You see, what you need is…

Do you want a cuddle?

A few years ago, I worked in an office with a guy who was known for being really grumpy and prone to outbursts of annoyance. He was (and still is) cynical and hard to please. He was my favourite.

The moment I knew we would be friends was when he was having one of his famous rants and I just said quietly from the other side of the office “John, do you want a cuddle?”. I wish I’d recorded the belly laugh that I got in return, it was wonderful! From then on, we had so much fun and yes, many, many cuddles.

When someone in my family (I can’t remember now who) asked my mum what she thought of Simon, she said “he’s just like us, he gives a good cuddle”. And with that, Simon was completely accepted into the Evans clan.

Everyone needs a hug or a cuddle or, as they say back home, a bosie! Whether you’re happy or sad, stressed and emotional or elated, excited and overwhelmed, there is nothing like a cuddle.

I love the story of the campaign for free hugs. The guy who started it explains that he arrived home in Sydney where there was no one to meet him and all around the airport other passengers were being greeted with big hugs. At that point in time it’s what he needed most too. So what did he do? He got a big sign and wrote on it “Free Hugs”. Excellent. This is what happened:

“For 15 minutes, people just stared right through me. The first person who stopped, tapped me on the shoulder and told me how her dog had just died that morning. How that morning had been the one year anniversary of her only daughter dying in a car accident. How what she needed now, when she felt most alone in the world, was a hug. I got down on one knee, we put our arms around each other and when we parted, she was smiling.

Everyone has problems and for sure mine haven’t compared. But to see someone who was once frowning, smile even for a moment, is worth it every time.”

Given my current Olympics obsession, I couldn’t do a post on hugs and not mention Sir Steve Redgrave, henceforth to be known as “King of Cuddles”.

So go on, make someone’s Friday and give them a hug! Pass around a little joy on this Feel Good Friday :)

GROUP HUGS! Best kind