After nearly 11 months with no physical contact because of the pandemic, I stopped by a friend’s home on a January afternoon. It was a dreary Friday and we stood six feet away from one another in her ...

Virginia Satir, a world-renowned family therapist, is famous for saying “We need 4 hugs a day for survival. We need 8 hugs a day for maintenance. We need 12 hugs a day for growth.” How many hugs are ...

Right in the middle of a food delivery to my grands at a park-and-ride along I-95, I found myself with an urgent craving. I really needed a hug. Of course, I abstained. The grandkids didn’t even exit ...

Whenever I would try to describe the friendly checker at Trader Joe’s to my friends — I know, I know, they’re all friendly — I would make sure to tell them one thing. He hugs. He’s the hugger. Nearly ...