Hugs Make Us Happy Unless We Get Sued For Giving Them

(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."


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