There's a quote that says something like, "The little things are the big things." Have you heard it before?
This is what comes to mind when I think about this prompt from the Silver Bloggers Community.
They asked:
What's one small, simple joy that consistently brightens your day, and why does it bring you happiness?
And what immediately comes to mind is a big, strong, firm, present hug from my partner each morning. Or really, any time of day.
There is something so soothing when he wraps his arms around me. I feel so held, so safe, so precious.
Photo credit: Andriyko Podilnyk (While this is not me, this is precisely how I feel in his arms.)
It makes me happy because when he hugs me like this I know we're okay. I know we can work through the hard times together. That I'm not alone in trying to figure out the challenges that sometimes feel like they are trying to drown me.
I know different people like to receive love in different ways. Gary Chapman wrote an entire book on the five love languages (though having observed humans through this lens for many years, I'd say there are more than that). But one of my main love languages is physical touch.
When someone I care about touches me on the shoulder, or holds my hand, or wraps their arms around me, I feel so loved.
When it's a member of my family with whom I feel really safe or one of my very close, dear friends then I feel really grateful to be so close to them. But there's no one whose big, all encompassing hugs I love more than the ones my mister gives me.