Free Hugs Campaign (or, my morning revelations)

Before I say anything else, take a few seconds and watch this video.





This is one of my favorite videos. It just inspires me, maybe because of the song, but also because of the story.

Think about it for a minute. Human contact is one of the most basic needs in life. Scientific studies prove this. One study showed a hug in the morning can improve your mood all day. Don't believe me? Look it up. Type in "hug study" on Google; you'll get about five million results.

Is it so weird, then to be a huggy person? I'd say, we just know what's good for us.

I love to give hugs. It's a part of me that I have never in my life denied. Family, friends, teachers, acquaintances, none are immune to my affection. Some of my parents favorite stories involve this part of me; leaving Van Junior High, one of my teachers cried how much she would miss her daily hugs. When I was in a community theatre up in Arlington, CATS, if I was leaving everyone would stand up--they knew I was going to do the rounds. If I care about you pretty much at all, you are going to get a hug from me as I see you and as you leave. (Unless, of course, I feel like you don't want me to. I'm not THAT invasive.)

I'm thinking about all this because I had such a bad night last night. If one person had hugged me as I left, I would have felt substantially better. Not blaming anyone--once I left, I didn't even SEE anyone I knew. Sometimes, though, you just need a hug. That's probably the first time I've been even a little homesick. I miss my dad's bear hugs and my moms gentler ones. I'm so much taller than my mom that I can rest my chin on her head. It's kind of reversed--I feel like I'm protecting her. That's not a bad thing; I love her so much, and I would like to be able to protect her. She seems so little and fragile, when I'm hugging her; that's one time when I know she's safe.

Point being, I want to start a Free Hug Campaign in College Station. One Saturday, maybe, in a busy area. It's something I've always wanted to do, and I think now would be a good time. Anyone with me?

Going on. I feel better this morning. Woke up to some sweet messages from people I love. It's amazing how much a little note can make you feel so good. I'm also remembering a few things I didn't say last night, that I'd like to say.

1. I got my Macbook! I love it. Absolutely amazing piece of technology, it's fast and powerful and it does everything I could want it to.
2. Gluten free pizza!!! ...enough said.
3. Stage and Lighting Design book! Should be enough said, but: for those of you who don't know, I love tech theatre as much as I love acting, and design is one of my favorite parts of that. Last night my dad bought me the DEFINITIVE textbook on this subject, the one I used to write my lighting design papers last year. I'm more than a little love. And, he also picked up some CDs for me: Green Day: Warning!, U2's The Joshua Tree, and Lisa Loeb: &Nine Stories. I love music so much, Half Price clearance section baby!
4. Elaboration on the hair dude. I don't know how I forgot to say this. Last night, the guy who put a lightbulb in his hair? Reason it was so funny is that is hair is all these different shades of red and orange (he dyed his hair red for camp, and its fading). When he turned on the light, it looked like he'd lit his hair on fire. Giant lighter. Epic win. XP
5. Unpacked my LitMags from junior year! Senior mags are still back in Houston I think (sad, because those have my favorite pieces by far) but I was excited to find the ones I have. Anyone who doesn't know, LitMag= Literary magazine; prose, poetry, art, and photography, combined into one amazing work. I was lucky enough to have some pieces accepted into 4 litmags my junior and senior year, and I love reading them--you get some really fantastic writing.

Attitude for the day: try and concentrate on the good things, and forget the bad.

Free hugs, anyone?

~Kat