“Did You Hug a Child Today?”

We need 4 hugs a day for survival.

We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance.

We need 12 hugs a day for growth.

Now I’m rarely an initiator of nurturing acts, but I couldn’t help but to reflect on the MANY hug requests from teens this week! (Teens who 3wks ago couldn’t stand me or thought I was too hard on them!)

But the BIGGEST hug request came from a 9yr old young man. Earlier, he disrupted my lesson as I taught the kids about overcoming negative core beliefs. During the session he insisted to shout, “I am stupid, I am retarded, I’m not loved!” as he kicked his desk to disturb the class. Repeatedly asking him to stop, I insisted that he would come with me when my lesson was over. 

So we walked & talked and as I spoke words of life to him, he couldn’t find the strength to speak those positive words over his own life. Instead he kept yelling, “No! I am stupid, retarded, and not loved!” (FYI this kid is BEYOND SMART!) So I said come on, hang out with me as I teach the 8th graders about affirmations. Once we arrived, I challenged my 8th graders to speak life to him.

He began to engage & open up about all his dreams, talents, and smart career goals! Then out of nowhere I felt this big weight & tight grip come across my waste. He whispered, “Thank you for bringing me! Just give me a hug back!” I hugged his body & heart so tight.

As we walked back to his class, I opened up his very own “8th grade binder” that he created while hanging with the big kids and he wrote ALL of his affirmations. The best one I read, “I AM SMART and unstoppable! No one can stop me as long as I stay smart!”

I think my next lesson maybe, “There is power in hugs!”

Best,

Ariel Fuller

#YouthLeader #Speaker #TeenCoach