The Hugs Have It

The Hugs Have It

Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything.

Proverbs 11:24

Several years ago as graduate students living in Pasadena, California, we attended a lecture on Valentine’s Day by the acclaimed Leo Buscaglia, affectionately known as The Love Doctor. A professor at the University of Southern California, Dr. Buscaglia was wildly popular at the time with several bestselling books, a PBS series, and a national speaking schedule. We enjoyed his inspiring and lively lecture, but what amazed us the most was the huge line of people that formed at the conclusion of his talk. It wound around the entire auditorium. “What are they lining up for?” we asked a fellow attendee. He looked startled that we didn’t know and simply said, “A hug.” And he was right. Several hundred people queued up for a quick hug from “the hug doctor.” We hadn’t seen anything like it before, and we haven’t seen anything like it since. It certainly made an impression.

Some weeks later, by coincidence, I (Les) happened to cross paths with Dr. Buscaglia in a gourmet grocery store. I couldn’t help but ask him, “Why do all those people line up to be hugged by you?” He laughed and then got serious. This is what he told me: “A hug helps people make it through tough times and lifts the spirit of anyone who is already flying high.”

It was a question he’d obviously been asked before. As I was about to say thanks, he leaned toward me and gave me a hug—right there in the frozen food section! I’m not making this up. I was startled. He was happy.

Truth is, I’m not the huggy type. And I didn’t really need a hug from the famous doctor, but I’ll take a hug from my wife any day. As the saying goes, sometimes a hug can say what words can’t.

Would you believe there is a World Hug Week? It’s true. The sponsoring group believes the world would be a better place if there was a massive movement to embrace our loved ones for five seconds at some point during this week. Silly as it sounds, they are probably right. A five-second hug goes a long way—especially when it comes to getting your daily requirement of touch in marriage. Have you made hugging a habit? If not, we offer a simple suggestion: ask for one. “May I have a hug?” is all it takes. Say thanks, hello, or good-bye with a hug. Soon you’ll have the hug habit.

Millions and millions of years would still not give me half enough time to describe that tiny instant of all eternity when you put your arms around me and I put my arms around you.

—Jacques Prévert