Dear Mr. President - An Open Letter to President-Elect Obama

Pepsi has opened a website where anyone can contribute their support, ideas, or opinions into a completely open video letter to the United States President-To-Be, Barack Obama. Make a video and submit it to RefreshEverything.com share your feelings with Mr. Obama and the rest of the world - YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

The "Love is" Challenge

Ask your children (or a realtive or friend's child) the following question. "What is love?" I promise you, the answer will either hilarious, incredibly sweet, or undeniably wise. Or possibly a combination of all three.

Please tell me the child first name, age, and their answer.

~Hugs Heal~

The Three Acts of Kindess Challenge

Hello, my wonderful friends! Today I am issuing you a new challenge. It will cost you nothing but your time (unless you choose otherwise) and I guarantee it will make you feel wonderful.

The day after you read this blog entry, I challenge you to do 3 kind things for someone other than yourself. I can be 3 acts of kindess for one person or one act for 3 different people.

These acts can be anything you choose. As long as you dont stay in bed all day, I guarantee you that plenty of opportunites will arise. You just need to pay attention.

Here are some ideas:
1. Give a gift card to a homeless person (or anyone who needs it)
2. Give a hug to someone who looks sad
3. Help someone carry their groceries out to their car
4. Take a friend out to their favorite restaurant
5. Tip your babysitter or pizza delivery person twice as much as you normally would
6. Take your spouse to the local park and have some ice cream together (or hot chocolate, depending on the weather)

Don't forget to come back here and tell me what you decided to do for your three acts of kindness, or post some of your ideas for other people to do. I'll choose some of my favorites to be featured in my blog!

My Favorite Responses to my last the "Hugs Make Me Feel" Challenge

I posted my "Hugs Make Me Feel" Challenge on the Hugs Heal Myspace and so far I have recieved 16 responses. Here are my Top Five:

5. "When I hug someone I feel like everything is right with the world."

4. "When I see people hugging eachother I feel warm and happy; and frankly wishing it was a group hug."

3. "Hugs make me feel safe, warm, makes feel like I am loved and cared for. There is nothing like a hug to brighten your day and make you feel better."

4. "When I see people hugging each other I feel as if they are close, caring, in love; whatever the occasion. A hug is a closeness and says all that needs to be said in so many ways!"

5. "The thought of students not being able to hug eachother in school makes me...wonder what this world is coming to, when a hug is considered to be offensive. Considering most of the bonds we make in childhood (outside our families) is in school with our peers."

"Hugs Make Me Feel" Challenge

I challenge everyone to tell the world how you feel about hugs by completing one of these sentences:

When someone hugs me I feel...
When I hug someone else I feel...
When I see people hugging eachother I feel...
When I need a hug but can't get one I feel...
The thought of students not being able to hug eachother in school makes me...

Here's a few to get the ball rolling.
When someone hugs me I feel... better, no matter how I was feeling before.
When I hug someone else I feel... wonderful, because I am healing that person's hurts.
When I see people hugging eachother I feel... pride in humankind.
When I need a hug but can't get one I feel... lonely.
The thought of students not being able to hug eachother in school makes me... angry and determined to make a difference.

The Best, Worst, Most Important Moments

Have you ever noticed that most of best, worst, most important moments of your life include a hug?

I was 17 years old and the date was March 31, 2005; the day my dad died suddenly of a heart attack. An odd start to a "best hug" story, huh?

There are a lot of things about that day that I don't remember. But I do remember the moment when I finally broke down, the initial shock suddenly wore off and I started to cry, wail, and ultimately collaspe on my living room floor. And I remember my best friend, Sarah, hugging me. She threw her arms around me and when my knees hit the floor, she went down with me. She never let go.

It was certainly not a happy moment; in fact, it was the saddest moment of my life, but it was and still is the best, most important hug I can ever remember recieving.

Tell me about your best, most important hug memory.

The Best Things About Hugs

My favorite thing about hugs: You can have too much of practically anything in this world, but you can never have too many hugs!


I challenge everyone who reads this to post your favorite thing about hugs. =)

Thanksgiving Hugs!

Happy Thanksgiving and many hugs to you and your family!

I'm thankful for the fact that my family members love to hug each other!

What are you thankful for?