Hug

Watching the England fans celebrate last nights win got me thinking how little opportunity we have to express ourselves in such a overtly and noisy manner. There is a certain childlike exuberance to the screaming, yelling, jumping up and punching the air behaviour that was replicated in pubs, bars and living rooms up and down the country. And the hugging. Lots if adults hugging. Lots of men hugging men.

Hugging is a wonderful human interaction. Although intimate hugs are non sexual, non threatening - just human touch. Hugs congratulate, commiserate or even just greet someone you like.

On Sunday I was at work and my children gathered at my place before they went to visit their father for Fathers Day. While they were getting ready they allowed my grandson to play outside on the shared lawn. As he was making his way down the path in his football kit he met another boy, a couple of years older than him, also decked out in a football kit. The other boy was with his dad and they were returning from Sunday morning football practise.

'Hello' they said, each taking in the different football kits. 'Fancy a game?' my grandson asked. The older boy asked his dad if that was OK and on receiving permission the two boys, who had never met, enjoyed a kick about for a half hour. My son, who was watching, said the older boy was a skilled footballer and showed my grandson several footie skills.

My son told me that when my grandson was called in as it was time to go he heard the following conversation;

Older boy - 'Can we play football again?'

Grandson - 'Yes. But I don't live here. My nan does and I'm just visiting.'

Older boy - 'I don't live here either. Just visiting my dad. He lives here. I see him every other weekend'.

Grandson 'OK, lets play next time we are both here'.

And then my son told me the two boys hugged and said goodbye.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hug

Millions and millions of years would still not give me half enough time to describe that tiny instant of all eternity when you put your arms around me and I put my arms around you. ~Jacques Prévert

Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism. ~Leo Buscaglia

You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug. ~Author Unknown

Hug Department: Always Open ~Author Unknown

I love hugging. I wish I was an octopus, so I could hug ten people at a time. ~Drew Barrymore

There's something in a simple hug
That always warms the heart,
It welcomes us back home
And makes it easier to part....
~Johnny Ray Ryder, Jr., "A Simple Hug"

Arm ourselves for war? No! All the arms we need are for hugging. ~Author Unknown
I will not play at tug o' war
I'd rather play at hug o' war,
Where everyone hugs
Instead of tugs....
~Shel Silverstein

A hug is a handshake from the heart. ~Author Unknown

You can't give a hug without getting a hug. ~Author Unknown

A hug delights and warms and charms,
that must be why God gave us arms.
~Author Unknown

Hugs are the universal medicine. ~Author Unknown

A hug is a great gift - one size fits all, and it's easy to exchange. ~Author Unknown

Happiness is an unexpected hug. ~Author Unknown

...A hug is an amazing thing
It's just the perfect way
To show the love we're feeling
But can't find the words to say....
~Johnny Ray Ryder, Jr., "A Simple Hug"

If you're angry at a loved one, hug that person. And mean it. You may not want to hug - which is all the more reason to do so. It's hard to stay angry when someone shows they love you, and that's precisely what happens when we hug each other. ~Walter Anderson, The Confidence Course, 1997

There's nothing like a mama-hug. ~Terri Guillemets

A mom's hug lasts long after she lets go. ~Author Unknown

Hugs grease the wheels of the world. ~Author Unknown

Your hugs and kisses are like the stars that light up my life when things get dark. ~Author Unknown
A hug is worth a thousand words. ~Author Unknown

Every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back. ~Maya Angelou

Have you hugged yourself today? ~Anonymous

A hug is two hearts wrapped in arms. ~Author Unknown

I don't discriminate - I'm an equal-opportunity hugger. ~Author Unknown

Hugging has no unpleasant side effects and is all natural. There are no batteries to replace, it's inflation-proof and non-fattening with no monthly payments. It's non-taxable, non-polluting, and is, of course, fully refundable. ~Author Unknown

Hugs don't need new equipment,
Special batteries or parts -
Just open up your arms
And open up your hearts.
~Johnny Ray Ryder, Jr., "A Simple Hug"

A hug is like a bandage to a hurting wound. ~Author Unknown

Never wait until tomorrow to hug someone you could hug today,
because when you give one, you get one right back your way.
~Author Unknown

A hug is the shortest distance between friends. ~Author Unknown

http://www.freehugscampaign.org/