What is an Authentic Hug?

About a week ago a friend and I were discussing the implications of a hug.  The meaning of a hug.
Is a hug ever just a hug?  What does just a hug mean?  She was of the belief that a hug sometimes, is just a hug, there need not be any meaning behind it.  Since then, I have been contemplating what I believe.

First I remembered that one of the root words of hug is 'hugga' which means 'to console'.  Therefore a hug is something that consoles.  A hug is an act of consolation.  An authentic hug is a hug that has meaning.  A hug that is more than a formality.  A hug that can be felt beyond just physical contact.

When we go about hugging people in our daily lives, sometimes the real meaning, the authentic hug can be lost.  Does every hug make you feel consoled or does it just seem like a mundane hug?  I don't think a hug should ever feel mundane.  I think the purpose of a hug is to create an experience of consolation.  That would mean that in order for a hug to be a hug, there must be specialness to it.  It's something that makes the huggers feel better, feel consoled.

Not every hug may have as much of a meaning as another but when a hug is shared, something special is shared.  We must not forget that, especially people who give lots a hugs, Free Huggers, and huggers in general.  A hug is something special meant to give consolation.  A hug is an experience to remember. Sometimes a hug loses its meaning when we forget the purpose of a hug, take it for granted as a formality.  I would like to challenge you to think about the times where you give someone a hug.  Do you hug authentically?  Do you feel consoled after hugging or are you hugging only as a formality?  A hug is more than just a formality.  A hug is:

Hugs,
David

A Simple Story: A Profound Impact.

June 7,2014

Dear Friend,

Last week we started our journey with the conceptual definition of a hug.  This week I am going to provide a specific hugging story that impacted my life 5 years ago.

            I was walking up and down Michigan Ave giving away free hugs in Chicago.  There was a woman who was sitting outside of the Art Institute of Chicago who opened her arms for a hug.  I walked up to her and we embraced.  As I was walking away, she shouted after me, “Keep it up, You’re saving lives!” Who knew a hug could have so much power?  A simple hug from a stranger impacted her life.  The courage to go out and be vulnerable, to show love to a complete stranger through a hug, impacted her life that day.  Her courage to shout after me that bit of encouragement changed my life forever. 

            It is this moment in time that lives in my mind forever.  It gives me hope and courage when I feel hopeless.  It tells me that I have an impact, even when it seems like I am having no impact.  It shows the power of a hug can impact lives.  I have never seen this person again, I don’t know where she is now but I know that she is the reason that I am who I am today.  We tend to take the power of a hug for granted sometimes, but I just wanted to remind you the power of a hug, the great impact that it can have on a life. 

            I didn’t take this hug for granted.  I saw the power of that hug.  The reflection after the hug helped to bring forth the full impact of that hug.  I hope that you will take a few moments the next time you hug someone, to reflect on that hug, to understand it’s impact on how you are feeling.  That reflection is crucial to the overall hugging experience.  And when you do, be sure to share your story with us here!

Hugs,

David