Cage not the heart of those who dream of the yonder Beyond the clouds over the hills Their spirit seeks to wander. Across the horizon, their soul belongs
Seek not to hold them For they are way ahead of you already Too swift are their thoughts Too far away are their hearts Too distant are you from them already
Not for them, the mundane chores Not for them, the worldly spoils Not for them, the earthly desires Not for them the meaningless wants
Seek not to find common ground For they have moved on way back in time Neither in dreams or in dare Can there be a parallel Seek not, as your paths are not meant to cross. Let them go, as it is meant to be.
I come from light
Born with the infinite in me
Learning through it all
To move from deepest insecurities to dare
To rise like a phoenix beyond fear.
To see the world in a heartbeat
To turn the tide of pain to pleasure
To awaken the dormant awareness
To hope beyond despair
To give hope to the hopeless.
And when the mood strikes
To take flights of fancy in the light of imagination
Into the world of creativity and dream on
In surrealistic idealism.
To revel, celebrate and enthuse
In the creativity of thoughts words & deeds
To be conscious of my glorious truths
To feel free and yet deeply interwoven
To the fabric of conscious intentions
To denote the goodwill in the endowment
To mark the fleeting time with grace.
To leave footprints in benevolence.
In joyous acceptance of the potential within
Of endless beginning in possibilities
Of Infinity expressing itself through me.
The average length of a hug between two people is 3 seconds. But the researchers have discovered something fantastic. When a hug lasts 20 seconds, there is a therapeutic effect on the body and mind. The reason is that a sincere embrace produces a hormone called “oxytocin”, also known as the love hormone. This substance has many benefits in our physical and mental health, helps us, among other things, to relax, to feel safe and calm our fears and anxiety. This wonderful tranquilizer is offered free of charge every time we have a person in our arms, who cradled a child, who cherish a dog or a cat, that we are dancing with our partner, the closer we get to someone or simply hold the Shoulders of a friend.
A famous quote by psychotherapist Virginia Satir goes, “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.”
Whether those exact numbers have been scientifically proven remains to be seen, but there is a great deal of scientific evidence related to the importance of hugs and physical contact. Here are some reasons why we should hug::
1. STIMULATES OXYTOCIN
Oxytocin is a neurotransmitter that acts on the limbic system, the brain’s emotional centre, promoting feelings of contentment, reducing anxiety and stress, and even making mammals monogamous. It is the hormone responsible for us all being here today. You see this little gem is released during childbirth, making our mothers forget about all of the excruciating pain they endured expelling us from their bodies and making them want to still love and spend time with us. New research from the University of California suggests that it has a similarly civilising effect on human males, making them more affectionate and better at forming relationships and social bonding. When we hug someone, oxytocin is released into our bodies by our pituitary gland, lowering both our heart rates and our cortisol levels. Cortisol is the hormone responsible for stress, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
2. CULTIVATES PATIENCE
Connections are fostered when people take the time to appreciate and acknowledge one another. A hug is one of the easiest ways to show appreciation and acknowledgement of another person. The world is a busy, hustle-bustle place and we’re constantly rushing to the next task. By slowing down and taking a moment to offer sincere hugs throughout the day, we’re benefiting ourselves, others, and cultivating better patience within ourselves.
3. PREVENTS DISEASE
Affection also has a direct response on the reduction of stress which prevents many diseases. The Touch Research Institute at the University of Miami School of Medicine says it has carried out more than 100 studies into touch and found evidence of significant effects, including faster growth in premature babies, reduced pain, decreased autoimmune disease symptoms, lowered glucose levels in children with diabetes, and improved immune systems in people with cancer.
4. STIMULATES THYMUS GLAND
Hugs strengthen the immune system. The gentle pressure on the sternum and the emotional charge this creates activates the Solar Plexus Chakra. This stimulates the thymus gland, which regulates and balances the body’s production of white blood cells, which keep you healthy and disease free.
5. COMMUNICATION WITHOUT SAYING A WORD
Almost 70 percent of communication is nonverbal. The interpretation of body language can be based on a single gesture and hugging is an excellent method of expressing yourself nonverbally to another human being or animal. Not only can they feel the love and care in your embrace, but they can actually be receptive enough to pay it forward to others based on your initiative alone.
6. SELF-ESTEEM
Hugging boosts self-esteem, especially in children. The tactile sense is all-important in infants. A baby recognizes its parents initially by touch. From the time we’re born our family’s touch shows us that we’re loved and special. The associations of self-worth and tactile sensations from our early years are still imbedded in our nervous system as adults. The cuddles we received from our Mom and Dad while growing up remain imprinted at a cellular level, and hugs remind us at a somatic level of that. Hugs, therefore, connect us to our ability to self love.
7. STIMULATES DOPAMINE
Everything everyone does involves protecting and triggering dopamine flow. Low dopamine levels play a role in the neurodegenerative disease Parkinson’s as well as mood disorders such as depression. Dopamine is responsible for giving us that feel-good feeling, and it’s also responsible for motivation! Hugs stimulate brains to release dopamine, the pleasure hormone. Dopamine sensors are the areas that many stimulating drugs such as cocaine and methamphetamine target. The presence of a certain kinds of dopamine receptors are also associated with sensation-seeking.
8. STIMULATES SEROTONIN
Reaching out and hugging releases endorphins and serotonin into the blood vessels and the released endorphins and serotonin cause pleasure and negate pain and sadness and decrease the chances of getting heart problems, helps fight excess weight and prolongs life. Even the cuddling of pets has a soothing effect that reduces the stress levels. Hugging for an extended time lifts one’s serotonin levels, elevating mood and creating happiness.
9. PARASYMPATHETIC BALANCE
Hugs balance out the nervous system. The skin contains a network of tiny, egg-shaped pressure centres called Pacinian corpuscles that can sense touch and which are in contact with the brain through the vagus nerve. The galvanic skin response of someone receiving and giving a hug shows a change in skin conductance. The effect in moisture and electricity in the skin suggests a more balanced state in the nervous system – parasympathetic.
Quite a bit of indepth information on the healing powers in a simple hug.
Such is the magic in a warm embrace
Embrace, embrace with your heart.
When you are hugging a child, always be the last one to let go. You never know how long they need it. ~Author Unknown
Thinking is open to possibilities Thought is already channelled To be fair and square Thinking is about the now Emerging in this moment Thought is the past Over and done.
Yet every thought matters As it may enable new ways of thinking… And so it goes Until these loops form a pattern And hit a sweet spot of light Illuminating a new pathway!
Isnt life like a game of chess
Where every move matters
Where every step creates opportunities
Where without a plan we may be flummoxed
Where a sense of direction creates progress
Where there is anticipation of possibilities.
Where there is a passion for purpose
Where dedication and perseverance.
Where attentive alertness makes all the difference.
Where awareness and keen observation matters much.
Where every decisive move can impact profoundly
And yet with all the planning one could be checkmated.
Life is meant to be played on for there is no looking back.
Where having a goal is important to fulfillment of living.
Yes life is like a game
Where joys of the journey is greater than success and failures.
Every tiny achievement is a step forward towards a goal. A goal perhaps to publish books someday!✍
My heartfelt thanks to my dear mother for motivating me to write. To my loving daughter and my better half for being there and supporting me in my journey. And recently my aunt who has chanced upon my writings and is now ardently encouraging me.
There is an invisible bond that forms between a writer and reader, a relationship that thrives if it is of mutual respect and understanding. As both are giving away their precious time of their lives in the writing and the reading. Ideally, it is a symbiotic relationship as there can never be one without the other. Both are valuable and contribute deeply in their mere presence.
A reader is as necessary to the writer as ink and paper, as without a reader the writer will have no reason to put down thoughts in written format. And if there is no one yet at least for the self to read on.:))
Have become a writer along the way without even realizing it since I started my blogging journey. And the WordPress experience is truly insightful as well as inspiring not to mention deeply rewarding. All thanks to my dear WordPress family of friends, followers and readers.🙏 Many of you with your hearty engagement, appreciation and your kind words through these years have been truly motivating me. I sincerely appreciate your continued presence through these years.
Must confess the journey so far has been a creatively enriching discovery for me of some amazing writers and their wonderful writings. Some have inspired me with precious comments as well, which have been gems of thoughts in reflection.
Thank you and so grateful to each of you dear patrons for your generous support and kind appreciation.💙🙏💙
Savvy Raj 
You must be logged in to post a comment.