How Do You Feel About Hugging?

hugs for all

I used to absolutely despise hugging, I hated it with a burning passion. I didn't hate the motivation or idea behind the action of hugging, but it just made me so incredibly uncomfortable. I thought I was too awkward and uncomfortable to be hugged. Hugging is supposed to be comforting and put you at ease, not bring you to a state of panic. While I still find it pretty uncomfortable much of the time, I have recently learned to appreciate hugging a lot more. It is nice to feel loved and appreciated once in awhile, even if it's just a friendly hug. I'm still not too fond of the constantly hug happy people who it find it necessary to hug everyone non stop. I understand their intentions, but it can be a bit overwhelming.
 

JNet

Member
I hug my kids and husband all the time, I let my mom and grandparents hug me, but I only see them about once a year so it's pretty infrequent. The only other time I feel fine about giving hugs is at work, I work at a care home with seniors who have dementia, but ONLY the residents, not coworkers or resident's families - even though they always try!
 

LeDiskoLove99

Well-known member
The only time I hug someone is if they're family, my best friend (who I know likes to hug because we have friend cuddle time haha) my best friends husband and people who initiate it. Otherwise I would be too terrified to do so. But hey don't feel stupid, you gave it a try, she should have been at least friendly about it instead of just walking away. That doesn't make you look bad, it makes her look rude. It took guts to do that, and I know I wouldn't have enough to do so, so good for you.
 

theoutsider

Well-known member
I like giving hugs and am usually open to them. The problem is I don't feel comfortable initiating them. This is because I've heard a lot of people say they aren't huggers and don't want anybody invading their personal space. I don't want to offend anyone that way. I have a terrible memory of going to hug a co-worker on my last day at a job and she just walked away. Man, did I feel stupid. When you think of it, I guess hugging is somewhat of an intimate thing considering you're basically pressing bodies against each other.

So, to follow up on my own story. About a year ago, I started a new job that wasn't too far from the old job where the co-worker walked away as I was going to hug her. I started running across my old co-workers a lot during my lunch hour as I'm only a block away from them. I began to realize I was really angry at the woman who walked away that day. I took it as a personal slight. So about a month after I started working near her, I saw her again. It seemed like such a perfect set up. She said, hello just as if nothing had happened (I should mention she has a way of smirking at people and sort of had that same expression when she saw me... like this guy is funny so I'll say hello and see what happens). I made it a point to act underwhelmed by her greeting and basically acted as if I had someplace better to be, basically snubbing her. I thought this would make me feel better and I admit it did for a few minutes. Then I felt like a total creep because I started to believe her walking away that day wasn't a personal slight and she was probably just half smiling (instead of smirking) when she saw me last year. I wanted to see her again but hadn't since that day. So, I've felt bad about it ever since.

Fast forward to last Wednesday. I saw her again and kind of did a double take since I was so surprised. She gave an enthusiastic wave and I gave an enthusiastic greeting back, letting her know I was really happy to see her. We didn't talk afterwards as she was with a friend and seemed headed someplace else. I didn't care about us talking. It was just such a relief to not have left things on such a sour note as I remember her being a pretty good person during the time we worked together.
 
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dannyboy65

Well-known member
I like hugs, but I am very selective. For instance I don't mind hugging my girlfriend or grandmother. But I feel weird hugging my father or mother or strangers.
 

FountainandFairfax

in a VAN down by the RIVER
I hate being a hugger, but huggee isn't so bad, as long as I like the person. Getting a hug from me is like Halley's Comet though. I hugged my mom a few Christmases back and she looked at me like I was The Boston Strangler.
 
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