(photo courtesy of The Times-Picayune in New Orleans)
Hugs are the best medicine for a bad mood and science proves it.
Carnegie Mellon University researchers took on hugs as a study and came to some warm and fuzzy conclusions.
- Huggers have better overall health and relationships
- Hugs tamp down negative feelings and increase positive ones
- Hugs reduced bad moods throughout the day following getting one
- Hugs shield a positive outlook from turning sour
I am a happy person and love to promote happiness. Of course, my main worry about giving hugs is that I won't be very happy if I get sued for giving one. So I've changed my approach.
I have several female friends who are huggers but I always wait for them to initiate the hug. I also have met women who shook my hand when I initially met them but then hugged me thereafter. But the key is, I let them initiate the hug.
My funniest hug story: I recently interviewed Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds and Linda McMahon, the Administrator of the Small Business Administration. Of course, I am also a huge fan of McMahon's business acumen while running the WWE with her husband, Vince. The Governor is a friend of mine and came into the room and immediately hugged me. Administrator McMahon, upon seeing this, said, "Well I guess I want a hug too!"
So I've hugged Linda McMahon. And in the immortal words of Bill Murray: "I've got that going for me. Which is nice."