Embracing National Hugging Day

If I told you that there was a pill that could help improve your mood, reduce your stress, lower your blood pressure, and strengthen your immune system, would you be interested?

That’s not all! There are no side effects, other than the chance of warm feelings and a smile on your face.  Not bad, eh? And here’s the kicker — it’s free and available anytime.

Sound like an informercial? Well, I’m not selling anything you can’t get on your own… I’m talking about hugs. And since today is National Hugging Day, it seems like a good time to recognize their importance.

The Embrace Imperative

We need human touch, pure and simple. This isn’t some treacly tenet made for greeting cards… it’s a scientifically proven imperative. From the moment we leave the womb, we require love in the form of direct physical contact. It’s essential in the development of babies and children, but adults need it as well and it offers a wealth of benefits (including the ones mentioned above). And whenever we hug/are hugged, our bodies release oxytocin, a feel-good substance sometimes referred to as the “cuddle hormone” – so there’s a chemical incentive that keeps us connecting in this way.

When I was growing up, hugging wasn’t a big part of my life (and it wasn’t the cultural phenomenon it is today). So when my late wife Robbie’s business partner, Evan – a bear of a man and an inveterate hugger – would greet me, I did not look forward to the inevitable, enthusiastic embraces. Rather, I politely endured them. And then one day I admitted to myself that they actually felt good.

Hugs impact us on a deeper level than we realize. When our son, Matt, was young and couldn’t sleep, Robbie and I used the power of the hug to help him feel safe and loved.  If he was restless or struggling to sleep, we would have him take some deep breaths to relax, give him a warm hug, and whisper, “Mommy loves you, and Daddy loves you.” Then we’d help him visualize the same thing with every relative, friend, and teacher so he could actually feel their hugs. Eventually, he fell contentedly asleep. Not only did it help our son to sleep and feel loved, it also allowed that feeling to work its way deep into his subconscious.

The Consequences of Connecting

Hugging allows us to connect with others. It benefits both the giver and receiver—it makes us all feel good and offers a raft of health and mood benefits. So why do we need a “day” for hugging?

As is so often the case, we sometimes need a reminder. That we need hugs, of course, but it also reminds us of everything that hugs represent.

There are so many examples of people who understand the impact hugs can have. Like Free Mom Hugs, an organization which started after its founder offered hugs and high-fives to people marching in a Pride parade. Inspired by their example, a father in Pennsylvania decided to go to the Pittsburgh Pride parade and offer “free Dad hugs” to anyone who wanted them.  The results were powerful.

More recently, a woman from Florida hugged a stranger she thought was washing her windshield. Turns out, it wasn’t her car. Her laughter-filled video reporting the misunderstanding went viral, Ellen DeGeneres rewarded her with $20,000.

The Guru in You

Hugs are so powerful, in fact, that a guru in India has made it a part of her life’s work. Known as the “hugging saint,” Mata Amritanandamayi (who is better known as Amma, which means “mother”) is a Hindu spiritual leader and humanitarian who has hugged – wait for it – more than 40 million people in her life.

People around the world line up for the opportunity to be embraced by Amma, who can sometimes embark on hugging marathons that last up to 24 hours. “Amma is the embodiment of pure love,” said Deepak Chopra. “Her presence heals.”

There it is. That’s the heart of why hugging is so essential. It not only nourishes us emotionally, it can actually heal us.

Amma has devoted her life to spirituality and service, but she isn’t doing anything other than what we all have the ability to do.  She, like us, can send a message without saying a word:

You are loved.

You don’t need to be a guru. You just need an open heart.

P.S. And frankly, you don’t even have to be in the same zip code. Some of my favorite people infuse emails and texts with liberal doses of love and understanding. Digital hugs can be just as powerful as physical ones. Happy Hugging Day!