hugs.

i'm a huggy person. i always have been... i think. maybe not. but i've always been one to love and really care about others. my dad always told me that compassion and kindness were my greatest strengths. i never really thought anything of it and how it affected others. but the other day i got an email from a friend that really changed how i feel about it all.

here's just a portion of the letter:

I [...] want to tell you something that I have wanted to tell you for a while and due to recent events I think now would be a good time. Do you remember back [...] when we had the flamenco dance workshop? Something happened that day and you really helped me. I'm sure you don't remember this but when that class got over I went to check my phone and I read a text from my Mom. Right after I was called over to talk to you [and others]. That's when you hugged me and said a kind word. You don't know the effect that this simple little act of kindness had on me that day and it will be something that I will never forget. A week earlier our family was surprised to find out that my Dad had kidney cancer and we didn't know if it had spread or not nor would we until he had surgery. The text that my Mom sent me right before you gave me a hug read, "Dad just went into surgery." Thank you for being there for me when I needed someone. You didn't know the comforting effect that had on me and I just wanted to let you know and sincerely thank you. Thank you for always being my friend. Just like you said in your devotional last week, just being who you are can influence those around you for good, just like you influenced me. My Dad is doing very well now. It didn't spread and last week he had some radiation treatment and I think he's going to be ok. Only [two others] and now you know about this from back up and I think I'd like to keep it that way. I hope you know what a wonderful person you are and the good that you exert on other people through your kindness and thank you for sharing it with me.

...

the quote that my friend was referring to is by David O. McKay; He said the following:

“There is one responsibility which no man can evade; that responsibility is his personal influence. Man's unconscious influence is the silent, subtle radiation of personality – the effect of his words and his actions on others. This radiation is tremendous. Every moment of life man is changing, to a degree, the life of the whole world. Every man has an atmosphere which is affecting every other man, He cannot escape for one moment from this radiation of his character, this constant weakening or strengthening of others. Man cannot evade the responsibility by merely saying it is an unconscious influence. […] Man can select the qualities he would permit to be radiated […] And by these qualities he will constantly affect the world. This radiation to which a refer, comes from what a person really is, not from what he pretends to be. Every man by his mere living is radiating. […] Life is a state of radiation and absorption. To exist is to radiate; to exist is to be the recipient of radiation.”

you may not think that your attitude, your hug, or even something as small as your smile can impact someone. well, here is an example if just how much it can help someone. i encourage everyone who reads this to really become aware of what attitude you carry with you. whether you think it or not, you are easy to read and it does influence others. so... just smile. that's all you have to do. smile :)