Hugs Are For Everyone

The bumper sticker said, “Have you hugged someone today yet?” No I hadn’t. It just seems like there is so much to do and so many places to go that a hug is the last thing on the mind. It’s easy to forget all the things a hug can bring.

A hug can cheer you when you’re blue. A hug can say, “I love you so” or, “Gee I hate to see you go”. A hug is, “Welcome back again!” and “Great to see you!” or “Where’ve you been?” A hug delights and warms and charms, it must be why we all have arms.

Can you admit honestly that you’ve given or received a hug today? A hug should rank right up there with an apple a day. Hugging should never go out of style.

The process is quite simple. Though there can be some quite uncomfortable situations to arise from a hug. If you’re comfortable with giving hugs, then you would walk up to someone and offer them one. But, if you have a disability, the reactions can vary greatly.

For most, the firm hug is the one most people give and receive. When I’ve been given hugs from someone other than a family member or close friend it resembles just a touch more than a hug. Why is that?

For most, the reason boils down to the, “I’m afraid I might break something” line. You won’t always hear it said in that manner from their lips, but the translation is there. While this line might hold true for a very few who have Brittle Bone Disorder, anyone else is fair game for a firm hug.

I know of people that go hug-less for days and weeks on end. For them it’s not by choice. If being able to walk and having a disability is enough to make someone hesitate from giving a hug, a wheelchair is a tire squealer. How do you approach someone in a wheelchair?

First off, you need to shake off that need to hesitate. A sincere hug just happens, no hesitation. Next, make your intentions known. Let the person know you want to give them a hug. Then just bend over a little and wrap your arms around them. They will gladly reply with outstretched arms.

Hugs are given freely in my family. It’s the way we were brought up. Was it that way in your family too? How about those of you starting a family, are hugs going to be part of your daily routine?

Studies have shown that someone that is raised in a loving environment with their family will grow up much more caring for others than someone bounced around from foster family to foster family. It’s easy to see why. If you don’t have the stability of one family (or two in divorces) you have no one to trust. Share a hug with someone who needs one.

Don’t forget to also hug your cat. It is known in health circles that most cats (not all) love getting hugs. Plus as they purr and you are hugging them, those vibrations can also be soothing to your own body.

Before you go to bed tonight, offer someone a hug. If you tend to forget things easily, put up a Post-It note where you’ll see it time and time again. “Have you hugged someone today yet?” If you know some friends online, then offer an online hug. It goes something like this: {{{{Bill}}}} The more brackets you use, the bigger the hug. I always accept e-mail hugs.

If you’re bored with the normal hugs, here are a few others you may want to try. Try hugging in bed, upside down, under water, in the air, standing on your hands, etc…

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