We’re headed into that heart month – February.
Flowers & cards.
Chocolate.
Dinner for two.
Intimacy.
What about your heart?
I’m not talking only about emotions… I’m talking about the physical muscle!
How is that muscle beating in your chest?
(The one that flutters when your spouse walks in the room!)
Would you like to encourage your spouse AND strengthen their heart?
Spend time hugging.
A hug. Sixty Seconds. One minute.
Benefits from hugging – research done by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill :
Higher levels of Oxytocin. Oxytocin has been linked to feelings of contentment, calmness, security, bonding, and trust. Higher levels decrease anxiety and fear. Physiologically, oxytocin causes the “letdown reflex” for nursing moms, uterine contraction, and increased wound healing. All good stuff, right?
Lowered Blood Pressure. About 1 in 3 adults in the USA has high blood pressure. (I do. Rob doesn’t.) How is your blood pressure? How about your spouse? In the above study, it was shown that hugging reduces blood pressure. Healthy blood pressure is linked to decreased risk of: coronary heart disease, kidney disease, and stroke. Apparently a healthy heart is good to have!
Take the time to hug your spouse.
Hug.
Chest to Chest.
Hug. From behind.
Hug.
Lying down, standing up, sitting on the couch, inside, outside, on the street, in the kitchen, at the door, in the car, morning, noon, and night, at the top of the hour, at the quarter hour, at breakfast, at bedtime, hug hard, hug long, hug with both arms wrapped around each other.
And then do it again.
And again.
Hugs feel good. They’re beneficial for your heart.
When was the last time you hugged your spouse for 60-seconds?
Leave a comment – let’s start a hugging epidemic!
Linking up with
Happy Wives Club – Why I love my husband!
(As you can imagine, I love Rob because he always – everyday for the last 30+ years – has hugged me. 😉 )
ps – I’m a blogger – not a doctor. I have no training in health care.
If, for some reason your doctor says you shouldn’t hug – please don’t…. 😛 😎
We all need to be hugged. I am sending you a big hug right now. Thanks for the great post and responding on my blog.
Glad you enjoyed – and I was happy to connect and read on your blog, Joanne.
I absolutely adore this post! Somewhere I heard that you need to hug for a minute until your breathing matches up. My husband laughs and barely tolerates that. We don’t hug enough. Thanks for the reminder!
Amy
Hey Amy – every couple is unique. Blessings to you and your hubby and may you induce many more chuckles, even it’s just over a wrestle to hug!
I love this post.
What is your stand on reprints? I tried looking on your site and I don’t see any copyright information. (I compile a newsletter for our local homeschool support group and would like to include some of your writings to encourage our members. I would include a link to the original source and ensure proper credit.)
Hey Michele – thanks for liking what you’re reading, and for pointing out something I need to address. I’ll email you directly.
ps – I’m a “graduated” homeschooling mom, and did our group newsletter too!
I love the research from hugging. I also remember reading someone about how long you’re supposed to kiss. Is it at least 7 seconds? I don’t recall but we try to max out in each of these departments :). Thanks for linking up to our Why I Love My Husband party, Lori!
Oh Fawn – imagine if we ALL worked on “maxing out” in the areas of kissing & hugging… Fun, huh?