Who needs a hug?

I feel utterly bombarded. How about you? 

I can't look on Twitter or Facebook, in the news, or on TV without seeing hate and feeling lost, sad, angry, overwhelmed. Last night I asked my private community what they needed in order to feel more ready to face another Monday morning and the overwhelming response was HUGS. 

Of course. That's what is needed. Warmth wrapped around you, holding you, reminding you you're going to be alright, that we have each other.  

I'm sending you a giant hug right now. Close your eyes, take a breath and take in the love coming to you. 

I believe there is as much LOVE in the world as hate, we just need to turn our attention there. We need to see the love around us. The people who are generously giving their time, money, energy, ideas in service of others, and the people who show simple human kindness as you go about a normal day.

You don't have to quit your job, or become complacent with politics, in order to give and receive LOVE. It's here always. 

Hugs, after all, are little acts, a thank-you, holding open a door, sharing a smile with a stranger. See those moments in your life and make more happen. Buy someone coffee and hug a loved one tighter than you did the last time you met.

If you're feeling overwhelmed, you're not alone. There's also something easy to do about it. 

This HUG is for you. It's from Jeanie who, with her husband Gene, runs a soup kitchen in Virginia and gives some of the best hugs I've ever received. They hug anyone who walks through the door on Friday mornings. I can still feel this one, and had to share. 

I hope you can feel it, too. xoxo

Your choice in the next four years

I was saving this for Monday but decided to share early. If you are feeling grief, sadness, anger, overwhelm and the cycle of feelings all over again, you are not alone. 

Hiding behind wine and chocolate and watching silly movies work for a while (doing it myself), and when you're ready there is more in your power to do.

You can decide to love, share, listen, give, donate, create... 

I learned the hard way a long time ago that no matter what is happening to you and around you, you always have a choice. It's when the words, I'm scared & doing it anyway, came to be.

I'll announce in a couple days a call to help you decide what you'll do this year, in the next four years. For now though, feel everything you feel -- I feel it too -- and when you're ready to do something about it, I'll be right here with you.