hugs.

i thought more about this word recently than ever before. thinking about what it says or even means. 

so what exactly is a hug? i think it is some sort of embrace that reveals friendship, kinship, agreement or maybe love. however, i found out that the expression of this level of embrace communicates so many things. i remember my junior year at college there was this guy, who was deemed the hug guy. He was all about a hug and basically would not let you walk by him without a hug. I am still uncertain why he was a hugger, except maybe he loved the feeling of having brothers in his life, since he grow up sans them. the funny thing is that although people disdained those crazy hugs, they began to warm up to them. probably cause they saw the coolness of the hug. 

i know some men struggle with hugging, however, i think that you should just get over your fear. it really isn't that bad and you definitely feel that you are in the brotherhood when a hug is given or received. it's like you are family with people. however, there are many kinds of hugs:

there are long hugs that seem to encapsulate your soul, there are short hugs that show care in a hurry. then there are some crazy ones. there is the infamous "koala," where you wrap your legs around the person you are hugging (i only recommend this for your girlfriend/wife to partake in). then i saw this couple this weekend that showed me the "body hug" where you hug with both arms and then you hug with your knees as well. i laughed so hard at the sight of these people hugging. there is the ever safe, three pat hug that most men engage in that says basically, you're the man (as if they are communicating in the pats), that doesn't make the other feel awkward. 

what i found that is that every person hugs different. a hug sorta becomes the way a person expresses how they embrace you in their life. how accepting they are, how comfortable they feel, how much they care are a few revelations that come forth in a hug. so don't hesitate to hug someone like you mean it. this is really about that, and hugging isn't really about touching, it is about the relationship that you have with people. 

- peaks out. 

P.S. if you are not a hugger, i understand. i used to not be. however, i quelled my fears and have no regrets. if it is that scary, try hugging yourself. work into it. once you feel comfortable go and hug the world. you won't be sorry.