Paula Linke: KÜSSE. MEHR KÜSSE!

Our country, no, our world, needs more kisses. More kisses, more bridges, more courageous and friendly approaches to each other.

Kisses are the tender breaths, the passionate cuddles, the joyful dances, the tightly bound lovers. Kisses are the wet smacks of aunts, followed by a painful pinch and pink-painted fingernails right in front of your eyelids. Kisses are the rubbing of noses together, your parents' eyelashes on your forehead when eyelashes were still butterflies.

But kisses are also a smile, a "hello" on the street, at the bakery or in the waiting room. Kisses can work wonders, wake up fairytale characters, make you happy and sweeten your day. A bisou, a meringue, a chocolate kiss. It's the little things in life ...

Kisses are first and foremost the kisses we give ourselves. It's the morning stretch, the walk through the park, the caress of our own arm, the opening of our eyes towards the light. Kisses are our strong voice on the outside and a warm feeling on the inside, a "This is who I am."

Kisses, that is supporting others in their dreams, looking around and recognizing who is supporting us all the time, and being able to say thank you.

Kisses, that is us. We who live on this earth, for a brief moment. And we decide what kind of kiss it is. A tenderly breathed one, a passionate one that clings to all this, a joyful dance or a firm one. In any case, there is love. And we need a lot more of that now. And kisses. More kisses!