#JusJoJan 13th – Embrace

Today, the prompt is brought to us by the lovely Laura. Thank you, Laura! Please be sure to visit Laura’s blog to read her posts and say hello. And follow her while you’re there if you’re not already.

Your prompt for JusJoJan January 13th, 2025 is “embrace.” Use it any way you’d like. Enjoy!

Embrace is the more formal word for one of my favourite things.

A hug, or a cuddle.

I am a hugger. If you’ve met me, you would already know that.

I start and end any meeting with people I care about with hugs.

I get it from Pops. He is the best hugger in the world.

And I know there are people who don’t like hugs, so I am mindful but I have to tell you that I have converted a few over the years. Lil Princess is not fond of physical touch, so we have our side hugs that we have perfected, but she won’t accept them from just anyone…

I love my job because the children of that age are so affectionate and they are always throwing their arms around us, and within reason, and with safeguarding in place, there is not much a squeeze from a 4 year old can’t solve.

Did you know the health benefits of an embrace, or a hug?

That physical contact releases oxytocin, or the ‘love hormone’. It can support the bonding and emotional connection within a relationship.

Hugs are proven stress busters! (Unless you are one of those who finds it hard to be touched.)

A hug can bring your mood up!

They increase seratonin and dopamine, which are essential for well-being and happiness.

And the optimal length of time for a hug is 5-10 seconds, as it is deemed the most comfortable, and will reap some of the above benefits.

But, if you can manage 20 seconds…it can be good for your heart, reduce blood pressure and stress!

See, a hug is like medicine.

May be one day I will be one of those people out there who stand in the street with a placard saying Free Hugs!

Because I think we all need hugs, and imagine, if all the above could be reduced by a simple embrace, what a brighter world we would be in…