Have You Hugged Someone Today?

Have you hugged someone today

by Janis Cox

How do you feel when you get a physical hug? I am a “hugger”.  I love to get hugs.

How many people have you hugged today?

Animals and humans have receptors that are therapeutic for touch that allows you to connect on many levels - physically and emotionally.

Physical Reasons Why We Need Hugs:

Here are a few:

  1. It lifts our serotonin levels - which can lift depression. Serotonin is one of the most important feel-good neurotransmitters. (check out this article)
  2. It can boost oxytocin levels - an anti-anxiety remedy.
  3. It strengthens our immune system. (So all those hugs you get on Sunday in church don’t give you germs but make your healthier.)
  4. It relaxes our muscles.
  5. For further reasons please drop over to 10 Reasons why we need at least 8 hugs per day.

And on the emotional level here are 7 reasons to get and give hugs.

7 Reasons why we should be giving more hugs.

Another article talked about hugs but also about connection with your children. There is some awesome information in this blog post:

10 Habits to strengthen your relationship with your child.

Jesus showed us how to touch - in healing, in reaching out to others and to loving children.

Jesus and little children

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:4, NIV).”

A few years ago I wrote this poem called The Hug.

The Hug

Warmth and love
Expressions of caring
Reach out to one another
Hug

Joy and thanksgiving
Expressions of praise
Lift our hands in love
Connect

Lord, You teach us to care
You bring our hearts closer
Feel Your Presence
Reassured by Your Hug

©JanisCox 2008 based on Psalm 98:1-9

So - remember today - hug more. I am sending a cyberspace hug to all of you.

Tweetable:

Have you hugged someone today? (tweet this)

reach-out-and-hug-someone

photo copyright @janiscox

Janis Cox

He Holds the Wheel - Janis Cox

In 2001, Janis gave her life to Christ. She started journaling as a way to organize her thoughts, feelings, and prayers. She is a member of two cross-Canadian Christian writers’ groups, The Word Guild and Inscribe Christian Writers Fellowship.

In 2012 she published an award-winning children’s book, Tadeo Turtle. Her new book,The Kingdom of Thrim, will be available soon.

Please watch the Book Trailer for The Kingdom of Thrim. 

Thrim-Cover-front-finalweb

She podcasts on Hope Stream Radio, an Internet radio station. Her talk Growing Through God’s Word can be heard each Tuesday.

Janis loves to tell others about what God has done and is doing in her life.

Janis can be reached on her website, Growing Through God’s Word and on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter.

Please join her at Word of God Speak Facebook Group to learn more about memorizing Scripture through art. Please click to get 2 Free Ebooks, Living Life – One Word at a Time and Five Ways God Changed Me.

Tags: depression, hugs, immune system, , oxytocin, serotonin

2 responses to “Have You Hugged Someone Today?

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