HUGGING

It's wondrous what a hug can do.

A hug can cheer you when you're blue

A hug can say, "I love you so,"

Or, "I hate to see you go."

A hug is "Welcome back again."

And "Great to see you! Where 'er you been?

A hug can soothe a small child's pain

And bring a rainbow after rain.

The hug, there's just no doubt about it --

We scarcely could survive without it!

A hug delights and warms and charms;

It must be why God gave us arms

Hugs are great for fathers and mothers,

Sweet for sisters, swell for brothers;

And chances are your favorite aunts

love them more than potted plants.

Kittens crave them, puppies love them,

Heads of states are not above them.

A hug can break the language barrier

And make your travel so much merrier.

No need to fret about your store of 'em;

The more you give, the more there's more of 'em.

So stretch those arms without delay

And give someone a hug today!

Dean Walley, the Messenger.

Hugging can be vital for your emotional well-being. Everybody feels skin hunger throughout their lives, and unless that hunger is satisfied by touching, there's a vital void in the emotional make-up that's going to cause deep unhappiness. We all know that babies thrive on frequent stroking. Well, adults are no different. When they are not patted on the hand, embraced around the shoulder or hugged, they withdraw into themselves. I prescribe four hugs a day for survival, eight for maintenance and twelve for growth. 

Dr. Virginai Satir in Homemade, March, 1990.

Hugs are not only nice; they are needed. Hugs can relieve pain and depression, make the healthy healthier, the happy happier and the most secure among us even more so. Hugging feels good, overcomes fear, eases tension, provides stretching exercise if you're short and stooping exercise if you're tall. Hugging does not upset the environment, saves heat and requires no special equipment. It makes happy days happier and impossible days possible. 

Kathy Tobin.