{free hugs}

Those of you who know me well, know that I am a hugger. That's really an understatement....I hug everyone. And it's not just a soft dinky little hug. When I hug someone, I want them to very literally, physically be able to feel how much I love them. And I am generally very successful at doing just that. Even as a teenager, I was a big hugger and there weren't many that hugged quite like I do.  In fact, my Mom told me once that the word "hug" just didn't quite describe MY hugs. You can get LOST in them. :-) It was then that she gave them a  new name...SQUATCHES. In fact, this picture was taken Christmas morning 1999.... and is of me giving my cute Mama a big SQUATCH!! Whether it's a "squatch" to my family, or a "Heather Hug" to my friends, it's all the same. A hug is not just a hug to me. It is an opportunity for me to let YOU know what you mean to me and how much I sincerely love you!! 

It seems that fewer and fewer people in the world today are hugged...and yet it seems that today, more and more people could USE a hug. I wonder how it would change the world if EVERYONE was hugged at least once a day. I am a firm believer, and I mean this in all sincerity, in the very real healing power of a hug...a good, strong, firm and sometimes lingering hug. I hug and squish up my little ones so many times a day, to make sure that it is IMPOSSIBLE for them to have a single solitary doubt in their minds of my immense love for them. I have joked with some friends recently that nothing would make me happier than to take my hugs on tour...a sort of "Heather's Hugapalooza 2010." LOL! What I wouldn't give to be able to hug the world, one person at a time. 

As I was sitting here today, enjoying uplifting inspiration from Wayne Dyer clips on You Tube, I "accidentally" (P.S. I don't believe in accidents...) came across the above clip and tears filled my eyes. Someone beat me to it. What a beautiful, beautiful man and an inspirational and uplifting video. It literally made my heart swell!! Love it!! Can you imagine the impact his hugs would have if there were even just one of him in every major city in the world? The great thing is, we don't have to wait for this man to come "on tour" or even wait for ME to take MY hugs on tour. YOU can make this kind of a difference today...without holding out a sign or even going very far from home. Imagine...just for a moment....the impact you could have on the world if you hugged even just ONE person each day. A real hug - a strong one filled with love and support and unconditional love and acceptance.
 
My heart is so filled with love for people---for all people---that whether I know you or not, I already love you for who you are and want to make sure that you can feel that...without a doubt in your mind. I so love this quote by Louise Hay..it is so perfect and so "ME":

"In my life there is an infinite supply of love,
it is inexhaustible, I can never use it all in this lifetime so
I don't have to be sparing with it!"
- Louise Hay -

And if there IS ever a day where you doubt for a moment your personal worth (because those days will come), my doors and my arms are open. Come on over and let me SQUEEZE ya so you remember how wonderful you are and how much I love you!! My "voice" is in the form of a hug and I am sharing that "voice" and trying to make a difference and leave my mark by hugging the world, one person at a time. :-)

(P.S. I have now decided that THIS HUGGER needs a "Free Hugs" T-Shirt!! Will be getting one made ASAP!! HAPPY DAY!)

MORE ABOUT FREE HUGS...WORLDWIDE....

Comments

[lynn Crapo]

I LOVE this post!!! It's so true......and so sad.....that this world is becoming "hugless" as it becomes more "politically correct" and more "personal space" becomes the norm of what is accepted.

I must say that I LOVED getting my "Heather" Hug when we met. I truly could have used a Heather Hug today. One like your mom describes....one that you get lost in. ; D

Happy Hugging!!!!

[Kristi]

Thank you for this post. I really need a hug today and just reading it helped.

[dawn]

I love hugs too! I'm a hugger and hugs just seem to make a huge difference in peoples lives. I always look forward to bowling because there is a lady who always gives big hugs. Everyone loves her! Her license plate even say's something about hugs. :) Great post!

[sloanie]

I recall several months ago seeing Heather for the first time in 10-11 years, and I started to think Heather wasn't going to let go, haha. Longest hug ever. Bless you for all the love you foster in your heart and strive to express -- through hugs and otherwise, Heather.

A few years ago I became associated with a small local group of like-minded individuals. Eventually a man joined the group who started everyone hugging. It really was neat-- these were mostly grown men in the group, and you don't often see that. He talked about how there really was a power in those hugs-- a way to physically transfer positive energy to uplift another, and a way to also sense how someone else is feeling. You could tell he loved a great deal, and he was likewise easy to love (it's true that love begets love, isn't it.)