KINDNESS WRAPPED IN A HUG
Are you ready for this? There’s a reason to hug it out with the people you care about! I’m Scoop the Cub Reporter with The Shady Pines Gazette news and this is a real thing. The minute I heard about it I had to let the folks in Shady Pines Story town know.
National Hug Day or National Hugging Day happens on Friday, January 21st and is officially recognized by the United States Copyright Office.
Isn’t that crazy? But, hey, it’s not an official public holiday. So don’t skip school or work, OK?
The purpose of the day is to help everyone show more emotion in public. The only way to celebrate the day is by offering a hug to anyone and everyone you want.
Of course these days, with Covid, you may want to be a little selective about who you hug. It’s best to know if someone has been vaccinated before you get that close.
Whether you hug a family member or a close friend, the mental and physical health benefits are the same. Get this, reports show that from the day we are born, hugs or touch improve our sleep. Hugging, like cuddling, releases oxytocin. This stuff is cool.
On its own, this hormone provides really big health benefits. Not only does it gives us feel-good hormones, but it reduces pain.
And there’s more. Receiving a hug helps reduce stress, lowers blood pressure, and lowers the risk of heart disease. It also eases anxiety.
HOW TO OBSERVE #NationalHuggingDay

Boost their joy by letting them know how much they mean to you with a verbal hug until you can give them the real one.
Use #NationalHuggingDay to post on social media.
Do you know the story behind this huggable day?
NATIONAL HUGGING DAY HISTORY
The holiday was founded by Rev. Kevin Zaborney on March 29, 1986, in Caro, Michigan. I guess you could say he’s the ambassador of hugs. I found a wonderful quote from Yoko Ono I want to share with you that seems like it fits this topic really well.
“There’s a long life ahead of you and it’s going to be beautiful, as long as you keep loving and hugging each other.”
I really like that. And just think. This could be a warm up for another occaision. Don’t forget, Valentine’s Day is right around the corner! – Scoop Out
I miss hugging people like I used to. Covid has changed so many things.
I think I’ll be hugging the heater today. It’s cold here
Watching my kids hug their grandparents after being apart for over a year showed me the power of hugs
Shady Pines is such a kind place. Wish I lived there
Even though Covid has limited my hugging, it’s good to give mental hugs, too.
Always something positive from Shady Pines
A hugging holiday. Who knew?
I miss hugging people!
I want to live in Shady Pines
This is wonderful. I needed something uplifting today
A National Hugging Day. Why not?
So nice
How do you find this stuff? So fun