The power of a hug

By: Emily

A way to relieve some of the tough times

Sometimes I'm depressed, angry, sad, or just down in the dumps. When I feel this way, sometimes I just want to be left alone. But most of the time, the thing that I want most, when I'm down, is a big hug. I once heard it said that a hug is the greatest gift you can give a loved one. It's true!

I can remember, when I was about five years old, I had a horrible earache. My grandmother took me up into her lap, in her fluffy blue rocking chair, and wrapped me into her arms while I got lost in the rhythm of the gently swaying back and forth. Back and forth. She whispered into my ear how her father used to blow his pipe smoke into her ear when she had an earache, and I drifted in and out of sleep, temporarily escaping the pain. I can remember the distress those horrible earaches would cause me, and this is one memory of them that I actually gaze fondly upon.

I have a friend who's a guy. He's not my boyfriend, but I love him dearly, and in the last couple of years, we've gotten into the habit of giving each other frequent hugs. I hug him just about any time we're together, and it's one of the most therapeutic things that I do daily. The hugs don't have to be a symbol that we're in love, because we're not. It's just a nice way to let each other know that we appreciate them, we love them, and that we're there for them. It's a little way to spread some sunshine!

Next time you see a friend who's looking down, maybe there's more you can do for them than you think. Forget the talking. Just go up and wrap your arms around them!