June 29th is Hug Holiday Day #HugHolidayDay and I don’t know about you but I could use a hug or two. Come and join me and we can visit a Nursing Home or Senior Citizen’s Center and give everyone a hug which I’m sure they would appreciate. Also, don’t forget to hug your friends and family as well.
Hugging is a simple way to express different types of affection, from friendly, to intimate, to familial. Hugging is an action largely limited to primates while although we can find many reasons and so, in many ways, hugging sets us apart from the rest of the animal kingdom. It’s not just a differentiator, though: studies show that hugging releases oxytocin, known as the “cuddle hormone,” which can help to strengthen social bonds. So, on June 29th, we celebrate Hug Holiday. Get your hug on today!
HUG HOLIDAY ACTIVITIES
- If you haven’t seen the videos of some random person standing along a crowded sidewalk with a “free hugs” sign you should check it out. Passersby are initially skeptical, but eventually, they cave. Everyone wants a free hug! You don’t have to film your endeavor to collect all the free oxytocin!
- For some of us, hugs are a part of everyday life. But for others, hugs can be few and far between. If you’ve noticed that one of your friends could use a hug, they’d likely appreciate the offer! Consider asking first, though. Everyone has different comfort zones!
- Sometimes, life gets so busy that we forget about our basic needs and it might seem like overkill, but scheduling hugs with a person you love can be an effective way to make sure that you get your hugs in!
WHY WE LOVE HUG HOLIDAY
- The literal part is obvious you can’t be far away if you’re locked in a hug), but as we noted in the Hug Holiday description, hugging releases oxytocin into our bodies, which help to strengthen social bonds. It also brings that warm fuzzy feeling that comes after a hug — and who doesn’t want more of that?
- A study published by Psychological Science found that lots of hugging lead to “less severe illness symptoms.” In everyday terms, that means that folks with plenty of hugs in their lives get sick, they get less sick than people without hugs.
- It’s not often you find something that fends off illnesses and brings us closer to the people we love but when it’s free you have to do it?! Get your hug on, people!
Thank you,
Glenda, Charlie and David Cates
