<p>Did you know that a person needs at least four hugs a day for healthy survival? Virginia Satir was a pioneering family therapist who is credited with the following quote: “We need four hugs a day for survival. We need eight hugs a day for maintenance. We need twelve hugs a day for growth.”</p> <p>Sometimes we forget the value of human touch.</p> <p>On the way home from a conference, Don Piper’s car was crushed by a semi that crossed into his lane.&nbsp; After 34 surgeries and&nbsp;one year in the hospital Don finally came home. Don says, “When my&nbsp;eight year old son came home from school, without saying a word, Chris would walk over and lay his head on my chest. I don’t know how long his head lay there, probably not more than a full minute. He never said a word. He didn’t need to. That simple gesture was enough. I felt so loved by my son. He expressed his grief in the only way he knew how.”</p> <p>The power of the human touch is vital. Several sources suggest that most people benefit from a hug. Hugs can help people <a href="https://www.medicinenet.com/how_do_hugs_make_you_feel/article.htm">fight off infections, ease depression and reduce blood pressure</a>. &nbsp;Start by hugging your children and your spouse. &nbsp;What a difference you will make in their lives.</p> <p>Never forget the value of human touch.  Who needs a hug from you today?</p> <p><em>Updated 2024</em></p> <p>The post <a href="https://wisdomofthewounded.com/practical-guidance/4-hugs-a-day/">4 Hugs a Day</a> appeared first on <a href="https://wisdomofthewounded.com">Wisdom of the Wounded</a>.</p>