Nestle Your Loved Ones

The word nestle means to hug. We naturally hug our loved ones. Well, many people naturally hug their loved ones. But what happens if you grow up without that? can you even imagine a home without hugs?

Quick Story

As an adult in my early 20s, I noticed something I didn't see as a kid (because I didn't watch the news); the way the media depicts men of color. They appeared hard and under arrest and drug addicted. Society wasn't seeing them as fun, or playful, or gentle. And as a young person growing up, all I knew was that the men of color in my life were respectful, loud talking and joking around or quiet. That's about all I could discern. But I also knew I didn't have hard, under arrest, or drug addicted men in my life.

When I began writing books, one of the covers purposely depicted a man of color holding his toddler daughter up in the air with a smile. I knew that's what I wanted to see more of, and I knew that existed within men of color despite the fact that their rough lives told them to be a bit stoic. Even though my young life didn't have lots of hugs and affection, I knew intuitively, that I needed to give that to my children even though I wasn't clear on why. I hug and caress my young children at home and in public. I like the idea of society being okay with seeing loving actions in the lives of people of color, especially because I know it will it exist in contrast to what media continues to show the world. I hug for many reasons, finishing hair, waking up, arriving, departing, cooking a meal, just because, doing a dance routine, enjoying an experience together, singing a song, baking, and so on. I have found so many reasons to hug the people in my life, and it is wonderful. I know it t was later on in my 40's that I found out about the health benefits related to hugging. But here we are. and I'm happy to be here, hugging the ones I love.

What we know so far...

Touch is the first sense to start working in the womb (around 14 weeks). From the moment we’re born, the gentle caress of a mother has multiple health benefits, such as lowering heart rate and promoting the growth of brain cell connections.

When someone hugs us, the stimulation of c-tactile afferents in our skin sends signals, via the spinal cord, to the brain’s emotion processing networks. This induces a cascade of neurochemical signals, which have proven health benefits. Some of the neurochemicals include the hormone oxytocin, which plays an important role in social bonding, slows down heart rate, and reduces stress and anxiety levels. The release of endorphins in the brain’s reward pathways supports the immediate feelings of pleasure and well-being derived from a hug or caress.

Four Ways Hugs Are Good for Your Health (berkeley.edu)https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/four_ways_hugs_are_good_for_your_health#:~:text=When%20someone%20hugs%20us%2C%20the%20stimulation%20of%20c-tactile,of%20neurochemical%20signals%2C%20which%20have%20proven%20health%20benefits.

The Million Dollar Alphabet for Life

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Activity I've done...

Hug your children or loved ones for a few seconds longer than your normal hug. While hugging, in your mind say a little prayer for their well-being and happiness.

Drinkware season!

Quotes and Interpretations

We can feel the love in a hug.

When big mama hugs, there’s none quite like it.

Love and hug each other. It extends our life.

We can give and receive in the single act of hugging.

We can show our children love with a hug.

A quiet hug can be more moving than an eloquent speech.

You can't wrap love in a box, but you can wrap a person in a hug.  Author Unknown

When you are hugging a child, always be the last one to let go. You never know how long they need

it. Author Unknown

Getting a hug from the right person can heal us like medicine.

Forward to a friend that could use this message.

DF