Hugs

The mundane feeling of building the business can get to a Director of Marketing when there is a huge slump in sales.  From time to time, I have to remind myself why I chose this particular position to begin with.  Today was one of those days.

I have worked hard on my relationships in the community, both professional and with local neighborhoods.  My attention to detail with trends for the month have brought a sense of defeat.  So, I gathered my will to put one foot in front of the other and kept my commitment to a marketing/networking luncheon today.

For several months, I have closed myself off to the possibility of allowing anyone within two feet of my personal space.  This is a change for me since I grew up being an expressive, demonstrative, and hug-gable kind of person.  So, I walked into the meeting room, which was about the size of a hotel lobby.  There were about forty people gathered and I know almost everyone of them.  In fact, I have been in the area for nearly 20 years and these folks know my name pretty well.

It was no surprise that I was greeted with smiles and hellos.  What caught me off guard was the fact that I opened my arms to receive hugs.  At first a person or two came up and said my name pretty loud and hugged me with a pat on the back and back-a-way kind of hug.  Then every person standing around began to hug me.  The hugs began to feel like bear hugs.  I realized as I opened myself up more and became more vulnerable to the hugs, the better the hugs became.

By the time the meeting started, I was walking on the clouds.  My sense of failure had turned to achievement and success.  It caught me by surprise to the point when it was my turn to speak, I dared take a detour and stepped out of the "marketing/sales pitch zone".  I talked about how incredible it felt to be received with open arms, smiles, and having my name called out with such enthusiasm.  I talked about how we can all make a difference in every life if we hugged more.  Each of us are here to serve in healthcare.  If we could just be vulnerable to open up and share the Love and a simple but powerful hug, it would be so well received.

The atmosphere of the room changed.  Everyone clapped.  Some were giggling at me.  Others smiling big and asking for more hugs.  One guy who came in late asked if he could have a hug since he didn't get to one.  So, I hugged him.  This kind of energy is contagious.  It is so needed.  It is healthy.  It is a happy kind of place to be.

After the luncheon I went back to my office.  Within half an hour, one of the professionals from the luncheon walked through the door, asking to speak to me.  She said "You are contagious.  Your energy is infectious.  No wonder everyone wants to hug you!"    Then she opened her arms and said, "Can I  have a hug?"