Like most kids, my internal countdown to Christmas was palpable. The butterflies in my stomach and the agonizing wait for Santa’s Big Day, I wore on my sleeve. Christmas couldn’t come soon enough. My Mom and Dad, working hand-in-hand with Santa, did an excellent job filling my Christmas list every year. So, of course, the idea of new Barbies and Barbie accessories (all I cared about, really) factored in heavily to my idea that December 25th was, hands-down, the best day of th

A couple of weeks ago, I went to a local diner for breakfast. We sat up at the counter, and next to us were a young man (early 20s) and his father. A charming picture, except for one thing: The entire time, the son was glued to his phone. Didn’t say a word that I could tell to his father, who ended up chatting off and on with the cook and wait staff. Then the check came, and the father took out his wallet and paid the bill. What’s he paying for? Clearly not the pleasure of hi

So how many hugs do you get a day? According to Virginia Satir, “Mother of Family Therapy” We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth. Given the message to unplug and hug, twelve hugs a day will provide lots of opportunities for expansion. Beyond growth, however, hugging can be a potent healer of the soul. Hugs can be exchanged anywhere, no outlet required. No tech device can claim that super power!