I would say putting the grid setting worked.  What didn’t work was taking pictures of people hugging.  My thoughts on rule of thirds is that it can help to make the picture better and more interesting.  My thoughts haven’t changed really.  So there is 2 lines going vertically and 2 lines horizontal, you have to put the main thing in your picture on one of the 2 lines.  I usually put the object in one of the 2 lines.  You can see the rest of my photos here.