I could get all sciency and talk about 20 seconds of physical contact causing the participants to release oxytocin (the love hormone), giving a whoosh of feel good and improving mood.
Or, I could just remind you that a hug feels good, particularly in these days of social distancing when people are taking care of who they choose to have physical contact with.
Family therapist Virginia Satir once said “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” Wow…that is a lot of hugs, although many parents of young children might easily pass that number by lunchtime!
This National Hug Day literally reach out to people you feel comfortable hugging and share a good squeeze, lingering a little in the embrace. It’s a great reminder that we are social, and physical beings, and this matters for our mental and physical health.
Who do you most want to hug today?
