One thing that my dad and I always try to do is talk to each other about how we’re doing. Even though my dad lives in New York and I live in Pennsylvania, we always try to get together and talk about stuff, and one thing we talk about a lot is our happiness. One thing that brings both of us happiness is one simple act: a hug. For us, hugs mean a lot more that, “Oh, I missed you and I’m glad I get to see you now”. Hugs mean “I love you so much, and I’m glad that you are safe, and I am so grateful to have you in my life.” Hugs are so important for many reasons, and I want to discuss five of them.

1. Hugging someone releases Oxytocin and dopamine into our system.

Oxytocin is a chemical that is released when mothers are in childbirth, making them forget all of the pain that they just went through and makes them want to love and cherish their child. It lowers our heart rate and cortisol levels. Cortisol is a hormone that is responsible for stress, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Dopamine is the pleasure hormone, so when we hug someone, we’re basically increasing human bonding and pleasure and decreasing stress and common heart ailments. Um, yes please!!

2. Hugs are like laughter

they make you live in the present, and let go of everything else that is in your life, whether it be stress, deadlines, anger, schoolwork, sadness, or anything else.

3.Hugs teach us to give and receive.

They teach us that love goes both ways, and is not one-sided. Receiving and giving hugs show us that there is equal value in giving and receiving. Basically, giving someone a hug and getting a hug from someone might be just what you or someone else needed at that moment.

4. Hugging relaxes muscles.

Hugs release tension in the body and can take away pain. Hugging actually increases circulation into the soft tissues! So if you’ve ever fallen down as a kid and scraped your knee, that might be why when mom hugged you and told you that you would be okay, it actually felt better. Sorry if I just ruined the whole “moms have special healing powers” legend. My bad.

5. They’re just great.