Hugs and Kisses....Part 1.

"My Girl" (1991)

I recently read an article entitled “The Power of Touch” (Feb 2012, Good Housekeeping).  To be honest, I had already been considering writing a post on the blog about this topic, so when I found the magazine article, I had even more to work with!  The article focuses on recent scientific studies about the impact of physical touch in a person’s life.  Here’s an excerpt:

“Tactile sensation, from massage to a pat on the back to hugs, can help premature babies gain weight, accelerate recovery from illness, and calm us when we are afraid.  One study showed that students are more likely to enjoy the library and return if the librarian touches the back of their hand when they check out a book.”

The magic of touch really fascinates me.  I mean, obviously we all know that children need to be held, and especially when they are scared or sad.  And we all know how much a big hug can mean to us when we’ve had a really bad day.  But I guess the part that fascinates me is that there is actually scientific proof that physical touch can have a profound impact on who we are.  The article I mentioned focused on four big impacts that touch has:

1.       It Can Make You Healthier: “…a 2004 study from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill found that sharing a love seat with a partner for 10 minutes lowered blood pressure in premenopausal women.  That study also concluded that women have reduced heart rates when they get lots of hugs.”  This is so amazing.  Imagine that---just sitting on the couch with the one you love, snuggling with them, can keep you healthy!

2.       It Can Make You Smarter and Less Stressed:  This one just blew me away!  “Researchers at the University of Miami had people do a difficult math problem, then had them do it again after receiving a chair massage.  Post-massage, subjects showed increased speed and accuracy in solving the problems as well as more pleasure in the task, thanks to the reduction of stress”.

3.       It Shifts Your Worldview: In this section, they remind us that touch does not always mean with another person, it can also be an object—the focus is the tactile sensation, not necessarily where the source is!  “…a 2008 Yale study by social psychologist John Bargh showed that people tend to think more warmly of others if they’re holding something warm”.

4.       It Can Deepen Your Relationships:  Believe it or not, this is a real quote from the article!  And yes, you are reading it right, this is about men, not women!  “…for men between the ages of 40 and 70, regular cuddling was more important than sex.  The more men hugged and kissed, the happier they considered their relationships.”  Imagine that!

I was so happy to find this article, and I pray that each and every one of you can remember the importance of touch in our daily lives. If you are a parent, remember to hug and kiss your kids, and to do it often.  Touch their hand when they are sitting next to you, or rub their backs when they are going to sleep.  And remember the grown-ups in your life, too! The next time your husband or wife walk in the door, go over to them and give them a big, huge bear-hug.  You know, kisses are great, but let’s not forget about the hugs!

The article finished with a list of “The Best Movie Hugs of All Time”.  Tune in next Saturday to see which on-screen hugs they picked (hint...one of them is pictured to the right!), and also to hear my thoughts on hugging/touching and how the American culture really needs to get on board! (in my opinion!)

In the meantime, which “movie hugs” would make the top of your list? And how about your own life, what are some of your favorite ways to make people feel your love by the power of touch? Please share!