Never Underestimate The Power

Drive By

Yet again, I was fortunate to experience the power of hugs yesterday after getting off the cruise ship. If you still doubt the importance and power of hugs, read on.

I was the first one on the shuttle bus for the parking lot. The driver smiled and asked how I enjoyed the cruise. We chatted a bit about the cruise then I asked her if she lived in Galveston. She said no and went on to tell me about losing her house in Ike, losing her job in the mortgage business and now selling insurance plus trying to supplement her income by driving the shuttle. One thing I noticed is that even when she was talking about the challenges in her life, she was still smiling.

When we arrived at the parking lot, she asked that we stay seated while she unloaded the luggage. As she bent over to get the first bag, I stood up and started helping her. She said you don’t have to do that, and I responded yes I do as it is the right thing to do. She laughed a little and said she would need to tip me for helping her. After all the bags were off the bus, she again said thank you, and I hugged her and gave her a tip. She indeed needed the hug as I felt it.

I spoke to a friend a few minutes that had been through what I will call a “reflective” weekend on some things in her life. She said I really could use one of your hugs. A few minutes later, I’m in Clear Lake giving my first Drive-By-Hug of the day. We talked for a few minutes, hugged a few more times, and I was off.

I’m talking with another friend about the Drive-By-Hug, and she said I could use one of those too. Off to West Houston for my next stop. I walked in, gave her a hug then walked off for a few minutes. Her assistant said: “that’s not how friends hug.” My friend said: “actually, it is how friends hug.”

A stranger and two friends with one common need: a good hug. They really do make all the difference in the world. That is the very reason I drove from Galveston to Clear Lake then to West Houston. I am truly committed to changing the world one hug at a time. Do a Drive-By-Hug today. Take those few minutes to meet someone for a quick hug. When you hug the right way, people notice.

Rodney - Master Hugger