You know those moments where your heart does a tiny somersault and your soul just… exhales? Like, deep down, something shifts and softens. That’s what I mean when I say “a wholesome, soul-hugging moment.” And honestly? I’ve been chasing those lately. The kind of experiences that feel like warm light spilling through a window, or finding a note from your past self tucked in an old book, reminding you: hey, life is still good.
The last time I felt that? I was standing on a cliffside in this sleepy little coastal town, wind knotting up my hair and the sea stretching into a watercolor sky. The air smelled like salt and possibility. It wasn’t some fancy resort or a dramatic moment—it was quiet. But it hit me like a wave: this is the good stuff. That stillness, that sense of being completely present. No phone. No rush. Just being. That, to me, is what soul-hugging feels like. It sneaks up on you.
Sometimes, though, those feelings catch you in the most unexpected places. Like, not gonna lie, once it happened during a group presentation. Wild, I know. We were presenting a semester-long project we’d poured our lives into, and tensions had been high. Deadlines, disagreements, caffeine-fueled chaos. But there we were—final slide—and my teammate added a photo montage of all of us working late nights, laughing, goofing off, half-asleep with takeout boxes on our heads. It ended with a quote: “You didn’t just create a project, you created a family.” And I swear, the whole class went quiet. It was cheesy. It was perfect. Cue the warm fuzzies.
There’s also that magic in places you don’t expect. Like a corner café you wandered into by accident, only to discover they play all your favorite songs and the barista writes little affirmations on the coffee cups. Or a bookstore where you strike up a conversation with a stranger about the exact niche novel you thought no one else had read. Those little human sparks. That’s what I live for.
But okay, maybe it’s not always a place. Maybe it’s a moment. A spontaneous road trip with the windows down and your best friend scream-singing songs you both pretended to hate in middle school. Or lying on your roof, watching stars blink into existence and realizing you’ve somehow made it through everything you thought you couldn’t. Those memories? They’re stitched into the fabric of who we are. Soul-hugs in disguise.
I think we all need more of those. We scroll so much, stress so much, chase deadlines and dream-futures, and sometimes forget to feel the now. The soft, silly, wonderful now. So yeah, when I say “That sounds like something straight out of a wholesome, soul-hugging moment,” I mean the kind of experience that reminds you you’re alive—and that being alive isn’t just about doing, it’s about feeling. Deeply, messily, joyfully.
So what am I talking about? I’m talking about that trip, that place, that person, that last slide. All the tiny, enormous things that remind you: this world is still beautiful. People are still kind. And your heart still knows how to be moved, even when you forget.
So go chase the soul-hugs. Or better yet, let them find you. 🌸💫
