Some Days Are Gifts

This Christmas I received the best gift. In truth, I received it many times over. It is a gift that money cannot buy. It is something I am certain many people gave and received this past week, be they young or old, rich or poor, content or grieving. It was something given and received on Christmas Day even by those who do not celebrate Christmas. It is very possible that lives were touched and changed in the giving and receiving of this gift.

This gift is pretty amazing. It can calm the nervous system and decrease blood pressure. It can relax muscles and relieve tension. It can reduce stress and induce sleep.  Plus it is 100% organic and drug-free.

Have you guessed what it is yet? Well, there is more!

This gift can immediately dissipate loneliness and anger. It can instill feelings of safety and connectedness. It can energize. It can communicate love and care.

And it costs nothing. Nada. Free. What a gift!

Our family of three gathered with the extended Shuler family in St. Louis this Christmas. When we arrived, we exchanged this gift. When a new Shuler faction arrived, we exchanged once again. It had been a long time since several of us had been together and even longer since all of us were together. So it felt good to gift each other again and again throughout our stay. My daughter gave me this gift multiple times. Sometimes her gift-giving was so intense, it took my breathe away. When we left for our separate homes this weekend, we gave this gift to each other one last time. Some of us tearfully held on to the giving and receiving for a good long time.

Have you figured out what this fabulous, healthy, emotionally uplifting, wholesome, nontaxable gift can be?

It is a hug.

There was a public service announcement back in the 80's that asked, "Have you hugged your kid today?"  Excellent public reminder.

Wimp.com posted a Free Hug video this morning. The young man in the video shared hugs with the very young and the very old, with men and woman, with the business-suit clad and the workout clad. There were group hugs and solitary hugs. It is heartwarming and fun to watch.

Many of us have seen the viral photo of a Ferguson police sergeant and a 12-year-old hugging. The 12-year-old was holding a 'Free Hugs" sign. It is being referred to as "the hug shared around the world."

There is a line of products marketed under the phrase "consider yourself hugged." The phrase started when a young student went away to college. She always signed her letters home "consider yourself hugged." Her hug led to a whole line of blankets, pillows, and t-shirts to remind the recipients to do just that, consider themselves hugged.

Then there is this: {Hug} Or this: \(*.*)/  Cyberhugs, promises of hugs waiting.

Virginia Satir, a psychologist, calculated, "We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth."  How hard could it be to advance from mere survival to growth? As hard as giving and receiving 8 hugs, it would seem. Not so hard. Soft in fact.

It is easy to forget or at least minimize the powerful, life affirming benefits of a hug. Now that I have given this some thought, I hope to never take a good hug for granted. Nor do I hope to withhold a hug when the urge to hug strikes.

Tidings of comfort and joy to all! And, until we meet again,  \(*.*)/