Today is "Hug Holiday"

  

Don't you just love it when your grandchildren show their imagination? Well, nine years ago when my youngest grandson was three, he looked at his Poppa and said; "I'm Kenobi, Kenobi." Then ran at him to attack! Apparently Kenobi, Kenobi (Obi Wan Kenobi) decided Poppa was Darth Vadar and had to attack him! Kenobi, Kenobi did very well - defeated Darth Vadar. I asked him if Poppa might be tired (after about 20 minutes of running full bore at poppa, arms - light sabers - flailing) and maybe he was in need of a hug. To which he said (rather indignantly) "He is NOT Poppa. He is Darth Vadar. I can NOT hug him!" Of course he can not!

This memory is a treasure - it makes me smile remembering it all over again. I have this memory because I was willing to invest the time in my grandson - and all my grands. I didn't limit their time at my home thinking I had already done my job raising children and now it was their parent's job. I always welcome them to my home and rejoice each time they come and I spend time with them. My grands were at my home this past weekend and while they are too old to decide they are "Kenobi Kenobi", the time spent with them is something I will continue to treasure - all of my life.

Today is "Hug Holiday", so thinking about hugs reminded me of my youngest grand and the time I just shared. We know hugs are good for our grandchildren and for us, so if you live near your grandchildren, make time to visit and hand out some of those good-for-you hugs - especially today!

If you do not live near them, consider the following ideas . . .

• Give a "virtual hug" by making a call with facetime. Tell your grandchildren to wrap their arms around themselves and then, "send" the hug!
• Make a "paper hug" by taping paper end to end, extend your arms and lay down with your arms on the paper, have someone trace around your arms, decorate and write messages then cut out the arms - connect across where your body is to make a big "hug". Mail it to your grandchildren. If you use a colorful lipstick and "kiss" the "hug", you will be able to send them "hugs & kisses"!
• Any package you send, be sure to include a few Hershey hugs - and kisses - just for the fun of it!

Of course, hugs in person are the best, so make time to connect with your grandchildren in person and be generous with those healthy hugs! Consider some of the following ways to enjoy "Hug Holiday" -

• Start a "free hug" campaign - you've seen the videos: some random person standing along a crowded sidewalk with a "free hugs" sign. 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!
• Hug a friend - For some of us, hugs are a part of everyday life. But for others, they 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!
• Schedule a hug - Sometimes, life gets so busy that we forget about our basic needs. 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!

Hugs are good for us and they also have additional benefits . . .

• They bring us closer - 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?
• Hugs fend off illnesses - 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.
• Hugs are free - 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?! Get your hug on, people!

So, today, unless you have to hug Darth Vader - hug someone - and then do the same thing tomorrow and the next day, and the next day . . .

Happy Hug Holiday!