Sometimes there is just nothing better than a great big hug. HUG — Having Unbelievable Gratitude.

There are people in your life that you know deserve a hug. There are people in your life that wish that you would just hug them. And then there are people in your life that you wish you could hug because you know that they need a hug right now, right this very minute.

Cavett Robert said that there are 3 billion people on the planet that go to bed hungry every night. But he added that there are 4 billion people that go to bed hungry every night for a word of hope and encouragement.

How many people in your immediate family, circle of friends, or sphere of influence need a hug right now? My guess is just about everyone.

Think about the acronym HUG as “Having Unbelievable Gratitude.”

If you are truly grateful for what an individual has done for you or in your life, or maybe because you know what that person has contributed to the lives of others, or maybe you just know that you are grateful for having played a role in their life, or even if you just are aware that they are struggling and need to feel loved and appreciated, please stop what you are doing, stop reading this column, and just reach out and hug that person right now.

If they are not in the immediate vicinity and a physical hug is impossible, please e-mail them, or better yet pick up a card or piece of paper and write them a hand written note. Call them, text a friend or loved one, and tell them that “this is a hug from me and I am so grateful for having you in my life.”

I have heard it said that life is a series of presentations, or life is a series of communications. The truth is that we are physical, emotional and spiritual beings and we long for loving, assuring, and meaningful recognition from those most important to us. It could be our spouse, our children, our friends, or co-workers, or our bosses.

Think about this, in some households a parent will awake in the morning and roust the children and their spouse with a loud and almost antagonistic voice, bellowing for the family to wake up and that they are late for school or work. So loud that the next door neighbors can hear the wake-up call. Then they gently, lovingly, and with total compassion kneel down and rub the dog or cat’s belly saying, “good morning puppy/kitten.”

Wake your family up with a verbal or written hug. If you travel, send a text that they will receive when they awaken, leave a note under their pillow, or enter their room and nudge them awake letting them know just how grateful you are that they are your spouse and your children. Give them that emotional, verbal, and physical hug.

Make 2010 the year of the HUG. Your family, your friends, your co-workers, direct reports, and customers are waiting for it, they are hoping for it!

Let me know how about your favorite hug or how you plan on making 2010 the year of the HUG at msnorton@comcast.net and together let us make 2010 a better than good year.

Michael Norton, a resident of Highlands Ranch, is the former president of the Zig Ziglar organization and CEO and founder of www.candogo.com.