Brandt Photography

People who have known me for quite a while have heard me say this over and over again. It is something I truly believe, and something I have tried to keep in my life. Being the big romantic that I am doesn’t hurt, either.

So, what is my key to eternal happiness? It is very simple: twelve hugs a day!

That’s 12 real hugs. Each person fully involved in the hug is required for the hug to count (not the arms wrapped around, but butts in completely different zip code type hugs, or those one-arm side hugs given to people you don’t really know very well). I truly believe getting at least twelve hugs a day will bring happiness into your world.

The hugs can be from one person, or from different people (so hugging your boyfriend, girlfriend, spouse, kids…). It is completely up to you how you want to collect the hugs, and who from. The important thing is to try to get twelve a day!

So, what happens if you don’t get twelve hugs a day? Simple. You get to make up for the missing hugs over the weekend! So, no hugs during the week means you need to collect 84 hugs in just two days!

Back when Leigh and I were on TNN’s “Club Dance” television show, I used to tell people this theory of mine all the time. You could find me going around and hugging people throughout the tapings. I’m pretty much a hug-monster – albeit a friendly hug monster.

We were recently at the Cotton Eyed Joe (a local dance club) meeting with a group of friends. I told my philosophy to someone I had just met that night (she was friends with several people in our group) and off she went! She collected her 84 hugs before midnight (and I was told she started a whole new count after that)! She was smiling the entire night, so I believe there is some non-scientific evidence to back up my theory (at least that night there was).

I also believe it goes beyond just basic happiness. The occasion of our gathering that night was also a memorial for a friend of ours that had unexpectedly passed recently. His fiancee was present and even just the sight of some friends, as well as the thoughts and memories we all shared about him, brought forth many a tear. Lots of hugs were also shared that night. I believe that although those hugs did not bring happiness by themselves, they did bring a lot of comfort. That in itself is a very powerful thing. In such a case, the amount of sorrow can’t be taken away quickly, but just knowing there are others there to share in the loss, and to comfort each other can make a huge difference in the grieving process. In such cases, I truly think those 12 hugs a day are even more needed.

It is also okay to get more than twelve per day. I haven’t found a case of hug-overdose, although it could lead to hug addiction and withdrawal symptoms. Of course, one really good hug can help to alleviate those hug-hunger-pains.

Yes, I’m a big romantic at heart. Yes, I’m a very friendly person (not in a creepy sort of way). I cherish the friendships I’ve made, and love it when my clients hug me at the end of the wedding night. It’s especially nice when my kids come up and hug me, just because. You can’t beat those kind of hugs.

So, my recommendation is 12 hugs a day. If you can’t get them in each day, make sure to get your 84 hugs over the weekend!