Are you an awkward hugger???

There are some people who I just love. Obviously my parents and brothers, family etc. that goes without saying. But I was wondering if other people get this or not. Do you ever just meet/find people who it doesn't matter what they do, you just love them wholeheartedly?

This has happened to me with quite a few people over the past couple of years and to be honest it's kind of weirded me out. I'm not sure if its just a personality thing or something about certain people which makes them so lovable, but it even happens to people I don't really know all that well or have know for only a short period of time.

For instance Con. He is one of my best male friends. What is bizarre is I met him when I was 16 and he was my youth pastor, and shortly after my baptism I knew I loved him. Platonic people, hold your horses I'm not confessing a long-term unrequited love here. But I trusted, respected and just loved him as a friend, a brother, a confidant.

Anna/Masonater who mentored me at St. Andrews and who I have been able to chill out, drink wine, and more importantly drink coffee and eat good food with. I loved her almost immediately after we first hung out. *

Beks I loved straight up, from the Christmas we met and did Dr Zoidberg impressions with Carter at Chorleywood's Christmas village night.

The way we each express love, is also really bizarre. A couple of years ago I did a leadership course with Onelife. And on a weekend away we learn't about love languages. That's right, there is a whole lingo for love- who knew?! 

There are 5 apparently: Physical touch, Words of Affirmation, Acts of Service, Quality time and Gifts. My top two (pretty much joint) were Words of Affirmation and Quality time. Write me a card, spend some time with me and I'm happy as larry.

Physical touch is my lowest, again a strange category I think because I do like hugs, but as I've come to realise only from people I know and trust. Man am I awkward when they're not... 

For instance many of you "physical touch" people may not think about this, but when you hug, do you squeeze, pat or rub the other person's back?! Do you go for the side-hug or the full-frontal bear hug? This always crosses my mind, normally mid hug, then I just freeze.

Hugs with people I've just met, feels wrong. If you immediately hug me, know that you have completely freaked me out.

Side huggers, I generally trust you and like you, especially if you are tall...

Tall people. I am 5ft 2". So when we hug, please bend down otherwise my face gets squished into your chest/stomach and if you were expecting a long hug it can't happen because I won't be able to breathe.

People who like long hugs.  What am I meant to do with people who are standing behind you and my head is over your shoulder? Do I close my eyes? Or look at them directly?! 

And finally backward huggers: this could be a whole blog post.

In short, why? Just why? When you backwards hug me and I don't know you very well, I cannot be held responsible for elbowing you in the stomach, I'm sorry, it's just wrong. 

I found this on the internet which was hilarious (yes I did just google awkward hugs):

Despite these strange love languages, love in whichever form you express it is brilliant. I am a hopeless romantic, and a bit of a dreamer. I seem to be a person who loves strongly and so can get hurt quite deeply. Mama G has told me countless times to guard my heart more closely. To not be too open and trusting with too many people and I have tried to do that to an extent.

 Yet ultimately as much as it may hurt if someone doesn't love you back, I've come to realise that it can also be just as painful to not love people in your life wholeheartedly. I have a circle of people who I trust and love dearly, and so coming to uni to extend that has been weird and at times challenging, but ultimately by loving people and letting them in has been much more heartwarming than when I have tried rather poorly to be careful and guarded. To those of you whom I have perhaps not opened up to properly I'm sorry, I've not always been great with it this year. Who knows, maybe next time I see you I'll go for the hug (I know, brave). Anyway I have digressed too far from any running news!

Running:
So the news from the Physio on Tuesday is that I have hypermobile hips. Which sounds like I've been doing too much wiggling or booty shaking (Beyonce eat your heart out):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m1EFMoRFvY

In reality though it means I'm just uber flexible in my hips and when I run for too long, my core stability muscles get tired and can't stop my hips going all 'mobile' in their sockets. Anyway, I just have to do some exercises (basically these weird hip thrusts) and limit my long runs to about 7 miles per week (and maybe try out pilates) and then I can build up the mileage again.

So Monday was my last 10 miles for a little while, but I should be good to run the half Marathon at Silverstone on 3rd March- woo!!

Have a good weekend Amigos :) xx

*There are loads of other people I could name, but didn't want to overload the blog!

-Disclaimer- please don't think that I absolutely hate hugs, I am getting better at my 'physical touch' lovin. In short, please don't stop hugging me if you already do, that'll be weird.-