Are you a hugger? I definitely am. Always have been and always will be so this COVID 19 thing is wreaking havoc with my hug ability. It may seem silly but I love to hug and receive hugs. Sure, a handshake is nice. An elbow bump like we were practicing just 3 weeks ago was quirky and fun. But hugs ….nothing can replace them.
I remember reading years ago that the human body needed 4 hugs a day to survive. Well, upon looking it up online (the ultimate source of all things true) I discovered that that number appears to have sometime been bumped up to 8. Yes, 8 hugs a day is what is recommended for an adult to have in order to maintain good health both mentally and physically. Now I can not site statistics or show graphs or charts but it seems that that is the consensus online. 8 daily hugs make an adult human happy.
I have started bugging Chris for more hugs since he is my only source right now. Maksim and Holly don’t hug. While they do a lot of great things (tune in later this week for more Maksim madness) they can not hug. So poor Chris is the recipient and I am keeping tally marks on my calendar daily to show our progress towards completing that goal. Goodness knows there isn’t much else on my calendar right now so I might as well mark it up with hug tally marks.
The benefits of hugs are many fold.
Hugging activates the hormone oxytocin, which makes us feel all warm and fuzzy. That’s a good thing.
Hugging has been proven to reduce the amount of cortisol (stress hormone) in our bodies and as a result calms us and sends that message to our brain.
Physical touch such as hugging also helps reduce loneliness. Just think about the power of the last hug you received.
I simply cannot find a downside to consensual hugging. It is the all encompassing feel good for me and I am missing that with friends. I am so grateful I have a husband who is a hugger as well and who senses when I need one. Or eight.
Take time to hug that person today that you are able to and make it last 20 seconds. I would love to hear how if you are missing physical contact during this pandemic. Leave me a comment and Comment for a Cause for WHO Covid 19 Solidarity Fund.
17 Comments
Leave a commentAw…. I, too, am a hugger! My earliest memories are of my mom, my grandma, my sisters…all of us hugging every time we met for a visit AND again when we departed. Hubby is a hugger, and so is Marshall (although those are more ‘air hugs’ right now). That’s interesting to know that humans need 8 hugs per day. What about those poor folks who aren’t huggers????
I think non huggers must be lacking something —don’t you think? I can’t imagine. Air hugs will get us through until we are given the all clear again. I can. not. wait!
For those of us in the southern United States, this is a culture shock. Hugging is just so part of our lives.
That is so true! Hugging is definitely a part of our lives and we will all be saving up our hugs till we can safely hug again.
Me too! I come from a family of huggers. I give Dot quite a few hugs and it may annoy her but she is a tolerant puppy. Yes, Paul gets lots of hugs too. Sending out lots of virtual hugs lately. One is coming your way! xo
Thanks, Darlene. We all need all of the virtual hugs we can get at this point, right? Glad Dot tolerates hugs— I am sure that she benefits from them as much as we do!
Neither my husband nor I are big huggers, but I must admit, I do enjoy receiving hugs from him. I hug my dog though, my cat does not like hugs so I just pet her. That number really surprises me! I thought it was one a day.
I know! I was surprised the common number across the board was 8! That’s a lot of hugs for non huggers! But your animals are filling that in you and that is as it should be! Hug those pets as much as they let you! Stay well, Karen, and thanks for stopping by!
I’m so glad I have 4 other people in the house that I can hug when the mood strikes. I’m definitely a hugger and will stop what I’m doing to steal one from someone I love. Sending you a big virtual squeeze! xoxo
My family weren’t huggers when we were growing up, but as adults, living across the country from each other and only seeing everyone 1 or 2 times a year, we got a lot better at it. Could really use a hug from my mom about now.
I didn’t grow up in a family of huggers. I don’t miss not hugging people, but can’t help wondering if one of the longterm changes in our world will be less hugging in social situations.
Yes, I am a hugger and I grew up in a family of huggers, so this is very hard for us right now. But I have 2 recipients here while we shelter in place – hubby and granddaughter.
From a small girl til now I love my hugs. I too am thankful that my Chuck is a huger. In my opinion they are needed for many reasons. A huger is a part of who I am and proud of it.
I miss hugging (and being with) my sweet grandchildren. And my children…and my friends.
I’m a huge hugger so I get it! Sending you a virtual hug! xo
Definitely a hugger here! I saw my girls today from yoga, and it was so hard not to hug them!! Mike and I hug constantly…and those pups get lots of love from their momma.
I love receiving and giving hugs. That and laughter is the greatest healer.