Soooo Grateful for Kindness, Conversation and Warm Sincere, Genuine, Tight Hugs Over a Meal, Especially/Even if….From the Most Least Expected Source. Palpable Warmth, Trust & Care from a Near Stranger From A Chance Meeting via /r/gratitude

Monday, was still reeling from the last week's events which were shocking, confusing, unforeseen and came to a head Thurs Fri in a shocking, unfathomable, confusing, hurtful etc startling, negatively impactful manner. (traumatizing and trust breaking).

I went into a place for some lunch and saw a young native man that we likely otherwise would not have crossed paths but had bonded over a game similar to Jeopardy a few months earlier at a social gathering. He had such a beaming smile and so much warmth.

He saw I was having a hard time from my face, my more subdued nature and my words shared, and he invited me to sit and talk.

We got our meal and we hugged a hug that was just just like a knowing hug, the kind that said… "I see you. I understand" It was so nice.

Then we talked, shared, validated. It was all so compassionate and warm, caring, understanding between us – such an unusual pair, that somehow seemed to come to trust one another.

We laughed too. We understood having been there and the feelings of having been treated so poorly.

The meal was over.

Again we hugged and what a hug it was – similar to what one might get from a best friend or from ones Grandmother. It was so connecting, so very tight, the kind thats says – I really care for you as a person…the kind that most people dont know how to or are too afraid to give. It really took me by surprise. I had not had a hug this long or this tight in forever-perhaps since my bestie moved across the country. It occurred to me that I was an older woman and he was a younger man and that I should wonder……. hmmm…. or feel awkward but I returned my thoughts to the hug. My body and my intuition, my spiritual knowing – all said – this is real and there is nothing uncomfortable or uneasy at all, it was not like that. It was just the most beautiful authentic genuine sincere, at ease embrace I have ever had with someone I had not already known a lifetime. This was the type of hug and empathy I extend to others if I see them hurting and the kind many accept, lean into, then pull away from, comforted but unable to remain. It was the type of hug that is healing. It was truly beautiful. It left me feeling surprised and nurtured.

As I walked, I thought of my brother and the tight full embracing hugs we used to share and how I miss him after the disintegration of our family, after the void, vacuum, heart break.

I have wanted to find and create chosen family.

I would love for this fella to be my new little brother but I hesitate he does struggle with substances and spend time with people I could not trust so I hesitate to let him in further. I need to keep myself, my inner world, my home etc safe. He does strive for goals though ~ Perhaps I can mentor and guide him. … over lunches perhaps.

One never knows….. perhaps I may have a brother and a friend. We will see. This is lovely and good too, as it is, it is a blessing,

This lunch with a beautiful heart and a beautiful human being that values and extends care and warmth as much as I do was extraordinary.

I cannot express the level of genuine warmth care connection.

I was and I am – so grateful for this experience, for this time spent, for the conversation/understanding/compassion. I am so grateful for the healing deep hugs so sincere.

I am grateful our paths crossed then and now again. I am grateful for this human being and kind beautiful soul, for the exchange of empathy and connect and beauty …something extended and accepted that is progressively, now a days so untrusted and so rare.

I was touched deeply by the depth and authenticity of this person and this experience.

Really impressed, and much more appreciative.

Really grateful for that connection, that experience, that moment.