Hugging actually makes us feel better

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, tracked 400 men and women for two weeks, talking to them every night about how their day went. They asked about social activities, conflicts, resolutions to conflicts, and whether or not they hugged anyone that day.

They learned that people who received at least one hug dwelt less on unpleasant aspects of their day. In other words, a hug helped prevent one bad thing from ruining a whole day. Nobody was asked who they hugged, since not all hugs are created equal. Hugging a stranger does not have the same effect as hugging a friend or family member, but hugs do heal. Try one today!