I Have a Big Hug Waiting

There are moments when words aren't enough. You can tell someone that everything will be alright. You can offer advice, encouragement or reassurance. But sometimes what a person really needs is to know that somebody is there. “I have a big hug waiting” is a small sentence carrying a much bigger message: you don't have to deal with everything on your own.

A hug can say what words sometimes cannot. I'm here. I care. You are safe. You don't have to explain everything right now. And that matters because life isn't always positive.

There will be days when you feel disappointed, frightened, exhausted or completely overwhelmed. Powerful Positive Thinking doesn't ask you to pretend those feelings aren't there. Because you are not broken. You are human.

Sometimes the most positive thing we can do is stop trying to find an answer and give someone the space to feel what they are feeling.

The same applies to ourselves. We can become so good at looking after everyone else that we forget we need kindness too. We don't have to earn compassion by having everything under control. We can have difficult days and still be worthy of love, friendship and support.

So if someone you care about is struggling, don't always feel that you need to fix the situation. Listen. Stay close. And when words have run out, offer the one thing that may say everything that needs to be said. A big hug.

Because sometimes knowing that somebody is waiting with open arms can make the hardest day feel a little easier. And sometimes, that's exactly what we need.