A real hug, the kind that lasts more than two seconds, does more than any heart emoji.

Physical presence carries information that text cannot. A hug that goes on slightly longer than normal registers in the body as well as the mind, and it cannot be composed or edited or sent from elsewhere. A message is attention at a distance. This is attention at zero distance, with no shortcut to it.

Give one properly this week to somebody you would normally only text, and stay a beat longer than feels efficient. Watch for the people who do not get touched much, including a lot of men and most grandparents. Ask first if you are unsure, and leave it if the answer is no.