How-to: Hugging

Hugs can be awkward, heartfelt, too distant or too squishy. It's all good. It's all about connection.

Ingredients:

• you
• another person
• or a group of people for the infamous "group hug"
  

Steps:

Spontaneous hugs that come from the pure joy of giving take the top prize.  No instruction is needed for these ones.  These are one of the greatest joys in life.  Kisses sometimes accompany these types of hugs as well as leg wraps.

Measured hugs like:  "okay it's my turn, now how am I going to navigate this hug?" requires some instruction:

1. On initiating the hug, choose to lean to your right or left.  If you lean to your right, your heart will be in closer proximity to your huggie. 
   
2. Sometimes there is a back and forth left and right movement between you and your huggie as you navigate which direction will successfully produce the hug.  This often feels awkward, but think of it as the "hugger's dance".
3. Wrap your arms around your huggie.  Speaking words is good.  Silence is good.  It's all good.
4. Use your intution for length of time.  When you're that close to another person, you can usually sense when time is up for them as well.
5. If hugging is not your bag, shake hands.  Touch is touch.  Connection is connection.  It's all good.
6. If you're in Greece, you kiss their left cheek, then their right cheek.
7. If you're in Serbia, you kiss their left cheek, then their right cheek, then their left cheek again.
8. Isn't it wonderful to be a human being?!?!