To Hug or Not To Hug?

There are two kinds of people . . . those who hug and those who don’t. I’m a hugger, but I try to keep my habit under control.

Lately, I’ve noticed that non-huggers are gaining in their efforts to convert us huggers. There are a lot of new non-hugging rules going around, both written and unwritten. It’s a good idea to figure them out so you can be sure not to hug when it might be a mistake. For example, at the school where I work, hugging violates the no-touch policy. I know, I know. There are a lot of good reasons why touching is not allowed at school. Still, it’s annoying for us huggers to be forced to ignore the urge to hug until we get home behind closed doors.

Personally, I don’t understand people who cringe at the thought of a hug.

My top ten reasons for favoring hugging are:

1. A hug is free.


2. A hug takes only five seconds from start to finish.


3. A hug makes people feel warm and tingly inside.


4. A hug says, "You and I are on the same team."


5. A hug can be given and received by persons of any age, size, color or creed.


6. A hug has no calories.


7. A hug requires no preparation.


8. A hug is a gift with no strings attached.


9. A hug can become a treasured memory.


10. A hug says, "I care about you."

Football players are gold medal examples of non-huggers. They’re big . . . proud . . . powerful . . . mean-looking . . . competitive . . . non-huggers by tradition. Well, they’re not fooling me. I’ve watched them operate. After one of them makes a big play, the big, proud, powerful, mean-looking, competitive non-hugging football players come charging at each other at full speed, butting their heads together . . . and hugging. You can be sure huggers make a mental note of it when they do. This is not rocket science, folks. Non-huggers may be in the majority, but they’re really just huggers in denial.