Oxytocin makes a grown man cry
We just got back from a relaxing vacation in Mexico last Wednesday. Ok, there was a day or two where it felt a bit tenuous.
While there was some talk of COVID19 around the pool, the only visible sign that something dramatic was happening in the world was the steady decline in the resort guest population each day.
The magnitude of the situation came crashing in on me on the return trip home after the cabin door to the plane closes and the flight attendant makes an announcement. She says, “We’re sorry there won’t be any service on the flight but we have water and a snack in the seat pouch. While this won’t be the level of service you would expect from our airline, we are available if you use your call button. Welcome aboard as we repatriate as many of our customers as possible.”
Repatriate ? Bam ! It hits me like a ton of bricks and it must be a surge of oxytocin as I immediately well-up and can’t control my emotions. This is more than a typical day at work for the crew.
I am very grateful to the staff at AirTransat who got us home safely and to the staff at every airline who are travelling abroad in empty airplanes and returning home with cabins full of passengers.
It happens again as we clear customs in Halifax. Approximately half of the Border Security Agents are wearing masks and the other half have none. They are prompt, efficient, and caring. As I try to say thank you to the Border Guard who is accepting us home, I can not speak. I suspect it is another rush of oxytocin flooding my body - leaving me a babbling baby.
Over this past week, every single time I’ve told this story and even as I write in this moment - same thing - I get an overwhelming emotional feeling of love, peace and connectedness brought on by oxytocin.
When you help, you bring on oxytocin in others. And when you’re helped or witness helping, oxytocin is brought on in you.
Cheers to more oxytocin !
