“A hug is a handshake from the heart.”  ~Author Unknown

One of my greatest joys in life is hugging. Hugs are a common part of life, but the meaning behind them is much more valuable than words can describe. There is a hug for every occasion and all different types abound. Hugs could be classified as awkward, emotional or unavoidable. A great hug is invaluable and can brighten even the gloomiest of days.

The “awkward hugs” are a very common and unfortunate category of hugs. These occur most frequently with people you are not well-acquainted or while you are in an odd posture.

Take the car hug, for example; this hug is rarely done well and occurs when the person in the driver’s seat and passenger’s seat attempt to say goodbye. The awkwardness about it stems from the cramped space and the proceeding exit of the passenger. It can take place between any assortment of people but it is typically awkward regardless of the relation.

The next type would be what I dub the “sit-stand hug,” which involves a friend walking over to hug a friend whose seated. It is typically a surprise to the person sitting, whose head usually becomes nestled in the standing friend’s bosom. It happens often at social gatherings where a friend enters the room and can’t help but embrace her comrade on the couch.

The final addition to the awkward category would be the “creeper hug.”

This is an unwanted hug from someone, usually male, that you don’t particularly care to touch. It can happen in any number of places ranging from parties to your place of employment. An easy example would be the chef that I work with. I like him just fine, but think him to be on the creepy side. On the occasion that

I go to my place of work, and he’s bartending, I find myself in an awful realization of his arms around me. This is not something I wanted, and therefore it is awkward as well as creepy.

The emotional hugs are the most profound and sentimental hugs that you can receive. They often bring about a sense of unity, understanding and trust. They can occur at any time or place as long as there are strong feelings to fuel them.

The obvious example would be the consoling hug. This hug is usually between a set of friends or two family members. It takes place when one person is upset and another person feels their pain and wants to convey their sympathy. One instance I clearly recall was when my friend came over bawling about something that I didn’t even know about at the time. She immediately embraced me upon entering my house and held tightly while sobbing on my shoulder. I had know idea what was wrong but I was upset at her grief and so there was strong emotion shared in the event.

A more joyful subtype in this category would be the hello or “it’s been forever hug,” which occurs between two people who haven’t seen each other in a very long time. It happens when old friends or loved ones return from college, extended family comes to visit or simply seeing someone you’re close to who lives far away. It is often a high tension relieving hug that brings smiles and a feeling of “finally the wait is over.” Many times it involves leaping into the arms or tightly squeezing to what was so far from you.

Another emotional hug would be the boyfriend/girlfriend hug. This hug is often one of passion and longing that only two truly attracted people could produce. This hug is envied by single persons and often sickens the unaffectionate type.

The final category of hugs are the unavoidable. These hugs are ones you can predict or are necessary given the circumstances. The first type is the family hug. A hug with someone in your family is very hard to avoid. Whether it is between you and your parents, or your siblings or especially your distant relatives, there is no escaping the family hug. It can happen after resolving a fight in the family or just holding on to the people who love you the most. They are often spontaneous and rarely awkward because your family sees you at your lowest points.

The “make-up” or “I’m sorry” hug can be anticipated after reconciling an argument in any relationship. It is usually between friends or families who have been fighting but have finally put the issues to rest. It can be emotional depending on the circumstance and is usually a declaration of being ‘cool’ with each other once more.

The bribery hug is one of the worst hugs to receive. It takes place after someone asks a friend or often some unfortunate soul to do them a favor. It is an “I realize I’m using you, so I’ll give you a charity hug to coax you into my will,” sort of sentiment. It doesn’t work very well with the strong-willed person who refuses to do favors, but it can be successful with the gracious few who don’t mind doing the dirty work. It falls into the unavoidable category because if someone refuses do to a favor, this hug is sure to follow. It is a strained, almost forced hug, and is likely to be received by everyone at least once in their lifetime.

Hugs are universal gifts. Regardless the type or occasion, a hug can begin a relationship or record memories of an old one. When you give a hug, you receive a hug, and that instant gratification is something very rare to find. As a wise man once said, “A hug is a great gift – one size fits all, and it’s easy to exchange.”