Just a Hug

After such an uplifting August, I do not know what happened to September.  It was a tough month overall.  As I look back, I cannot find anything specific that made the month difficult.  However, it felt like I walked around with a dark cloud over my head.  As the month approached to an end, the dark cloud slowly dissipated and finally let the light come through.

The support I had from my community was the biggest help to get out of that cloud.  However, the key was to let my community know that I needed their “hug”.  It wasn’t easy to admit and it wasn’t easy to ask for it.  I was upset with myself for not being able to get out of that dark cloud on my own.  I knew that the people around me had more serious issues to deal with.  Why bother them with mine?  Why add to their list of things to worry about? Was I just being a drama queen like my daughter?

Coincidentally, I had assigned a theme of “hug” for the Train and Smile session.  When I first assigned that theme a month ago, I was thinking of my mom’s birthday and how I would love to send her a “hug”.  Who would know that the theme would come in handy to admit that it was ME who needed a hug that week.  It started with me joking around it initially, however, then it became real.  I realized that no one around me knew that I was going through some tough days.  The moment I admitted that I needed some mental rest, everyone (including my dog) was there to support.   What I really wanted was that warm “hug” and I got it from, both physical and virtual.  My non-cuddling dog even cuddled with me and didn’t leave my side.

That physical strength transfer of a sincere, tight hug is the best light to any dark cloud.  I am never shy of giving that hug to someone who is in need and now, I know that I have to be better at asking for it when I need it.

When I came up with the below routine for the Train and Smile session, I wanted to everyone to practice that tight hold, hug, squeeze. Grab your sofa pillow and let’s practice the “hug” while sweating and working those muscles.

A big hug to you all…

A cheer-me-up snack - Avocado, peanut butter, meat sticks... warm hug by food. :)