How can you participate in National Hugging Day? Give away a hug. Just a word of caution, if you're hugging someone who is not a close friend or family member, be sure they are receptive to the hug. I learned this from experience. Read about my experience from a past blog post (below video).
YouTube Video Credit: Walt Disney Animation Studios
An accidental Hug – Tips on what not
to do when initiating a hug
How can you
accidentally hug someone? I managed to do it with ease. It happened on a sunny
day on the sideline at my son’s football practice.
Practice had
not stared yet, the coach was sitting with a few people. He leaned forward as
he said, “Hi Mrs. Verges.” It wasn’t a
sexy deep voiced, “Hiii… Mrs. Verges.” Nor did it give the implication of
“Hellooooo Mrs. Verges.”
It was the
“lean in” that threw me off. It looked like the coach was preparing to stand to
give a church hug. You know, the hug where you lean forward to embrace, but
barely touch the person?
I leaned in,
gave the hug then realized, he was not trying to give a hug. Can you say awkward?
I walked away as fast as I could without stumbling over the unlevel pathway.
When I told
my son about the incident he said, “Why did you hug him?” After he erupted with
laughter he said, “Wow, really ma?”
What can I
say? I had crossed the line of hugging etiquette.
I checked
Google for articles about hugging just to see what was out there. I came across
an article titled, How to hug. The
information that caught my attention was the warning tips below:
- “Unless you’ve hugged the person before, don’t
hug them without asking first. Use your best judgment in choosing when and
where to hug someone.”
- “Hug only when the person you want to hug has
their arms out. They may not want to be hugged if their arms aren’t out.”
This is where you place the palm of you hand over your forehead and tap
gently several times. The aah ha moment.
- “Avoid a hug with a running start unless the person being hugged is aware you are about to do so, if not this may result in both of you falling over.”
To read the
entire article on how to hug tips visit www.wikihow.com/hug.
I felt a
little better about hugging when a woman accidently hugged me. I smiled and
greeted the woman as she entered the center where I work. She thought she knew
me until she released the embrace. She said, “I’m sorry I thought we’d met
before.”
I reassured
her that it was ok. I said, “I’m a hugger too.”
What I’ve
learned about hugging is that if you’re unsure whether to do it or not, keep
your hands to yourself. Stick to smiling and waiving, it’s the safe route.
Are you a
hugger? What has been your experience with hugging?
i have not work with you so i dont know you personally and more over i dont have trust
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