Its the HUG for me!

Today feels like a great day for hugs, wouldn’t you agree?

When was the last time you received a really good hug? Better yet, when was the last time you hugged yourself?

I was talking with a friend recently who gently reminded me that as much as I love giving hugs to everyone else, I also need to take time to hug myself. After we hung up, I wrapped my arms around my own shoulders and held on, like really held on. In that quiet moment, I realized something powerful: at the end of the day, when no one else is around, I still have me. I have the capacity to lean on myself.

I give out plenty of hugs throughout the day—to people I work with, people I love, and sometimes even strangers. And it makes a huge difference to every last one of them, even me. Often, that hug is the first meaningful human touch someone has received all day. In those moments, lifts their spirit. It also lifts mine too.

Family therapist Virginia Satir famously said:

“We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”

I don’t know about you, but on days when I’m not out in community or at work, I might not receive a single hug from a human and I can absolutely tell the difference. I thank God for my fur babies though, because they are always available to give hugs.

A few weeks ago, I was riding the shuttle back to my car and struck up a conversation with the driver. We discovered we had a lot in common about life, and the conversation flowed easily. When we arrived at the parking area and he put the step stool down for us passengers to exit, I asked him, “Have you had a hug today?”

He said no.

I asked his permission to give him one and he agreed.

After we hugged, he thanked me and said, “I really needed that today.”

Little did he know, I needed it too.

It doesn’t take much to put a smile on someone’s face or to let them know they’re seen. We are all fighting battles most people know nothing about. Some of those battles others may not even have the capacity to carry with us.

• So let your love lead.

• Let your kindness lead.

• Let your genuine connection lead.

💛 A Gentle Challenge for You and for Me

Today, I challenge us to do three things:

1. Hug ourselves, on purpose.

2. Hug someone we love.

3. If appropriate and welcomed, offer a hug to someone who might need one.

And if hugs aren’t possible? Offer a kind word or a smile. Maybe even a moment of eye contact that says, I see you.

Because sometimes the smallest gestures create the biggest healing. At least for me, it does.

If this message resonated with you, share it with someone who might need a reminder that they are not alone. Let’s start a ripple effect of intentional love, giving one hug at a time. 💛

Sending you love, light and positive vibes,

Cassie K.

#SayItOnSunday

#CassieKarch

"Always remember to LIVE life to the fullest, to LAUGH at everything and to LOVE unconditionally!"