Conversation – 22

HSN Connie Craig Carroll

NATIONAL CUDDLE UP DAY – January 6

Each year on January 6th, National Cuddle Up Day encourages us to snuggle up with someone for the health benefits and more!

NationalCuddleUpDay
January typically has some of the coldest days of the year, so what better way to stay warm and reap the health benefits of cuddling on National Cuddle Up Day? Whether it’s a three-dog night (a night so cold it takes three dogs to cuddle up with to stay warm) or only slightly chilly, there are multiple benefits to cuddling with a human or canine, or other pet.

Cuddling releases oxytocin. This hormone alone has tremendous health benefits. Besides giving us warm and fuzzy feelings, oxytocin reduces pain. So when the cold has made those muscles and joints ache, cuddling can help reduce those aches and pains.

Oxytocin also helps reduce heart disease, lowers blood pressure, stress, and anxiety. Of course, insurance carriers would probably cover cuddling if it weren’t free since it’s such a huge health benefit!

Communication is more than just e-mails, texts, or conversations. Physical touch also communicates trust, commitment, safety, and reassurance. This goes for human-to-human contact as well as human-to-pet contact; cuddling expresses all these things, which are vital to a healthy relationship.

Cuddling also boosts desire. Dopamine is released, stimulating the brain to seek pleasure. But dopamine also can improve memory and focus as well.

Don’t have someone to cuddle up with? Make an appointment for a massage. Studies show massage provides similar benefits.

@taci

Hope you three are OK, and the roof holds. I just wanted to check on you three.

@shoelady60

All I can say is, “Welcome Back.” I was worried and concerned. Not like you to skip posting, even when you’ve been under the weather. Don’t rush to do things. All cleaning can wait for better days.

@sheba2011

Just like old times, I wrote a note and it went into thin air never to be seen or read.

I am glad that your son decided to stay through February. With the weather forever changing, I am glad he decided to stay. But you three will again be facing an empty nest. Don’t know who will feel it more. At the same time, thankful that the kitties are OK. I wonder where they go to keep warm.

Hubby is doing good. I left early yesterday because I needed to repair a shelf in the linen closet where I keep the towels. Seems I was too heavy in the cleaning process with Clean Boss and knocked the holders on one side out. I worked for over two hours to no avail and consequently left later than I wanted to. I told hubby about the incident and he wanted me to wait for his return and he would fix it. I left a little early and when I arrived home took a measurement of both areas. Found the holders on the left were good to go. The ones on the right, the holes were not aligned properly. Looked for a hammer and couldn’t locate where it was, so took a long nail and used the side of a showerhead and was able to make a new hole. Never dented the showerhead. Guess the Moen’s are made well. (LOL). The towels are now where they belong and I hit the sack at 3 am.

Weather has been on the cool side. Temps are between 55 and 60 degrees during the day. Nighttime lows have been in the low to mid 40s. It was raining tonight when I left hubby. Not complaining. We definitely need this rain event. Speaking of the weather, I am concerned with Taci. I hope they are OK and safe. Many are without power. Many were evacuated. And of course, I also remember pitman. I am also concerned with Shoelady. I wonder if she has Covid or just a virus. Hope we will hear from her soon.

Stay warm. Stay safe.

Shoelady, Hope you feel better soon! By the way, I barely know who some of the Singer/Actors are as well.

Sheba, Hello. Doing good this rainy day. My son said being in Spain helped his Spanish speaking and he is understanding and speaking it better. He also said the food was a lot cheaper and better, meaning less sugar in everything. We have too much sugar and processed foods here.
Awesome your son is able to stay so long. Working from home has its benefits. I did it too back in the day before it was popular. Basically my office grew and they wanted volunteers to work from home, being 1 hour away I jumped at the opportunity.