A couple of weeks ago, I went to happy hour with a co-worker of mine. We had never hung out before, but ended up really connecting and having a great time.

When we went to say goodbye, we hugged. I am not really a touchy feely person and don’t usually go for the hug unless the other person initiates or if I’m very comfortable with someone. And even when I hug my friends, it tends to be mostly for show and just serves as an answer to the question of: how do we make goodbyes less (more?) awkward? 

But this hug was different. She pulled me in and genuinely embraced me. I felt loved. I felt accepted. I felt comforted. All in a 5 second hug that is typically just a placeholder. 

If someone I hardly know can make me feel all of this with a simple hug, how much could I make my friends feel if I, too, gave so much of myself in every embrace?