Hugs

Hugs.

Hugs are precious.

Hugs are priceless.

Hugs are made for every occasion!

Hugs can make you feel ...

supported,

comforted,

acknowledged,

loved,

secure,

and special.

I love hugs.

I love to give hugs.

I love to receive hugs.

And, amazingly, you can't fake a hug!

Hugs are for family.

Hugs are for friends.

Hugs are for babies, the elderly and everyone in between.

Hugs are for everybody!

There are all sorts of hugs:

bear hugs,

A-frame hugs,

cheek hugs,

sandwich hugs,

grabber-squeezer hugs,

group hugs,

side-to-side hugs,

back-to-front hugs,

heart-centred hugs,

and custom-tailored hugs.

A hug is a simple gesture that can say more than words.

So ... make sure you hug each and every day.

Hug yourself, your partner, your children, your friends, your neighbour, or your hairdresser.

Hug your extended family and make sure your hugs are sincere and full of love and grace.

"The Litte Book of Hugs" by Kathleen Keating is my source for different sorts of hugs.

Shoe laces!

This is why I love my job so much ... the joy of the unexpected!

 

Would you believe that tying shoe laces

is a perk of my job?

No?

Unbelievable?

Sounds crazy?

Well, there is more to it than meets the eye ...

and more to it than the pressure I am under to untangle ratty old laces or the desperation I feel in trying to keep them tied up!

Let's consider the customers ...

Miss M is a regular; I know her shoes as well as I know my own.

They have long white laces, full of permanent tight knots along their length, and are way too small for her feet.

Her and I often discuss how she is feeling, usually in reference

to the group of girls she hangs out with these days ...

and because she seeks me out more than once a day

I am able to pass on advice regarding her choices of behaviour

 and/or how she may choose to react to the actions of her 'friends'.

 Master D is another regular customer; although he's gone through a few pairs of shoes in the last six months.

We've been through the shoes with nylon laces, which required you to tie them every five minutes and in the process devise new types of knots (that don't work)!

We've been through the shoes without laces too, which still required your assistance as they were too tight to put back on!

He and I talk about motorbikes, the weekend to come, his hair styles, but most importantly we are establishing a trust whereby he knows I will be there whenever he needs me.

Of course, there are many more wonderful kids like

Masters T, Ky and W as well as Miss A

who regularly take advantage of the shoe tying service I provide ...

 All I can say, is that it is a privilege to tie their shoe laces and, above all, converse with them.

As I said, tying shoelaces is a perk of my job!