemic that Americans were most likely to reach out to a family member or friend they had not been in contact with for some time. Just like the sea otters, many of us recognized our own vulnerability and worried about someone else’s. When physical connection wasn’t possible, we metaphorically reached out our paws. We formed little rafts to stay afloat.
Now the world is gradually offering a return to physical connection that we’ve missed. In one story, a grandmother in New York received her second COVID vaccine and was given a signed prescription by her doctor that read, “You can hug your granddaughter again.” Her eyes filled with tears as she read the note. That hug was her first in over a year.
As we venture back into the world, it can be nice to think about who held your paw during this inclement time to keep you afloat. It might be a good day to give their paw a squeeze of thanks.