It's All Building Blocks

On the first day of any math class I've ever been in, without fail, the teacher tells us that we can't forget what math we've learned in the past. (Cue groans and terrified expressions.) If we forget addition, then we can't subtract. If we forget Algebra, we won't grasp Calculus.
The same is true with relationships. You keep building on the past. You can't forget where you're coming from and what you've been through with anyone you're in a relationship with--relationship as in friendship, family, or marriage. The moment you forget the things you've been through together, good and bad, is the moment the relationship begins to die.
Now, I know it's hard to deal with the bad memories. Sometimes, you might want to erase them from you mind, especially on those bad days when you're fighting yet again or just plain feel awkward around each other. You can't, though. That would be your worst mistake. On those days when nothing seems right, think about the the hard times that you and your friend made it through before and then think about what kept you going.
Sometimes, most of the time, arguments can be resolved with just a hug. Today, hug someone you've snapped at. Apologize and then hug them. If you haven't been particularly snappish, then hug someone who's been sharp with you. I know that whenever I'm cruel to people, it usually means I feel unloved. I need a hug as a reminder that that isn't true.
Hugs to anyone who's had a rough week, especially to people who are sick or who have just been in a break-up.
Cheers,
Kirsti, the Hug Blogger!

Dance for Joy!

Today is my school's Homecoming Dance. What I love the most about dances is that, no matter if the people at the dance like each other at other times, at the dance, they're all friends. We all just get together and jump up and down and scream the lyrics to songs we all know. At dances, we're connected by invisible threads that make us all throw our hands--and our inhibitions--in the air.
Today was also Free Hug Day at school!
Today, turn on your favorite music and throw all your worries away. Today is Friday, my dears. Relax! Be yourself. Today, hug somebody who's feeling down and cheer them up with some good music. It's time to smile and relax for the weekend!
Cheers,
Kirsti, the hug blogger!

Merry Late Christmas. Here's Your Present!

Bellatrix Say: Blah Blah Blah 
^ For Harry Potter fans.
While I haven't been on in a while, it's because the real world caught up with me and kept me away from my lovelies, a.k.a. you. By this time next year, I will have two new people in my life to hug: my cousins are pregnant! Babies spread so much joy.
 Today, hug your family. I know everyone's about to head back to the stress and rush of work and school, but relax and enjoy the last few days of the holiday season with the ones you love. Make sure to give them lots of hugs; it's those hugs that will get them through the new year.
Take care! Until next time, keep on hugging.
Love,
Kirsti.

It's a beautiful day!

Yesterday morning, it stormed terribly, dropping the temperature from nearly 80 to the mid-60s. By the end of the day, the sky was perfectly clear and the wind had died down so that the golden leaves gently floated down from teh trees to carpet the earth. Yesterday was gorgeous in the storm and in the calm, and so is today.
Today, I challenge you to spread joy to someone else. Call someone you haven't talked to in a while, hug someone who's feeling down, and smile at the whole world.
Hugs today go to the people in this video, who show true joy:
Antwerp Dancers

Hi!/Why I'm here

My name is Kirsti. I'm a Catholic girl who loves giving hugs. My fingers are always freezing. My parents were kind of hippies, so I inherited some major peacenik genes. I have two cats and three honorary sisters who sometimes pretend to be cats.
Why does this blog exist? When I was in elementary school, I was bullied for being small, for being intelligent, for liking nerdy things like Harry Potter and classical music. That did mold my self-image the wrong way and could have molded my image of other people the wrong way, too. It didn't. Why? I moved to a Catholic school and found three best friends who were willing to put up with my quirks because they had their own vagaries. I made it through a major depression and three suicide attempts because I WAS AND AM LOVED.
My life's a gift of love. Now, I want to spread the love. The whole point of this blog is for me to give people free hugs, no strings attached. A hug doesn't cost anything, and it's easy to return. A hug is a sign that someone loves you and that everything will be okay. If you ever need one for whatever reason, this is the place to ask.
On here, I'll post inspirational stories, Bible quotes, funny anecdotes, and anything else that makes my day. I'll also give out a ton of hugs to whoever needs them.
Everyone is connected; the whole world is our family. Someone is always there for you. YOU ARE LOVED.
Hug someone new every day!
Love,
Kirsti.