19 Days and 12 Hugs

Maybe hugging is like trying vegetables. You don't like them because you don't want to like them, but really, you've never actually tried liking them. Take brussel sprouts for instance. Growing up, I hated brussel sprouts because my siblings hated them. I never really tried to like them. As an adult, I gave them a fighting chance and it turns out, I love them. Could hugging be similar?

I attended a baby shower over the weekend for some friends I haven't seen in a few months. I used to see them on a weekly basis during kickball season. Once winter hit, we all seemed to go our separate ways. I've never hugged these friends before because it never felt appropriate. But there was something about seeing someone with a giant baby bump that felt like I couldn't possibly say no and go in for the handshake. So I did it. I went in, both arms spread wide open. And guess what. It wasn't horrible. In fact, I hugged her when I left also, and two other people. That makes 6 hugs in one day. 8 if you count the soon to be born baby. Which I don't. Because that kind of weirds me out.

To break down these hugs: Full frontal for the pregnant friend. One handed back pat for her boyfriend. And a sit down side hug to finish off the hugs. I'm still leaning towards the one handed back pat. That way I'm not fully committing, but not fully backing out. It's kind of a win win.

So here I am on day on day 19, and I'm up to 12 hugs. More if you count a certain repeat offender.

This Tuesday is National Hugging Day. I've debated between jumping in feet first and hugging everyone in site (there's not enough liquor in the world to make this happen) or cowering in my office in hopes of not seeing anyone that wants a hug (this is the more likely choice). In all actuality, I think my aunts (see facebook post to the side) are the only ones aware of this holiday. They too aren't the biggest of huggers, but they sure like to give me shit about not hugging. Maybe they secretly want hugs and are playing it cool pretending to not. Sometimes I wonder if that's what I'm doing. Then I snap back to reality and realize, given the choice between hug or no hug, I'd still go for no hug. However, I'm much more likely to hug those offering than I was 19 days ago, I'm just not going to initiate it.