people who give good hugs

I love hugs. 

It's kind of sad, though, because GCC can be very touch-conscious. And I actually feel awkward for 40% of girl-to-girl hugs. Weird, I know, but it just works out that way for me. I think some of it has roots from back in middle school when I'd hate it when girls (typically Asian) would try to link arms with me; you'd think that I would be okay with it because I used to have to hold my mom's hand everywhere we went until like at least sophomore year of high school.

But regardless, I love people who give good hugs. There is an art to hugging - consult "awkward scenario of the week" from back last october or something - and seriously, some people just suck at it. I'm sorry, but they do. I know they don't mean to, but I guess they're just meant to be with someone who really doesn't like hugging either or they have like an "other half" out there that just fits right into that awkward hug just right. Either way. There is definitely an art - no awkward one-armed hugs or leaning in on the same side or a huge space in between the people...yeah.

I think the reason why I'm so hypersensitive to receiving good hugs is because according to a "love languages test" CK made me take yesterday, my two main love languages are quality time (33%) and touch (27%). The latter is a pretty high percentage. (A friend commented, "What's up with all these touching questions? It makes me sound like I want to be felt up every second of my life!" (HA!) Anyway, so I receive love in those two ways, and like I'm not surprised, but it was interesting to see that written out. And yeah, if I had to guess my ways of giving love, I'd say acts of service and touch, yet again. 

There's just something about patting someone on the back to give them reassurance or say they did well, or holding someone's hand when it's cold or they're afraid, or hugging them just because. And in some ways, I guess that's like not very...PC (purity-correct), but I mean, I'm saying this applies to both the opposite gender and the same gender. One of the best hugs I ever get these days is from one of my older sisters here whenever I'm tired or burnt out or even just happy to see her. 

But anyway. Digression: I suppose this also links into my previous post about people who smell good - it is so nice to take in a hug along with the scent someone exudes - particularly if it is a good scent :) But it also links into other posts like greeters - it's so nice to just hug someone in greeting hello or goodbye. If you've ever seen "Love Actually," the last scene is at the airport where people are just hugging each other hello...super heartwarming. Digression End.

Another thing I noticed about hugging though, is that sometimes it's really awkward for me to hug my own brother. I don't know why, but I guess it's just always been weird because I have never been particularly close with him. But he's always been open to it, because he's always been a more loving sibling than me. It's something I'm working on as I try to reach out to him more.

In conclusion, hugging is good, but good huggers are even better :)

Verse:

"With a mighty hand and outstretched arm; His love endures forever." (Psalm 136:12)

*P.S. I've had some requests for the actual love languages test, ha, so you can find it here (this is how you receive love): http://www.afo.net/hftw-lovetest.asp